Lifting the burden placed on Aborigines?

Would a high commission to Aborigines mean money spent where it counts?

The Australian newspaper continues to provide ‘food for thought’ re: improving the social health of our Indigenous communities.

Reporter and author Rosemary Neill first spoke of Indigenous family violence in 1994. She has written:

• A senior politician remained unmoved when told that a seven year old Aboriginal girl had contracted four sexually transmitted diseases.
• The code of silence remained unbroken until the mid-1990s, with politicians, feminists, white progressives and indigenous organisations all turning a blind eye.
• Why? Many conservatives were indifferent and saw black-on-black violence and abuse as “just the Aboriginal way”.
• Progressives stayed mute because they feared reinforcing negative stereotypes. They thought they were being culturally sensitive.
• Is it sensitive to tacitly endorse a code of silence that allows infant rape to go unpunished?

In The Australian last weekend John Hirst – author of ‘Sense and Nonsense in Australian History’ – suggested one commissioner being in charge of two or three Aboriginal settlements – population of a few thousand in total. One of the constant complaints of Aborigines is that bureaucrats come, consult but can’t promise – then another bureaucrat comes! The commissioner concept might deal with this problem, he suggests.

Aboriginal culture works best when not attempting to manage matters foreign to their culture. Hirst says the central fallacy in Aboriginal administration is that change must come through the Aboriginal community – but how can it if the community is dysfunctional?

How might the commissioners work?

• They would visit regularly and know the people well;
• They would make decisions on the spot on the basis of direct observation;
• They would be in charge of all government spending in the area on all programs, aiming to get the best results – maybe concentrating first on getting kids to school;
• They would take charge of housing – a large power BUT eslewhere housing is handled in a ‘hard-headed’ way by bank managers, landlords & land agents and tenancy tribunals;
• They would work with those in the settlements with a willingness to take responsibility and work for change;
• They would report to ‘headquarters’ on their activities and be held responsible for making improvements.

Powerful comissioners would actually involve Aboriginals more closely in their own affairs because they would deal with them face to face, without paperwork, says Hirst.

Let’s lift the burden.

FOOTNOTE: A Media Release from the NT Government 31 May states:

“The Northern Territory Government?s Wadeye Co-ordinator, Mr David Coles, will arrive in the township today to meet with the local Council, organisations and residents to find a way forward at the troubled community.

Strong coordination across Territory, Commonwealth and local government agencies will be a key factor to success.

Mr Coles says his number one short term priority is to assess safety and housing issues in Wadeye community………………

During the next few days Mr Coles will make a first hand assessment of priority issues and work with the local council, traditional owners of Wadeye and its surrounding regions on what can be done immediately to make a difference for the community.”

Related PWF article Grant aggregation – Food for thought