Comments on: Calling for a government restructure to address Aboriginal issues http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/07/06/mungo-calling-for-a-government-restructure-to-address-aboriginal-issues/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:27:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: John Bennetts http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/07/06/mungo-calling-for-a-government-restructure-to-address-aboriginal-issues/#comment-30600 John Bennetts Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:25:41 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/07/06/mungo-calling-for-a-government-restructure-to-address-aboriginal-issues/#comment-30600 Again, I say... the "Little Children are Sacred Report" very wisely outlined many ways by which positive actions can be assessed, implemented and reviewed. Primarily, it recommended against ill-informed responses from afar and recommender for effective communication with the communities which are affected. Two years later, this report is still being ignored while public policy rolls on unabated by a change of government. These issues could be managed so much better... why, why do we persist with heavy handed top-down policies and actions, whilst avoiding polite consultation and informed public debate? What a waste of money, time, goodwill and opportunity. Again, I say… the “Little Children are Sacred Report” very wisely outlined many ways by which positive actions can be assessed, implemented and reviewed. Primarily, it recommended against ill-informed responses from afar and recommender for effective communication with the communities which are affected.

Two years later, this report is still being ignored while public policy rolls on unabated by a change of government.

These issues could be managed so much better… why, why do we persist with heavy handed top-down policies and actions, whilst avoiding polite consultation and informed public debate? What a waste of money, time, goodwill and opportunity.

]]> By: jungarrayi http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/07/06/mungo-calling-for-a-government-restructure-to-address-aboriginal-issues/#comment-30455 jungarrayi Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:27:45 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/07/06/mungo-calling-for-a-government-restructure-to-address-aboriginal-issues/#comment-30455 As a resident of a "Prescribed area" under the Intervention this sentence from Mungo's article is the one that most resonates: "The danger, of course, is that it will just result in more and more bureaucrats tripping over each other as their supposed clients, Aboriginal Australians, look on in helpless bewilderment." When listening to the news I heard Kevin Rudd saying the following: "We have to redouble and treble our efforts to make an impact" My reaction was like the subject of Munch's famous painting (and by the way, was the painting ever recovered?). Please Noooooo!!! Not 3 GBMs (Government Business Managers), not 6 "No Alcohol No pornography" signs, not 3 extra police, not 3 CEBs (Community Employment Brokers, not 3 times the Centrelink personnel ... Please Noooo!!!! Don't treble your efforts! Don't worry Mr. Rudd your Government is having an impact. The social fabric of places like Yuendumu is being torn apart. The disempowerement of Warlpiri people is almost total. If our society was a Geological formation, shatter cones would be its most common structure. Another sentence from the article that resonates is: "...one size fits all approach of the intervention is plainly inappropriate to societies as diverse as indigenous Australia...." I keep telling all that care to listen... Yuendumu was doing OK 15 years ago. It did not deserve the assimilationist Howard regime and the Intervention. There is much to celebrate about Yuendumu and its Warlpiri population (not least its sense of humour and resilience) I once again leave the final word to Kim Beazley Sr.: "In Australia, our ways have mostly produced disaster for the Aboriginal people. I suspect that only when their right to be distinctive is accepted, will policy become creative". As a resident of a “Prescribed area” under the Intervention this sentence from Mungo’s article is the one that most resonates:
“The danger, of course, is that it will just result in more and more bureaucrats tripping over each other as their supposed clients, Aboriginal Australians, look on in helpless bewilderment.”
When listening to the news I heard Kevin Rudd saying the following:
“We have to redouble and treble our efforts to make an impact”
My reaction was like the subject of Munch’s famous painting (and by the way, was the painting ever recovered?). Please Noooooo!!! Not 3 GBMs (Government Business Managers), not 6 “No Alcohol No pornography” signs, not 3 extra police, not 3 CEBs (Community Employment Brokers, not 3 times the Centrelink personnel … Please Noooo!!!! Don’t treble your efforts!
Don’t worry Mr. Rudd your Government is having an impact. The social fabric of places like Yuendumu is being torn apart. The disempowerement of Warlpiri people is almost total. If our society was a Geological formation, shatter cones would be its most common structure.
Another sentence from the article that resonates is: “…one size fits all approach of the intervention is plainly inappropriate to societies as diverse as indigenous Australia….” I keep telling all that care to listen… Yuendumu was doing OK 15 years ago. It did not deserve the assimilationist Howard regime and the Intervention. There is much to celebrate about Yuendumu and its Warlpiri population (not least its sense of humour and resilience) I once again leave the final word to Kim Beazley Sr.:
“In Australia, our ways have mostly produced disaster for the Aboriginal people. I suspect that only when their right to be distinctive is accepted, will policy become creative”.

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