How practical is the Howard plan for our “Indigenous emergency”
Howard’s “neoliberalism” recognises no tension between equality and equity: it is all about assimilation, mainstreaming, integration and normalisation, there is little room for cultural diversity and difference or for engagement with democratically elected indigenous voices. Indeed, “culture” is demonised as the source from which so much dysfunction springs forth.
For a government that regularly bleats the mantra of practicality, there is something very knee-jerk, opportunistic and impractical about the suite of measures, and little that appears sustainable. For example, will alcohol prohibition for six months on Aboriginal communities merely result in problem drinkers moving to urban centres?
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It is a very sad indictment that this latest paternalistic reaction to a very convoluted problem is and can be seen as another attempt by the Government to put a bandaid on a seriously deep wound that has been exacerbated by years of inaction and neglect by the bandaid wielding Government.
Where does the abuse stop?
It is strange that something that has existed for years (shameful as it is) is only now recognised by our national government and is suddenly categorised as an emergency. I wonder if such a disaster would have been allowed to continue for so long if we didn’t have a system where the states can blame the national government and vice versa, while neither does anything effective.
The financial savings made by abolishing state governments would be huge and these savings could be plowed into effective research and programs to deal with problems such as these.
It seems to me that the current situation suits politicians very well and does a huge disservice to the other 99.9% of the population.
Assimilation works for few. Alcohol for sex. Trachoma can be treated. Alcoholism cannot be cured. Permit system helps protect communities, but doesn’t prevent insiders going to the source.In retrospect, the stolen generation, was not a bad idea. There are people here today, because they were stolen.. White children in dysfunctional families become wards of the state; aboriginal children miss out because they are perceived as being stolen. Every settlement should have a special place where the community can report what is ailing them, without fear or favour. Train more to be Justices of the Peace to handle misdemeanors insitu.Alcoholism is set up by a loss of self esteem, that must be addressed immediately.I know that children need mental stimulation in the form of hobbies. Teach kids to build and race Go-karts, Kite Flying. Model R/C Aero planes, fossicking for Gemstones, and of course a heavy emphasis on sport and music. Competition builds character and self esteem.
laws should never be made on the basis of race. The 1967 constitutional amendment, allowing the federal government to legislate on behalf of aboriginal people, although made for the best of intentions at the time, was racist and this current action by the federal government is a result. We need to ensure that health and education are available to all Australians there is no need to bring race into it. If people live in isolated communities then provision must be made (for white and black). Aborigional history and regional languages should be taught in all schools to everybody this is an Australian heritage. Disadvantaged regions must be given more money and help - they may have large aboriginal populations and small white ones but there is no need for this to be mentioned in a law it is the disadvantage that must be addressed not the colour of the skin.
Seems to me that you cannot cure an addiction by making it ilegal, an addict has to choose sobriety for themselves. I don’t believe you can change behaviour without education either. More police will not teach respect, compassion, or a sense of responsibility for the lives we bring into this world.
Unlike Mr. Parker I’d rather get rid of the commonwealth government. This is supposed to be the 21st century we should be stepping forward yet we seem to be going backward in so many areas, (war rather than words, workers rights, racism, escalating violence- gang rape, bullying…) it is frightening. And I blame the commonwealth government, and imagine how much money we’d save without them $175.00 a night multiplied by..how many? Just for a start.
This government’s draconian measures will not have a positive effect on life for the people in NT. No self esteem building here, just more taken from people who have lost so much already.
The Howard Government’s plan is disgraceful. Prohibition has a proven history of not working. In the majority of Aboriginal communities access to decent affordable food is non-existent so holding back on income does not provide a balanced diet. Education of white and black Australians has to be the answer!
I worked for some time in an Aboriginal Health service (although I am white). They have made fantastic gains in maternal and child health, but have been unable to scratch the surface on alcoholism. Watching someone go through the delerium tremens is not a pleasant experience. There is also a certain proportion of aboriginal people with korsakoff’s syndrome - brain damage caused by excessive drinking. I have witnessed aboriginal people throw what is known as “korsakoff fits” which are uncontrollable rages. During these fits they can do terrible damage, but later they have no recall.
Alcoholism is a serious disease and “drying out” can be arduous and painful.
Once a community decides to go “dry”, another settlement emerges close by where the drinkers all converge. Alternately, they head for the nearest towns and cities where their lifestyle causes problems.
It is a difficult issue with no easy answer.
For the ten years that this Government has been in office, they have, by numerous bodies, been kept well aware of the situation they are now calling “an emergency”. The fact that this declaration presents as a framework only, and in the shadow of an election clearly indicates a lack of any kind of credible commitment. It is infuriating that the present Government will stoop this low for political opportunism in the face of what is probably our nation’s greatest shame.
The history of this government should lead us all to be very sceptical. Is this just another example of John Howard using racism to fuel an issue that he trhinks will resound with the electorate for nothing more than political gain?
Yes, Aboriginal health and education are a national disgrace - but simplistic, one-size fits all solutions are not the answer. What is needed is an approach which draws on the collective wisdom of all the stakeholders and a significant long-term increase funding.
This “national emergency” is not about Aboriginals, abuse or alcohol.
It is a belief that any problem can be solved by application of mass force when directed by those empowered who become more so in the short term. I.e. win the election
It is the application of the politics we have seen in the past.
Find and issue, inflate it, give it a measure of fear, propose simplistic fixes and tell anyone disagreeing that, in this case, they have no feeling for the abused, no not Aborigines, children.
In Iraq it was WMD’s (later democracy imposition) in which the fear of being seen to be unfeeling is replaced by the fear of annihilation.
A cynical observer could quite conceivably argue that, this whole exercise was/is a pre-election campaign ploy to evade the downward spiral in the polls, john howard was experiencing over the Broadband
issue.
On the face of it, John Howard’s “National Emergency” declared to save Aboriginal women and children from abuse appears to be a good idea. However, given his past record of inaction on this, as well as Aboriginal health and early demise, it would be well to examine it deeply. He is facing a difficult election and has been searching for a stunt to help him retain power. Maybe this is it. Many of the proposals seem “knee-jerk” ones. Also, Aboriginal Land Rights seem at risk. Could this”emergency” mask an ulterior motive, such as siting world uranium dumps on their land? We should consult with the Aboriginal peoples to arrive at real solutions to the huge problems our government has caused them and act in a truly practical way to ameliorate them. Now.
After all these years in government, Mr Howard is suddenly concerned about indigenous people? Pulleese. His concern just happens to be a few months away from an election, in a country that re-elected his government based on Tampa-fuelled racist scaremongering and lies, a country not renowned for respect towards its Aborigines.
It is curious that indigenous people’s long-standing suffering is suddenly a ‘crisis’, just at the same time as Mr Howard is working hard to sell more killer uranium, most of which is on indigenous land, and build a nuclear waste dump.
I suggest that the community takeover is simply a sneaky, covert ploy to invade indigenous people’s land, yet again, and steal uranium profits from under their weary feet and/or put a nuclear waste dump on their land, out of sight and out of mind. I feel ashamed to be an Australian, and dumbfounded how my fellow citizens have fallen for this man’s lies and deceit time and time again and show no signs of waking up.