Welfare card - no cash

In the West Australian newspaper of the weekend of 2 and 3 July 2016, Andrew Forrest made a plea for more widespread use of welfare monies being available through a card and not in cash. He cited locations where this has been tried and how the drug buying dropped and even one case where the major dealer left the area.  It seems the women feel they have more control using this card such that their men cannot get the cash and go off and buy drugs and/or alcohol.

My pragmatic streak finds me agreeing with Mr Forrest.  If his suggestion contributes to breaking the poverty cycle of indigenous communities where poverty abounds then well and good.  My altruistic streak bemoans that it has come to this when in a democracy where individuals make choices within the law the freedom to have cash and spend it how one likes is denied.

Andrew Forrest also tries to employ indigenous persons with his capacity to make a difference in this area.  As a retired educator who as part of his career visited almost every remote indigenous community in WA I worried on each visit about how much education we were really getting done.  Low attendance rates were the worst feature with the teachers making enormous efforts to provide a relevant education culturally tweaked to be appropriate to the location.  Even if we were winning on the struggle to sheet home the education I feared that for this who felt the ties of the community so strongly that they wanted to live out their lives at that location, what were they to do each day?

Of course they could hunt for traditional food as they used to in times gone by.  They could teach their young the ways of the traditional culture including the local language.  This would be ideal giving purpose to life each day.  Unfortunately such ambitions were usually contaminated by the worst features of the non-indigenous society that had annexed the traditional lands.  Poor food choices, poor health facilities, the scourge of alcohol and other drugs were mostly too strong and overpowered the desire to live the traditional life enhanced by the best that could be taken from the indigenous cultures.

Some communities adapted and have pastoral, mining and land care involvement and can be self sufficient and be free to make decisions about their lives.  Unfortunately many communities do not have these situations and domestic violence, youth suicide and seriously high rates of incarceration exist.

The federal parliament of our country needs a direct avenue whereby they can listen to the communities, tune into their needs and suggest self determined solutions, then through bipartisan action work to put those solutions into place.  This direct avenue is an honorary body of revered indigenous leaders from the local areas meeting with the parliament at least twice per year.  Normal parliamentary business would be suspended to provide a serious and respectful act of listening by the parliamentarians.  They must be open minded and not expect one size fits all solutions.  The revered leaders like the Dodson brothers, Noel Pearson, Rosalie Kunoth-Monks are the great persons of whom I write. They are the Philosopher Kings and Queens of our diverse indigenous nation and as in Plato's day are to be listened to with respect and reverence.

I am like a cracked record on this matter and will continue to push for this group as described.  We see signs of such in the group reviewing and commenting on constitutional recognition for indigenous persons.

I am a technological novice who doesn't know how to work the hustings to get support for my suggestion.  I am aware of Facebook and Twitter but am nervous about committing to these social media behomoths.   There are smart technical savvy people out there who could lead the way.



GD

Soaring Kimberley youth suicide rate

I am saddened to read the article:  Chapman Murray, "Soaring Kimberley youth suicide rate demands attention," The West Australian, 28 June 2016, p19.  To quote:

"Rates of indigenous suicide in the Kimberley over the past 10 years were seven times the national average."  The national rate is 12 suicides per 100,000 people while rates in the Kimberley are 74 people per 100,000.

Professor Chapman indicates that "Indigenous suicide may be considered one of the 'downstream effects of the processes involved in colonisation followed by further cultural disruption in the wake of the efforts to recolonise."  Against this scenario he writes:  "....suicide appears to have been unknown in traditional indigenous society."  He cites indigenous youth being the group most at risk.  On top of this Professor Chapman indicates high rates of suicidality behaviours such as self harm among indigenous populations at 10 times those experienced by the non-indigenous population.

To read this on the eve of a Federal election almost devoid of any voiced commitments to indigenous affairs is a dreadful irony.  Bill Shorten did indicate that he is proud that there are more indigenous Labor candidates for this election than ever before.  If elected they face a massive challenge to address problems such as Professor Chapman's article reveals.

