It is hard for those who identify with those who established the original penal colony and who believe that they come from a superior sample of the human family, to deal with the very nasty recent history of our continent.
It is only in the past 235 years of colonisation that the Frontier Wars occurred, the Mission Stations or concentration camps for displaced indigenous refugees were established and hundreds of languages and distinctive cultures eradicated.
Denial of reality is still a strong theme amongst the remnants of colonial Australia.
Just this month we heard from an Indigenous woman, spokesperson for the No Campaign and a National Party senator when asked about her views on whether colonisation had negative impacts upon the Indigenous people, stated: “I’ll be honest with you, I do not think so. A positive impact, absolutely. I mean, now we have running water, readily available food.”
In contrast, last year the federal Australian Institute of Health and Welfare stated; “colonisation has had a devastating impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and culture.” [Guardian, 14 September 2023]
The Gap
It has long been recognised that the First Nations people suffer from profound disadvantage when compared to the general Australian population.
This disparity is referred to as “The Gap.”
COAG agreed in 2018 to establish the Joint Council on Closing the Gap including as joint decision makers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander for the first time.
The National Agreementj came into effect 27 July 2020 upon agreement of First Ministers of all Australian governments, the Lead Convener of the Coalition of Peaks and the President of Australian Local Government Association
One of its major objectives was “… to overcome the entrenched inequality faced by too many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people so that their life outcomes are equal to all Australians.”
With 19 national socio-economic targets progress is monitored by the Productivity Commission.
Underpinning this agreement is the belief, “… that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved..” [closingthegap.gov.au]
The Gap is Not Closing – Need for a Voice
The 2023 Draft Report of the Productivity Commission shows that overall Australian governments are failing to meet their commitments. [26 July]
It found four targets are improving and on track, including reduced numbers of young people in detention.
Seven targets are not on track but improving.
Four targets are not on track and are worsening.
Failure is noted in the targets of increasing the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children assessed as developmentally on track, decreasing the rate of adults held in incarceration, reducing rates of children in out-of-home care, and a significant and sustained reduction in suicide. [12 July 2023 Guardian]
The 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart requests a Voice so polices dealing with First Nations people can be successful.
The Australian Human Rights Commission sees the Uluru Statement as being composed of three key pillars:
“Voice – a constitutionally enshrined representative mechanism to provide expert advice to Parliament about laws and policies that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Treaty – a process of agreement-making between governments and First Nations peoples that acknowledges the historical and contemporary cultural rights and interests of First Peoples by formally recognising sovereignty, and that land was never ceded.
Truth – a comprehensive process to expose the full extent of injustices experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, to enable shared understanding of Australia’s colonial history and its contemporary impacts.” [Uluru Statement from the Heart Human Right Commission]
Tsunami of Lies
The need for this Voice to Parliament is being obscured by a tsunami of lies from extremists.
“It will not cause you to lose your back yard or take away your home. It will not force Australia to pay reparations. It is not a communist plot. It will not result in Aboriginal people getting free home loans or cars or university degrees.” [13 September 2023 Lorena Allam Guardian]
We must be conscious of the First Nations voices warning that under a racist government the Voice could be stacked with sycophants and used as a weapon for the corporations against First Nations.
The form of and selection to the Voice is a great importance.
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