Boy the heat is on the current Federal Government over indigenous affairs. The PM is clawing back from a poor report on closing the gap and indicating to we the great unwashed that more has been achieved recently.
Bill Shorten the leader of the opposition is applying pressure by offering to be bipartisan on indigenous affairs but indicating that a Labor government would not wait around if this is not forthcoming. He is offering that a Labor Government would give serious consideration to the Uluru recommendation of a representative aboriginal body to advise parliament. Further they would consider compensation for the wrings of the past.
The next federal election is not that far off and any party that does not have in its platform serious policies on indigenous affairs is going to be in trouble.
Roll on a republic where we can start afresh and be as one people in the Republic of Australia.
Is a new and huge petition needed?
May the Force be with us for achieving true reconciliation!
GD
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Thursday, February 8, 2018
I feel a petition coming on!
The Australian Federal Government has just received a very poor report card about 'closing the gap' such that indigenous Aussies are not disadvantaged.
Here are some paragraphs from previous post on this blog:
"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.
We know that the Uluru recommendation for a top Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander body to advise the federal parliament is not accepted at this stage. The federal government is making a grave error in not accepting this recommendation. Such a body could comprise leaders from the various indigenous nations within Australia and feed grassroots concerns direct to the federal government. Thus we would have the potential for informed change from the ground up, not the top down with politicians far removed from the real local issues calling the shots. Will we ever learn?"
*****************************
I wrote this stuff but received no comments which is not unexpected as everyone has had a gutfull of the bungling of the Federal Government. Even today it was reported that Malcolm Turnbull our PM couldn't even stay for the full meeting where I think the report card was being discussed. Senator Pat Dodson was outraged at what he saw as a snub by the PM. The excuse was a prior appointment. Not good enough PM.
I hope for comments to support this post but am going to follow up how to get a petition going. It's time, in fact it's past time for a major concerted and sustained outcry as the next election approaches rapidly.
May the Force be with you!
GD
Here are some paragraphs from previous post on this blog:
"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.
We know that the Uluru recommendation for a top Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander body to advise the federal parliament is not accepted at this stage. The federal government is making a grave error in not accepting this recommendation. Such a body could comprise leaders from the various indigenous nations within Australia and feed grassroots concerns direct to the federal government. Thus we would have the potential for informed change from the ground up, not the top down with politicians far removed from the real local issues calling the shots. Will we ever learn?"
*****************************
I wrote this stuff but received no comments which is not unexpected as everyone has had a gutfull of the bungling of the Federal Government. Even today it was reported that Malcolm Turnbull our PM couldn't even stay for the full meeting where I think the report card was being discussed. Senator Pat Dodson was outraged at what he saw as a snub by the PM. The excuse was a prior appointment. Not good enough PM.
I hope for comments to support this post but am going to follow up how to get a petition going. It's time, in fact it's past time for a major concerted and sustained outcry as the next election approaches rapidly.
May the Force be with you!
GD
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Still waiting
We go to our Australian Christmas still unsure whether the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders will be recognised in the Australian Constitution.
We know that the Uluru recommendation for a top Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander body to advise the federal parliament is not accepted at this stage. The federal government is making a grave error in not accepting this recommendation. Such a body could comprise leaders from the various indigenous nations within Australia and feed grassroots concerns direct to the federal government. Thus we would have the potential for informed change from the ground up, not the top down with politicians far removed from the real local issues calling the shots. Will we ever learn?
In outlining his broad goals for 2018 I didn't hear any mention by Prime Minister Turnbull about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Shame!
May the Force be with us as we try to right the wrongs of 1788!
GD
We know that the Uluru recommendation for a top Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander body to advise the federal parliament is not accepted at this stage. The federal government is making a grave error in not accepting this recommendation. Such a body could comprise leaders from the various indigenous nations within Australia and feed grassroots concerns direct to the federal government. Thus we would have the potential for informed change from the ground up, not the top down with politicians far removed from the real local issues calling the shots. Will we ever learn?
In outlining his broad goals for 2018 I didn't hear any mention by Prime Minister Turnbull about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Shame!
May the Force be with us as we try to right the wrongs of 1788!
GD
Thursday, November 9, 2017
How long do we have to wait
With the Australian Federal government in disarray and having just rejected a major Uluru announcement, indigenous Australians must be tearing their hair out. Our government says it wants to listen and take advice from indigenous communities, but when that advice is super serious yet doesn't suit, it is rejected.
I am not indigenous but very sympathetic to the cause of indigenous Australians and I am appalled at what the Federal Government isn't doing for the First Australians.
May the Force be with our country as it tries to get it right!
GD
I am not indigenous but very sympathetic to the cause of indigenous Australians and I am appalled at what the Federal Government isn't doing for the First Australians.
May the Force be with our country as it tries to get it right!
GD
Thursday, October 26, 2017
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
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
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
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 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
Thursday, August 10, 2017
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)