Untitled Document
Respecting Indigenous Australians
AN eBULLETIN FROM THE AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRATS
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July 2007 |
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In this Issue
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Welcome
The reality is that Indigenous women and umpteen reports have urged action for many years and state and federal ministers and bureaucrats have been discussing for just as long how to deal with it.
Little Children are Sacred and the Gordon Report in WA between them set down almost 300 sound recommendations, all but two of which were ignored in the Howard package – the school meals and the boarding schools.
None of this is new to the Federal Government. Its Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination was supposed to oversee services and monitor performance. Like the 30 Indigenous Coordination Centres, it was central to the 2004 Howard Government’s 20 to 30 year vision of intervening in early childhood development, making Indigenous communities safer and building their economies.
The perpetrators need to hear, loud and clear, that this abhorrent behaviour will no longer be tolerated. But there is no quick or easy solution and governments have walked away from soundly-based but expensive solutions before.
We need to know what happens after the police and the medical teams leave. Indigenous communities need hope and health services, education, counselling and housing. They also need their views and what they see as the solutions to be respected. No plan will work without that.
The Democrats will capitalise on this new interest in Indigenous disadvantage and work towards the best policy outcomes for Indigenous communities. We will be reminding the PM that for long term change the money and the drive must be found to lift these communities out of poverty.
I thought you might be interested in receiving this eBulletin as you have expressed an interest in these issues to me in the past. I hope you find it an informative read, and I encourage you to forward this on to others. You may also be interested in subscribing to our other eBulletins.
If you do not want to receive future issues, please email indigenous.ebulletin@democrats.org.au with ‘unsubscribe me’ in the subject line.
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Lyn Allison
Leader & Senator for Victoria |
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Latest Campaigns
CLOSING THE GAP
Senator Bartlett recently attended the launch of ANTaR's Close the Gap on Indigenous Health campaign, which was supported by the Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma, as well as world class athletes Ian Thorpe and Catherine Freeman.
This is a very worth while campaign that all parties should support, click here to add your name to the sea of hands. It is important that high profile Australians are making a personal commitment and showing leadership on this issue. Read Senator Bartlett’s press release here, which calls for our political leaders to give the same personal commitment.
BREAKING THE SILENCE
A major new program to tackle child abuse in Aboriginal communities has been developed in NSW, but is in need of significant funding. The program was developed in response to Breaking the Silence, a 300 page report commissioned by the Attorney General and written by a task force headed by Aboriginal leader, Marcia Ella-Duncan.
The report found that child abuse in Aboriginal communities had reached "epidemic proportions," with child sexual assault up to four times the rate of the general population. Although the Government approach to Breaking the Silence makes a lot of sense, without any new funds it's doomed to fail. |
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Little Children Are Sacred
On Northern Territory radio Mr Howard was explicit when asked why he was responding to the crisis in remote Indigenous communities now, ‘I mean the reason that we have done it is that we have a report. We are acting in response to that report’.
The report in question ‘Little Children Are Sacred’ was commissioned by the Northern Territory Government to investigate the extent of child sex abuse amongst remote Indigenous communities.
The report has three basic components:
1) the nature and scope of abuse;
2) the underlying causes of the abuse such as unemployment, substance abuse, the breakdown of Indigenous culture, poor housing, health and education; and
3) provides 97 recommendations
Two days before the government’s dramatic intervention Senator Bartlett acknowledged the findings and urgency of the report in a speech before the Senate. In his speech Senator Bartlett makes two critical points. Firstly, despite the shocking nature of the report’s findings there is nothing in them that has not been well documented time and time again. Secondly, child sex abuse is not confined to remote Indigenous populations and is a serious concern throughout the community. See Senator Bartlett’s speech here. |
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Federal Intervention in the NT
The recommendations of ‘Little Children Are Sacred’ make interesting reading, especially alongside the response of the government. While using the report to preface the intervention they have declined to follow its recommendations with Minister Brough claiming they were ‘totally weak and totally inadequate’.
The Wild/Anderson report espouses the importance of consultation and locally based action and definitively asserts ‘you can’t solve these things by centralised bureaucratic direction’.
Our concerns begin not with the action (see here for the Government policy) itself, for we all agree action is long overdue but that a basic tenet of the report, the importance of consultation has thus far been overlooked. It is this lack of consultation that has led to fear in the communities, disunity amongst the State Governments and a distinct feeling of policy on the run by Brough and Howard. It would appear that even other government departments were not consulted sufficiently with a backdown on the compulsory nature of medical checks likely after the Minister was warned this could constitute assault.
There also remain many unanswered questions and as yet no firm long-term commitment to address the underlying causes. Nor has there been any explanation as to how the mandatory acquisition of community land will aid the health and well-being of Indigenous children and virtually no talk of how these communities are going to end their dependence on welfare through industry and employment.
The government has been talking the talking but do they really understand the scope of the problem. We fear their talk of a 5 year plan will fall way short of the generational commitment required. The Australian Democrats are not wishing for this action to fail. Our constant work in this area over a long period illustrates our commitment to the task and we continue to see our role as providing constructive critique of policy and to ensure the government keeps its promises.
View all the latest press releases or speeches on Indigenous Affairs, or visit Senator Andrew Bartlett's website.
