ABSTRACT
Autonomy is a value that liberal democracy and identity politics share. This chapter critically analyses, from an institutional perspective, the creation, operation and current status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) as it struggles to maintain legitimacy in the face of a sustained contest over the conflicting values. It studies the creation of ATSIC and provides some discussion of the historical background and the policy initiatives surrounding its development. The budgetary function of ATSIC reflects a broader discourse of devolved responsibility and autonomy. The chapter focuses specifically on one particular set of processes: the accountability procedures within ATSIC. It examines the role that accountability procedures play within the institution and discusses the incompatibility of the system of accountability with the stated objectives of the institution. The normative environment within which ATSIC has evolved is struggling to marry the empowerment of Aboriginal people to the financial strictures imposed by the liberal democratic state.
