Comments on: Australia Divided: Indigenous Australians v the rest

By: rjg

rjg — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Steve, there is a lot of truth in what you say, however as an example, in my work place the attitude of the white people with respect to the lower strata of whites is a damn site better that their continual racist attitude against Aboriginals. The sad part is, none of them have ever spoken to an Aboriginal person let alone had an Aboriginal friend.

By: John Templeman

John Templeman — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Just a small but very important correction. Victoria actually has the 5th highest Indigenous population (after the NT and before SA) with more than 30,000 Indigenous people in the State. I think you meant that it has the smallest Indigenous population as a proportion of the total state population (0.6%).

By: steve etherington

steve etherington — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Its not rocket science: its more important but simpler. You’ve reported the stats on a group defined by indigeneity. if you analyze the same indices from non indigenous groups with similar very high long term unemployment, you will find the same kind of profile, and that will also include the poverty and self esteem pathologies like chjild abuse and smoking and drinking to high levels of self harm . Its not about indigeneity, its about access to, and participation in, the mainstream workforce.

By: Marion

Marion — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

For as long as the Aboriginal women remain barefoot and pregnant all Aboriginal peoples will be denied their rightful place in Australia. An educated woman with high self-esteem will demand justice and equity for herself and for her children. Within one generation the whole mess could be cleaned up if all female children were to be nurtured, educated and protected from exploitation. This could be done without destroying their language or their culture. It would reinforce the advancement if the male children were also nurtured, educated and protected from exploitation but no advancement is possible without the advancement of the future mothers of the Aboriginal peoples.