Indigenous call for vote against Howard Government

Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) has recommended that voters concerned about indigenous justice and reconciliation should not vote for the Coalition at the upcoming Federal election.

ANTaR national president Phil Glendenning said this was the first time ANTaR, a non-party-political organisation, has recommended that people interested in reconciliation do not vote for the Coalition.

"ANTaR believes the proposals of the Howard Government to abolish a national Indigenous voice and return to mainstream service delivery will be disastrous and so we must make this recommendation," Mr Glendenning said.

"If voters are concerned about Indigenous justice and reconciliation they should not vote for the Coalition candidates, but direct their vote elsewhere.

ANTaR's call came in its 2004 election kit which is aimed at assisting reconciliation and other community groups to actively support indigenous issues and candidates at the federal election. "The Howard Government has failed to make a dent in the shocking rates of disadvantage faced by Indigenous people, particularly in relation to health," Mr Glendenning said.

"Despite the Government's lack of outcomes on indigenous issues, it has attacked indigenous organisations and particularly ATSIC to undermine their financial, political and public support." "The Howard Government has consistently ignored its responsibility to consult with indigenous people about decisions that affect their lives. Its contemptuous attitude to indigenous people is reflected in its decisions to abandon an independent indigenous voice in policymaking and return to hand-picked Indigenous advisors."

"The 2004 election kit offers more information on the rationale for ANTaR's decision to recommend people vote for parties other than the Coalition. It does not endorse any particular political party." The 2004 Election Kit includes a report card of the policies and priorities in indigenous affairs of the major political parties, which was produced from responses sought from the major parties by ANTaR. The kit covers issues such as reconciliation, self-determination, indigenous disadvantage and native title as well as information about how to lobby parliamentarians, how to use the media and other suggested election activities.

ANTaR's 2004 election kit and report card are available online at ANTaR's website at www.antar.org.au or you can contact the ANTaR office on (02) 95556138 for a printed version. Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR), PO Box 1176 Rozelle NSW 2039, phone (02) 95556138, fax (02) 9555 6991www.antar.org.au.

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