The human rights and quality of living standards of

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Preliminary comments

It is essential to have a Reconciliation and Rights agenda with Aboriginal people that goes hand in hand with the delivery of essential services to Aboriginal communities and the protection of children.

Conference rejects any political argument that there is a dichotomy between the protection of children on the one hand and the agenda for reconciliation and human rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on the other.

Statement

Federation reiterates the concern stated at 2006 Annual Conference that these actions are part of a continuing Howard Government strategy to significantly weaken the Northern Territory Land Rights Act and self determination for Aboriginal and Islander peoples. The scepticism is further reinforced when these proposed actions are announced within months of a federal election at a time when the Federal Government wants massive expansion of uranium and other mining on Aboriginal lands as well as a proposed radioactive waste dump in the Northern Territory.

Whilst we acknowledge the belated sense of urgency in which the Howard Government has responded to Little Children are Sacred (Anderson-Wild report), we are critical of the fact that during the 11 years of Howard's government there have been 54 reports commissioned with little or nothing done to address the basic issues of human rights of Aboriginal people in the areas of health, housing, education and self determination.

We are reminded that the 2006 attacks to the Northern Territory Land Rights Act were in the context of right wing think-tank proposals from the Menzies Research Centre to close remote Aboriginal communities and relocate Aboriginal people from their land to larger centres. Scepticism is further reinforced when we have a Federal Government that:

• refuses to say Sorry and does not support Reconciliation
• does not support Aboriginal people's rights to self determination
• used the 10 point plan to undermine Native Title and to deliver "bucket loads of extinguishment"
• abolished ATSIC and blamed Aboriginal organisations for dysfunction in Aboriginal communities
• persistently attacks the principle of Aboriginal autonomy and that Aboriginal self management is the only long term structure that can lead to improved dignity, respect and living standards for Aboriginal people
• attacks and isolates Aboriginal leaders who do not support Howard's actions
• is attempting to erode Aboriginal communal land ownership through a mechanism of private leases on Aboriginal land
• is progressively de-funding remote community projects in health and for young people and has de-funded community art centres which in many locations are the only source of paid income as distinct from relying on welfare.

Future

All evidence and advice tells us that centrally imposed "quick fixes" by a remote bureaucracy in Canberra or any other capital city in Australia will not work. The Federation restates its policy of opposing the coercive federalism of the Howard Government.

Conference calls for bipartisan support to the establishment of funded long-term programs to provide for social and physical infrastructure to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and offer genuine employment and training to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, especially within their local communities. These programs must be developed and implemented in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. In particular we call for:
a) $460 million per annum for at least the next 10 years to address primary health care demands in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities (consistent with the call from the Australian Medical Association)

b) initial commitment of $1.2 billion to rectify the housing shortage crisis

c) work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to provide:
i. educational facilities P-12 with the appropriate resources and staffing necessary to ensure equality of educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

ii. targeted educational programs to women that will be implemented over a long-term (minimum 25 years) period

d) work in partnership with Aboriginal communities to establish and develop local cultural awareness for all existing staff and that mandatory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies be key components of teacher training qualifications in all national universities.

Conclusion

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