Mr HOLDING(4.33 p.m.) —by leave—In the small amount of time remaining to me, I want to commend the work that has been done by the Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs. The Torres Strait Islands and Torres Strait Islanders have a unique culture and a unique history. They were defending their islands against all comers before the mainland of Australia was even settled. There was a strong demand for statehood but, given the constitutional complications involved in that, I think the committee managed to indicate that autonomy at this stage was the only appropriate step.

I commend the work that has been done by the committee. I particularly refer to those sections which deal with the training and the opening up of management and senior positions for Torres Strait Islanders. It is absurd that the Commonwealth spends time and funds taking bureaucrats from various parts of Australia to do work which Islanders themselves could do. Theirs is a unique culture. I believe the report has gone a long way to achieving their hopes and their ambitions.

I commend the work done by the chairman and his liaison with the Queensland government. Hopefully, that will produce a level of cooperation which will enable the very important recommendations in this report to be implemented. I commend it to the government and to the House.