VANSTONE’S POLICY ON REMOTE BLACK COMMUNITIES DISCRIMINATORY
Amanda Vanstone’s comments that the Federal Government might withhold funding from Aboriginal communities despite their need illustrate the ignorance and discriminatory nature of her Government’s Aboriginal policies.
Government policies set the conditions under which different sections of the Australian population thrive. Tax breaks to large corporations are one example that helps Australian companies be more competitive on the world market and therefore increases company profits. But where is the equivalent government policy for Aborigines?
The absence of a sound social policy has shown to have many sad consequences for Aborigines.
While Lang Hancock’s daughter Gina Reinhardt can expect to pick up tens of millions of dollars in royalties for iron ore mining in the Pilbara, the Aboriginal traditional owners will get nothing. What sort of a social or economic policy is that?
Remote Aboriginal communities suffer the indignity of working for CDEP monies, or have to sign shared responsibility agreements to get the bare necessities of life. There is talk of taking the dole from them.
Not satisfied with imposing such a heavy burden on Aboriginal people, the Minister now wants Aboriginal communities to move to the cities. This represents an abuse of power over peoples lives. On the one hand government readily provides millions of dollars to farmers and miners operating in remote regions, but cannot do the same for Aborigines. Why not?
The difference of approach advanced by the Minister represents a policy of ethnic cleansing. White people are subsidised to remain in the outback while government withholds funding for Aborigines unless they move to the city, against their will.
The answer is the government should provide positive assistance to remote black communities just as it does to the whites.”
Michael Mansell
Secretary
9th December 2005