§ Margaret MoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last had discussions with the Australian Government regarding Aboriginal affairs. [45972]
§ Mr. MacShaneIn general, Aboriginal affairs are the sole responsibility of the Government of Australia and we do not therefore raise them. But we are in touch with the Australians about the repatriation of Aboriginal remains; my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed this with the right hon. John Howard, the Australian Prime Minister on 4 July 2000 and we have established a working group under the Chairmanship of Professor Norman Palmer to consider the matter. My noble friend Baroness Blackstone, has had further discussions this year with the Australian Minister for Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.
I myself attended the Aboriginal Yeperenyne Centenary Federation Festival in Alice Springs, Australia, in September 2001.