The Claim
“Cut funding for the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples, a body of elected representatives of the indigenous people.”
Original Sources Provided
✅ FACTUAL VERIFICATION
The claim is factually accurate. The Abbott Coalition Government did withdraw funding from the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples (NCAFP) in 2013-2014.
According to the Parliamentary Library of Australia, the Abbott Government appointed a new Prime Minister's Indigenous Advisory Council (PMIAC) after the 2013 election and also appointed a National Commission of Audit, which subsequently criticized the NCAFP as "duplicating existing Indigenous representative advisory bodies" [1]. The NCAFP was subsequently defunded in the 2014-15 Budget [1].
Wikipedia confirms that "In 2013 the Australian Government withdrew funding of National Congress" and this led to the organization being "forced out of operation in July 2019 after its reserves had been exhausted" [2]. At the time of its closure, the NCAFP had approximately 10,000 members and 180 affiliated community organizations [2].
The NCAFP was established in 2009 as a national representative body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, founded after a design process led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma [1]. It was created as a corporation rather than a government body specifically so it could not be dissolved by government fiat [1].
Missing Context
The claim omits several important contextual elements:
1. History of Previous Defunding by Labor Governments
The claim does not mention that previous Labor governments had also abolished or defunded Indigenous representative bodies. According to the Parliamentary Library, the Hawke Labor Government abolished the National Aboriginal Conference (NAC) in 1985 after critical reports found accounting deficiencies and management issues [1]. The NAC was created as an administrated program rather than by legislation, so it "could be abolished without parliamentary action" [1].
2. Precedent of Representative Body Abolition
The Parliamentary Library documents a pattern spanning multiple governments: "Previous elected representative national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander bodies supported by the Australian Government are the National Aboriginal Consultative Committee (NACC) (1973-77), the National Aboriginal Conference (NAC) (1977-85), the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) (1989-2005) and the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples (NCAFP) (2009-19)" [1]. Each of these bodies was eventually defunded or abolished by the government of the day.
3. Creation as Corporation for Protection
The NCAFP was intentionally structured as a non-government corporation precisely because previous representative bodies (like ATSIC) had been abolished by government action. This design meant that while the government could cut funding, it could not legally dissolve the organization itself [1].
4. The 2005 ATSIC Abolition with Bipartisan Support
Most significantly, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), a much larger statutory authority combining representative and service delivery roles, was abolished in 2004-2005 with bipartisan support. According to the Parliamentary Library, "Legislation abolishing ATSIC and transferring some of its functions to 2 new organisations, Indigenous Business Australia and the Indigenous Land Corporation, was passed with ALP support in 2004" [1]. This was initiated by the Howard Government but supported by the Labor Opposition after leader Mark Latham announced that "the ALP would abolish ATSIC if it won government" [1].
5. Vulnerability Due to Budget Process Funding
The claim does not mention that the Rudd and Gillard Labor governments had declined to create a permanent endowment for the NCAFP, instead choosing to fund it through the annual Budget process. The Parliamentary Library notes: "under political and budget pressure to cut costs following the 2007 response to the global financial crisis, the Rudd and Gillard governments declined to act on the NCAFP's request to create a permanent endowment to fund its ongoing operation, instead funding the NCAFP through the Budget process. This left the NCAFP potentially vulnerable to future funding cuts" [1].
Source Credibility Assessment
The original source is the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), one of Australia's major metropolitan newspapers owned by Nine Entertainment Co.
Credibility assessment:
- SMH is a mainstream commercial newspaper with a long history (founded 1831) and is generally considered a reputable news source
- It is not a partisan advocacy organization but a for-profit media outlet
- The article in question appears to be a factual news report from December 2013, not an opinion piece
- SMH has historically leaned center-left in its editorial stance, but its news reporting is generally regarded as professional and fact-based
- The specific article title references the National Congress "defying" the funding cut, suggesting the organization was attempting to continue operations despite the loss of government funding
The source appears credible for the factual claim, though as with any single source, cross-verification is appropriate.
Labor Comparison
Did Labor do something similar?
Yes - and on a significantly larger scale with bipartisan support.
1. ATSIC Abolition (2004-2005)
The most significant precedent was the abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) in 2005. ATSIC was a statutory authority with both representative and executive roles, delivering programs including employment, housing, legal aid, and family violence services [1]. Its budget was substantially larger than the NCAFP's.
According to the Parliamentary Library: "Legislation abolishing ATSIC and transferring some of its functions to 2 new organisations, Indigenous Business Australia and the Indigenous Land Corporation, was passed with ALP support in 2004" [1].
This abolition was initiated by the Howard Coalition Government but had explicit support from the Australian Labor Party. The Parliamentary Library notes that "Australian Labor Party (ALP) leader Mark Latham announced that the ALP would abolish ATSIC if it won government" [1], which led to the Howard Government announcing abolition in 2004.