Other Links
Child abuse inquiry head criticises Govt response – ABC, 27/06/07
How we tackle this crisis is a measure of our humanity – The Age 26/06/07
Decades of Neglect: Remote Indigenous Communities and the Myths about Money – Centre For Policy Development
A cynical scratch, a pustular response – SMH 30/06/07
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Remote Area Nursing
Nurses working alone in remote indigenous communities are suffering escalating stress disorders in silence as they are routinely expected to perform the functions and medical decision-making of more specialised doctors while battling crushing workloads, fatigue, loneliness and isolation.
A new report by former remote area nurse Sue Currie, finds that governments, health service managers, nursing and medical authorities have maintained a stoic silence about the illegal practice of nurses who must daily make diagnoses, perform complex procedures and prescribe powerful medications without supervision or legal protection. This means patient care outcomes go unaudited and nurses themselves are wide open to abuse and exploitation.
At the launch of the report, literally only moments before the Prime Minister announced his plans for the Northern Territory intervention Senator Allison lamented, "Its a Herculean job which has become soul destroying for the nurses and a damning indictment on the low priority given to aboriginal communities". (See full press release here)
In light of the events that have transpired since it is hoped the Federal Government will heed the warnings of Ms Currie and implement the recommendations as tabled in her report. |
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Reconciliation week and Sorry Day
The final week of May saw anniversaries for the 1967 referendum giving Indigenous people equality under our Constitution and for the 1997 tabling of the Bringing Them Home report.
The Senate agreed to a motion Senator Bartlett moved acknowledging the 40th anniversary of the referendum. Resolutions such as this provide historical reference points, as well as benchmarks to hold political parties to into the future. You can read the full motion here.
Some key aspects were that the Senate:
- commits to giving greater priority to addressing the needs of Indigenous Australians and to paying greater heed to the diverse views, abilities and achievements of Indigenous Australians from all parts of our nation;
- recognises that Australia will not reach its full potential as a nation until there is full respect for all its people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their unique, valuable and continuing heritage of this land; and
- encourages all Australians and all political parties to revive and rebuild the cooperative spirit of the 1967 referendum to complete the unfinished business of ensuring true equality of opportunity for all Australians.
The Australian Democrats suggest you remind all political parties of those words, which were not opposed by a single voice in the Senate, as often as possible between now and election day.
Senator Bartlett also co-sponsored a motion in relation to Sorry Day, which unfortunately was opposed by the government (and Family First) - the text of that motion is here. |
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The Budget – What was in it for Indigenous Australians?
Given recent events it is interesting to reflect on the Budget from an Indigenous perspective. Neither Peter Costello's formal Budget speech nor Kevin Rudd's speech in reply gave any mention of Indigenous Australians, their specific needs or the importance to all Australians of attempting to give priority to addressing their needs.
You can click on this link to see all the new spending measures in this year's Budget, and here to read Minister Brough's release summarising the Budget measures. However, funding figures can be misleading. This piece in the National Indigenous Times gives a good idea of the gap between the spin and the reality when it comes to Budget funding announcements.
The huge disappointment was the almost total lack of new funding in health - less $35 million extra a year. There has been a welcome funding boost in housing, but this has been accompanied by worrying signs that this funding will be tied to ideological and symbolic imperatives, rather than practical outcomes. This looks dangerously like a 'one size fits all approach', aimed as much at blaming and disempowering Indigenous run organisations as it is at getting results.
The Budget's Indigenous education measures appear positive, although again focused only on remote communities. Perhaps the best measure is in the employment area, with 825 CDEP positions being converted into full-time government service positions.
What all this means in light of the Northern Territory intervention is hard to say at this stage. Both Minister Brough and Prime Minister Howard have been at pains to say they are in this for the long haul and will spend whatever it takes but they have yet to commit to long-term programs and have thus far baulked at the funding requests of Northern Territory Chief Minister Clare Martin.
PM long on promises says Martin - The Age, 28/6/2007 |
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Stolen Generations Exposure Draft Bill
The legislation is aimed at implementing some key recommendations from the report regarding reparations for the victims of the Stolen Generations of Aboriginal children. The draft Bill is predominantly based on a similar Act passed by the Tasmanian Parliament last year. You can access the Bill and the Explanatory Memorandum for your information.
We believe it is important that the issue of the Stolen Generation be put back on the political agenda. It is unfinished business for our governments, who must seek to continue to bridge the gap between Indigenous and non Indigenous people.
The exposure draft bill is intended to give coverage to those applicants in a State or Territory where there is no State or Territory legislation. We are keen to hear any comment or suggestions as to whether this sort of approach is needed, how best to go about it and how to address issues such as setting a cap on reparations payments. I don't have a time limit for this phase of public consultation as this stage. Please email all comments to Senator Bartlett. |
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Democrats eBulletins
Our spokesperson for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Bartlett produces a monthly e-Bulletin on this topic. His eBulletins can be obtained here.
We actively pursue the issues that matter to you. Our Senators speak out in the Parliament, arrange public forums, push issues in the media, scrutinise bills as they come before the Senate, take up issues through Senate committee inquiries, campaign hard and ask the questions that most need answers. There is so much going on that it is often a challenge to keep up!
Subscribe to one or more of our eBulletins and keep abreast of issues that matter most to you. For a full list of the eBulletins we produce, please visit our website. |
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