FATSIL ConstitutionAGM 2002 (Sydney): Summary of outcomes Some of the recommendations of the Sydney AGM: - That FATSIL look at the feasibility of establishing its own operating base.
- That FATSIL strive to ensure that, in any treaty developed for Indigenous Australians, the issue of Indigenous languages being recognized as official Australian languages be enshrined.
- That FATSIL lobby the Northern Territory Government to employ registered interpreters and translators in all Government agencies and statutory authorities where assistance in communication with Indigenous persons is required.
- That FATSIL continues to work toward the development of comprehensive language policies at State and Federal level.
- That FATSIL strive to ensure that all language policies it helps to develop are understood to be "frameworks within which language projects and programs are to be created".
- That FATSIL strive to ensure that in all language policies it helps to develop, Indigenous languages be recognized as official Australian languages.
- That FATSIL consider mounting, and subsequently evaluating, a public education campaign on the state of Indigenous languages (and/or on the rate of global language loss) as a contemporary issue.
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Amendments to FATSIL Constitution
Financial members to have voting rights Amendments to the FATSIL Constitution, relating to elections and financial membership, have now been accepted by the Registrar of Aboriginal Corporations. As a result of the changes, a $5 annual membership fee is now payable for all new members as well as all existing members who wish to have voting rights. A notice relating to the changes and new membership forms will soon be sent to all members. This will outline procedures for the election of delegates and shadow delegates in each state and the territory.
It's important to note that nominations for these positions will only be accepted from members who have paid their annual membership fee prior to sending in their nomination. FATSIL is in the process of preparing for the first election of Governing Committee members under the new rules, with the AGM and National Indigenous Languages forum now scheduled for next February in Melbourne. The relevant amendments are: -
8(1)(a) There shall be an annual subscription which shall be determined by the Committee from time to time and which shall be paid before 30 June for the forthcoming financial year. 8(1)(b) A person admitted to membership during a financial year shall pay the annual subscription upon admittance. 8(2) The members of the Association shall be those Aboriginal persons who qualify for membership and whom the Committee decide to admit for membership. The Committee shall not accept applications for membership for a period of one month prior to the Annual General Meeting. A register of members shall be kept by the Public Officer. 8(3) All financial members shall be entitled to attend, speak and vote at general meetings of the Association, and be eligible for appointment as members of the committee or office bearers. 9(1)(a) Each of the States and the Territory shall elect two delegates to the Committee. The Torres Strait islands shall elect one. - Elections within each of these regions shall be conducted at least one month prior to the Annual General Meeting.
- A notice of the intention to conduct such elections and a call for nominations for the position of state delegates must be sent to all members at least three months prior to the AGM.
- If no nominations for the election are received, the committee may at any time of the AGM appoint an interim delegate.
9(1)(b) Members at the AGM shall ratify the appointment of the delegates from each of these regions. The Secretary shall issue a letter to delegates confirming their appointment. 9(1)c Each of the States and Territory shall elect two alternate persons to take the place of the delegates at meetings in the event that the delegates are unable to attend. The Torres Strait Islands shall elect one alternate person.
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