2. National Aboriginal Conference Abolition (1985)
The Hawke Labor Government abolished the National Aboriginal Conference (NAC) in 1985. The Parliamentary Library states: "Minister Holding announced on 2 April 1985 that the NAC would cease operations on 30 June 1985" following critical reports including a 1984 Auditor General's report that "found numerous accounting deficiencies and unapproved financial practices" [1].
3. Rudd/Gillard Government Decisions (2007-2013)
The Labor governments under Rudd and Gillard declined to create a permanent funding endowment for the NCAFP, leaving it vulnerable to future funding cuts through the annual budget process [1].
Comparison:
- ATSIC abolition (2005): Complete legislative abolition of a statutory authority with bipartisan support - more severe than the NCAFP funding cut
- NAC abolition (1985): Complete termination of an elected representative body by a Labor Government
- NCAFP defunding (2013-14): Withdrawal of funding but organization continued (in reduced capacity) until 2019
Balanced Perspective
The claim is factually accurate but lacks important historical and political context.
The Abbott Coalition Government did withdraw funding from the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples in 2013-2014, as confirmed by Parliamentary Library records and multiple sources. This action contributed to the organization eventually ceasing operations in 2019 [1][2].
However, this action was not unique to the Coalition. Australian governments of both major parties have consistently defunded or abolished Indigenous representative bodies throughout the past 50 years:
- Fraser Government (Liberal): Abolished NACC (1977), replaced with NAC
- Hawke Government (Labor): Abolished NAC (1985)
- Howard Government (Coalition): Abolished ATSIC (2005) - with bipartisan ALP support
- Abbott Government (Coalition): Defunded NCAFP (2013-14)
The bipartisan pattern suggests systemic issues with Indigenous representative structures in Australian governance rather than Coalition-specific hostility. The Parliamentary Library notes that previous bodies were frequently "caught between 2 masters" - elected by Indigenous voters but staffed by public servants reporting to Ministers - and were "frequently blamed for broader failings in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy... over which [they] had little or no control" [1].
The Coalition's stated justification for defunding the NCAFP was that it duplicated existing advisory structures, particularly the newly established Prime Minister's Indigenous Advisory Council [1]. The National Commission of Audit criticized the NCAFP as "duplicating existing Indigenous representative advisory bodies" [1].
This is NOT unique to the Coalition - it reflects a broader pattern across Australian governments of both parties to restructure or defund Indigenous representative bodies, often citing duplication, inefficiency, or changing policy priorities.
TRUE
6.0
out of 10
The claim that the Coalition Government cut funding for the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples is factually accurate. The Abbott Government did withdraw funding in the 2014-15 Budget, which contributed to the organization's eventual closure in 2019.
However, the claim presents this action without critical historical context: both Labor and Coalition governments have repeatedly defunded or abolished Indigenous representative bodies over the past 50 years. The 2005 abolition of ATSIC - a far larger organization - was supported by the Labor Opposition. The 1985 abolition of the National Aboriginal Conference was carried out by the Hawke Labor Government. The Rudd/Gillard Labor governments declined to secure permanent funding for the NCAFP, leaving it vulnerable.
The framing implies this was a Coalition-specific action against Indigenous representation, when in fact it represents a continuing bipartisan pattern of restructuring Indigenous representative structures in Australian governance.
Final Score
6.0
OUT OF 10
TRUE
The claim that the Coalition Government cut funding for the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples is factually accurate. The Abbott Government did withdraw funding in the 2014-15 Budget, which contributed to the organization's eventual closure in 2019.
However, the claim presents this action without critical historical context: both Labor and Coalition governments have repeatedly defunded or abolished Indigenous representative bodies over the past 50 years. The 2005 abolition of ATSIC - a far larger organization - was supported by the Labor Opposition. The 1985 abolition of the National Aboriginal Conference was carried out by the Hawke Labor Government. The Rudd/Gillard Labor governments declined to secure permanent funding for the NCAFP, leaving it vulnerable.
The framing implies this was a Coalition-specific action against Indigenous representation, when in fact it represents a continuing bipartisan pattern of restructuring Indigenous representative structures in Australian governance.
📚 SOURCES & CITATIONS (2)
-
1
aph.gov.au
The original edition of this publication was written by Dr James Haughton. Executive Summary Previous elected representative national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander bodies supported by the Australian Government are the National Aboriginal Consultative Committee (NACC) (197
Aph Gov -
2
en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia
Rating Scale Methodology
1-3: FALSE
Factually incorrect or malicious fabrication.
4-6: PARTIAL
Some truth but context is missing or skewed.
7-9: MOSTLY TRUE
Minor technicalities or phrasing issues.
10: ACCURATE
Perfectly verified and contextually fair.
Methodology: Ratings are determined through cross-referencing official government records, independent fact-checking organizations, and primary source documents.