I still hold to my position that the Federal Parliament should have an honorary body of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prominent persons representing the various indigenous communities across Australia.  These leaders should be allowed to sit with the House of Representatives at least twice each year and be able to state their problems to the whole parliament which must listen then act in a bipartisan way.  The normal business of the House would be suspended for the period of these meetings as a sign of respect that the whole nation is listening and is prepared to act together to right the wrongs for indigenous Australians.  I ask for such a revered group with its members not restricted by political party affiliations even though some of its members might happen to be elected state or federal politicians for example Pat Dodson a senator in the WA upper house.  These respected persons are the Philosopher Kings and Queens of their people and parliament must listen.

My plan is radical but nothing ventured nothing gained.  We are not winning at the moment and indigenous persons are dying by their own hand or earlier than would be expected and indigenous youth is being incarcerated at an alarming rate. We must get the local community views directly into the parliament not have them filtered/trickled in through layers of people.

Help me gather momentum for what I have suggested.



GD

Sydney : 1788/2016

More poetry.  Another sonnet.  I can't help myself and once again apologies to all good poets.

Sydney : 1788/2016

Wind sighing in that quiet green place

Waves lapping on white sand shore

Tribes living free by ancient law

Furtive dark eyes from craggy face

Peer bemused at that urgent race

That grunts and pulls as it seeks ever more

From that unblemished pristine shore

I am silent, still, as a city gathers pace

The bridge, the bustle, about to gush

White, brown and black for life do claw

Towards their goals amid the rush

Of the awakening giant with greedy maw

Hopes won, hopes dashed in the selfish push

For understanding, love, amid traffic’s roar Enough already! GD

1788

I humbly offer this sonnet I penned some time ago with apologies to all good poets:

Australia Day - The Terra Nullius Excuse

Webs shimmering in the dewy morning air

Wisps of smoke from dwindled fires

Bird calls from leafy lofty spires

He stands tall, lean, one-legged there

On rocky headland salt-sprayed bare

What strange craft on sea swell mires

The calmness of these homeland shires

They come these harbingers of despair

Strange ways and customs do they bring

Taking anything and all they need

No talk or bargain was there made

They must away their death we sing

Tithing our land with evil greed

Mysterious arrogant force displayed

Enough already!

GD

A Treaty

Heard Bill Shorten say today that he would support a Treaty once the constitutional recognition of Australia's First Peoples has occurred.

This is good news but the bad news is the fighting and unrest in the Aurukun community in the north east of Queensland.  The teachers have been pulled out and the schooling has gone over to distance education offerings.  A report stated:  "Twenty-five teachers and staff are leaving Aurukun after the principal of Noel Pearson's Cape York Academy had his car stolen by a group of youths, one who was brandishing an axe."  It's a major worry.

GD

2016 Federal Election

It's on again!  The Pollies are out and about and currently the polls have it neck a neck.

As part of this hive of activity the referendum to recognise Australia's first peoples in the Australian Constitution is under detailed discussion by a select group of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal persons.

I hope it gets done.  I recently heard some of the select group discuss the progress of the referendum and was heartened.

I am confident that the recognition will occur but not so confident that things will change on the ground for those indigenous Australians still experiencing very adverse living conditions which in some cases are third world and a blight on our society.

GD

Senator Pat Dodson

Senator Dodson.  It has a nice ring to it to know that this great Aboriginal leader is in the WA senate.  Can't wait to see his influence have a telling effect where it counts for his people and in other general matters of governance.

Pat Dodson is a Philosopher King of his people and Australia must listen to him and others of the same order of wisdom.

The bad news is that the suicide and incarceration rate amongst Aboriginal youth is high.  There must be an answer!

I feel so powerless as a non-indigenous Australian to assist the Aboriginal cause.  I did what I could in my career as an educator but now in retirement just sit and rejoice in the good news stories and cry over the bad news stories that predominate the evolution of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.  I know that the solutions lie with the Aboriginal people but I long to help and don't know how to do this.  "Moan, moan", I hear you say.  "Get of your backside and find out what you can do!"
It doesn't seem to be that easy given the suspicion with which Aboriginal people understandably regard we non-indigenes.  I still remember walking through classrooms of Aboriginal children and hearing the whispers of Watjala (white man).

Go for it my indigenous brothers and sisters.  Find the solutions and if nobodies like me can help by just teaching someone the skills of learning seek us out.  I would help with no sense of wanting one ounce of gratitude or kudos. I owe it to you my indigenous brothers and sisters because my forebears took your lands away from you and mangled your many cultures.

GD (Stands for Grandad as I am well and truly an elder of my tribe)