Intervention by the Howard Government in this matter has won much approval, nevertheless there are cynics around who are wondering if this is not an opportunistic initiative. As someone said to me, "why is it that the concern for child welfare seems to become so important to some parliamentary or government leaders in the period proceeding elections."
Of course, the most blatant example that gives rise to this speculation is the issue of "children overboard" which preceded a previous Federal Election. Regardless of the cynicism, this issue had to be confronted. There also has to be great concern as to why the urgency of this problem and many other problems concerning the Aboriginal community were not confronted at the great celebration recently held in Canberra to mark the 40th anniversary of the referendum held in 1967 which gave the Commonwealth government power to deal with Aboriginal Affairs.
When the referendum was carried by way over 90% of the population, there was enormous public enthusiasm and endorsement of the idea that Aboriginal people should be counted in the census and have their problems redressed by affirmative action to be undertaken by the Commonwealth Government. This referendum was inspired by way of the enthusiasm of such people as Dr Nugget Coombs, Billy Wentworth from the Liberal side of things and Gordon Bryant and Pastor Doug Nichols from Victoria and Faith Bandler and Charlie Perkins from NSW, Lingiari of the Gurindgi people at Wave Hill and many others around Australia at the time including the activists in FACTSI (Federal Council for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders).
There were also many in the Parliament who had spent years on Parliamentary Committees of enquiry looking at such questions as Land rights, electoral rights and the abuse of alcohol. As a result there is this enormous reservoir of reports and information the product of concern and research in the archives revealing the short comings in Aboriginal affairs and the need for a great Aboriginal equalization program to bring Aboriginal opportunities and the quality of life of Aboriginal people up to a par with that of the non Aboriginal community.
Yet at that great gathering in Canberra just a matter of a few weeks ago when this opportunity presented itself for our leaders on both sides of the political divide to indicate that there should be a program over the next 40 years to achieve equalization – and it’s going to take some time to address the product of 200 years of indifference and neglect – there was not anything of great significance said about a bilateral plan, the unity of purpose, the long term vision or the short term strategy.
There were good enough speeches made, but it should have been seen as an opportunity which would inspire Australians that we were on the threshold of confronting a problem which would not only placate the conscience of Australians but a problem that has troubled people around the world and which has for long impaired Australia’s otherwise high reputation in the eyes of the world. An opportunity missed, until suddenly it seems that the realization of the impending election manifested itself, this seems to be the cynical, one might say the driving, force behind the Howard Government’s decision to overtake its long years of indifference.
Following the Referendum there had been very significant advancement taken under the years of the Whitlam Government particularly in the area of land rights and loans to Aboriginal Communities, but of course those years were short lived, the initiatives taken by Gordon Bryant and several other Ministers were probably the most significant taken up to that point until the era of the Whitlam ministries came to a premature conclusion. Nevertheless such highlights as the large acquisition of agricultural lands for Aboriginal purposes and the symbolic handing over of the Vesty properties at Watti Creek, Wave Hill to the Gurindgi people as well as the introduction of the first Northern Territory Land Rights legislation will long be remembered. Following this there was an initial burst of enthusiasm on the part of the Fraser Government, then came the accountable performance under the Hawke and Keating administrations and from there the rapid descent into 10 years of indifference.
These problems are not new, there is not just the issue of child molestation, or not just the issue of the excessive use of alcohol there are many more problems all interrelated. There is an obvious need to see the problems of Aboriginal people in their entirety. There is simply no answer in dealing with this massive multipronged problem issue by issue one at a time - you are not going to bring about equalization of opportunity and living standards by this approach. There is no point in giving people land unless you give them decent housing, there is no point in giving them decent housing unless you overcome their health problems, there is no point in having an education in many respects if there is no job opportunity at the other end of it.
So there is an obvious need to set up the task forces that will deal first with the urgent problems in a quick action program and then a longer term transparent program in which the Aboriginal communities can participate from the formulation stage and which the whole Australian community can participate in because of its transparency and because of the fact that it has been sensibly contributed to by the inputs of Aboriginal people and the State and Territory Governments. After all, we are looking at the product of mistreatment, and maladministration and bad concept in the affairs of Aboriginal people that have manifested themselves into this conglomeration over 200 years. This of course started with the paternalism of the colonial police in the early time following European settlement and then the paternalism of the squatters and the missionaries and the beauracracy and then the long era of the soul destroying welfare dependency.
In consideration of all this background the government should now seek to placate the earnest desires of the Australian people about the future welfare of our Indigenous people as expressed in the massive affirmative 1967 referendum vote by annunciating a comprehensive strategy of reform with short and long term achievement levels set to accomplish equalization within an achievable time scale.
I believe it's an over-simplification to take the view that the intolerable level of child molestation in the NT is predominately the product of the excessive use of alcohol. I believe it reflects the lack of self esteem and self respect and morality which have degenerated for the reasons I have annunciated. I am even more convinced that the Government's remedial strategy, that in many respect emulates the techniques of martial law (which seems to reflect the military background of the present Federal Minister), are likely to produce the same kind of disastrous sequels that have been seen in Iraq and East Timor. Heavy handed bombastic and autocratic tactics are inappropriate in overcoming social problems and dealing with the sensitivities of human beings in times of peace and such tactics will prove unsuccessful.
The Howard Government must quickly demonstrate to the Australian people at large and the Indigenous community in particular that it is prepared to work quickly and democratically with the Territories, States and Aboriginal representatives to fine tune this inadequate, vague and potentially divisive plan with genuine long term objectives in mind rather than expedient short term political advantage. Until then many will dismiss the initiative as a headline grabbing attempt to exploit a serious Aboriginal issue to gain an election advantage in the current precarious pre-election situation.
%20%20%20eric(joe)mcguinness.png "Les Johnson (on right) eric(joe)mcguinness")
On right: The author, Hon L R (Les) Johnson AM, a former Minister in the Whitlam Labor Government for Works, Housing and Construction and Aboriginal Affairs and Former Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand.