Shame on the Australian Federal Government

We are in the hands of a Federal Government that can't seem to get things right.  With almost every bit of legislation that they hail as a wonderful way forward there is almost inevitably a glitch.

Now they have rejected outright one of the best ideas for advancing the way for indigenous Australians.  From the recent Uluru gathering came the recommendation that as part of constitutional recognition of indigenous Aussies the practical way forward was to create an indigenous advisory body that the federal parliament calls upon when making legislation about indigenous affairs.  They would be like honorary members of the parliament with a very special role.  Some might even be members of parliament.

I am not one for self praise but I was thrilled when this recommendation was made as about two years ago I wrote a long letter to the relevant politicians suggesting that representatives from the various Aboriginal nations be elected to create such a body.  The indigenous communities across Australia are not one body but a set of tribes or nations each needing its own voice close to the legislating politicians.  This way the politicians hear the message from the grass roots and create ways forward that are not 'one size fits all'.  There are some wonderful Aboriginal leaders out there some of whom work in their local communities, some of whom work in wider society as doctors, lawyers and elected politicians.  I regard some of these great leaders as akin to the Philosopher Kings that Plato espoused.

Shame on the Federal Government for rejecting this recommendation.  They know full well that such a body would recommend things that would make the MPs uncomfortable.  Time for some, dare I say, political guts and bullet biting.

I had temporarily deleted this blog but resurrected it because of this latest shameful act.  I just had to get it all out there and would love to be part of one great voice that pressures the government to get its act together. One voice, add another voice, add another voice and so on and the message becomes loud and clear.


May the Force be with you!

GD

Rewriting some of Australia's history

A rather heated conversation pervades the Australian scene on whether we need to recast our history to recognise that 26 January 1788 was to many of our indigenous Aboriginal peoples an invasion by Britain.

The eastern coast of what is now Australia was discovered by Captain Cooke circa 1770 but the truth was that the land he discovered had already been inhabited by the Aboriginal peoples for thousands of years.  On this basis many now want the statue of Cooke to reflect this so that we will no longer think of him as the discoverer of the east coast.

Cooke's information was followed up to bring about the settlement on 26 January 1788 by British convicts and British soldiers under Governor Arthur Phillip.  From this day forward the Aboriginal peoples were gradually dispossessed of their tribal lands.  Their culture(s) were desecrated and the attempt was made to convert them to Christianity.

2017 still finds severe disadvantage amongst many Aboriginal people.  This week the arguments for some rewriting of the history to bring out the real truth of what occurred so long ago was eloquently propounded by the respected Aboriginal journalist Stan Grant.  Well done Stan you are very much on the mark and should not be put off by those who oppose what you have suggested.

I always thought that history was a dynamic text that needed updating in terms of new evidence or recognition of extant evidence that now needed to be taken into consideration.

We will be a more mature nation if we can follow Stan's lead.

May the Force for tolerance and recognition be with us!


GD

The disaster that is Roebourne

The town of Roebourne in Western Australia is under the spotlight with recent stark revelations of child abuse amongst its largely indigenous population.  The implementation of the welfare card system is very much seen as a circuit breaker to allow more lasting reform to take over.

Maybe this circuit breaker is needed but unless the indigenous peoples themselves work hard for the longer term solutions then only more suffering is likely to occur.  The great indigenous leaders, and there are many, both men and women, could step up and get the job done.  I visualise a great leader like Patrick Dodson (and others) walking through the Roebourne community like a colossus, like a Philosopher King at whose feet the residents will sit and listen.

No child, indigenous or non indigenous, should have to daily live in fear of abuse from adults in the grip of substances that take away all powers of human concern and reasoning.  They should be free of this fear tonight, tomorrow and every day for the rest of their lives.  Action must occur tonight, tomorrow and the next day until this flawed culture of abuse is replaced by a humane way of acting that shows concern for the inalienable rights of each human being on this earth.


May the Force be with us!



GD

Alice Springs Australia - March Against Domestic Violence

Large numbers have marched against domestic violence in the central Australian town Alice springs. Most of the marchers were indigenous Australians with women in the majority.

All hail these peaceful protestors.  I hope there was a lot of listening to this cry for safety and security  in the lives of all Australians, especially in their own homes.

I need my fellow males to stand up and be counted in this matter.

I offer this quote from a member of a family which suffered an extreme consequence of family violence:

"Hold your family close.  Never for a second take them for granted as that will be the second you lose them."


May the Force be with the marchers!


GD

A people divided about the Northern Territory intervention in Australia

Last night I viewed on TV the Q & A program with a panel largely comprised of indigenous Australians.  It became apparent that there is division amongst indigenous persons about whether the federal government intervention 10 years ago was effective, or resulted in a weakening of indigenous self determination efforts about where they want to be in this second decade of the 21st century.

I pray that my indigenous brothers and sisters can be self determining again and that they move quickly across their communities to ensure that domestic violence and high rates of youth incarceration are reigned in.  One very poor outcome of the intervention was the denigrating of indigenous men as the perpetrators of domestic violence and child abuse.  The evidence across Australia is that indigenous and non-indigenous males are more likely to carry out domestic violence so the finger cannot just be pointed at indigenous males.  I have met many fine indigenous men and we have plenty of examples of high profile law abiding and socially responsible indigenous men across the Australian population.

Let us all step up together, indigenous and non indigenous persons, to stamp out domestic violence and child abuse.  Let us stand united in shaping Australian society under the umbrella of the UN Charter of Human Rights.  A first step might be to have an Australian version of this Charter.

May the Force be with us!



GD

Suicide in the Kimberleys of Western Australia

Another report of 13 suicides of indigenous youth in the Kimberley region.  One who took their  life was age 10.  This still occurring after many inquests and reports over the years into this very problem.

Come on indigenous leaders I believe you can reduce this scourge on your people.  This is a crucial issue for self determination to come strongly into play.

Youth suicide happens in the non indigenous population so don't feel that the focus is especially on the indigenous communities.  It is an issue for you, so whatever has happened to indigenous people since 1788, while exceptionally relevant, the reality today is desperate youth taking their own lives : your youth.

(See Clarke Tim, "Answers sought over suicides",  The West Australian, 27 June 2017, p16)

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.

May the Force be with you!


GD

The Northern territory intervention has its 10th anniversary

Ten years ago the Federal conservative Australian government took over 73 aboriginal communities suspending land rights legislation in order to do so.  Their reason was the evidence of appalling abuse of children in this communities.  It was about saving children, about giving then security and not having to live in fear of abuse.  The Labor Federal government that followed agreed with the intervention and continued it.

Today on TV there is a call by aboriginal communities for an apology from the current Federal government for this intervention.  The cry is that the intervention had over ridden self determination for the Aboriginal peoples of Australia.  I am a great believer in the self determination argument and am mortified to hear 10 years down the track that reported child abuse has doubled despite the intervention.  A note of caution is that the intervention may have triggered more reporting of abuse but the lack of overall success of the intervention stands.

The intervention also saw less houses available as more old ones were pulled down than new ones built.

Another aspect of the intervention was the taking over of the government social security payments such that they were not to be in cash but quarantined in a welfare card to stop spending on alcohol and drugs instead of the essentials for living.  The jury is out on the success of the welfare card but it is now applied to non aboriginal as well as aboriginal communities and many swear by its positive effects.  However the welfare card system caused some aborigines to lose their work for the dole jobs.

Standing back 10 years down the track any thinking human has to support activity that stops children being abused aboriginal or non aboriginal.  Maybe a brief and temporary intervention would have been better to allow a stronger self determination to take its place.  Very complicated.

Even with my support for self determination by the aboriginal people I don't think anything is to be achieved by the I told you so approach of a government apology.  This is especially the case as we wait for the aboriginal referendum decision that if not watered down constitutionally supports self determination.  We should be impatient for this and at the same time aboriginal communities should be doing everything they can to nurture their children in a safe and happy environment as should also non aboriginal persons.

May the Force be with us for understanding and tolerance!

GD


25 June 2017

Today nn TV I heard a young female aboriginal community worker from Alice Springs in central Australia speak positively about the effects of the intervention particularly from the point of view of women, children and those men who resist violent behaviour in their communities.  She felt it raised awareness and resulted in aboriginal communities working to eliminate violence in aboriginal communities.


May the Force be with all aboriginal Australians!


GD