wtf? a new age of paternalism in australia?
November 10th, 2004
It’s been no secret that John Howard and many of his cabinet would like to keep most women out of the workforce and at home having good consumeristic babies. Howard went about elimnating a lot of women’s services when he first got in in 1996. Check out this article for details: [Anne Summers IWD lecture 2003]
Today, with his new ‘mandate from the masses’ giving him control of the Senate, he’s set his sights on eliminating aboriginal services and unions are next.
Not only has he (with Labour’s help mind you) eliminated ATSIC - the only indigenous elected body in Australia - but he will introduce new rules that set indigenous people aside as basket-cases in need of guidance. The extent of his arrogance is unbelievable!
Under the new plan, indigenous families will have to force their kids to go to school or risk losing welfare payments. In addition, Howard proposes that cleanliness and diet will be assessed. Considering the lack of access to things like clean water and decent health care in many indigenous communities, this add insult to the already considerable injury the government has perpetrated on indigenous people since 1788. In addition, the lives of indigenous people are constantly under scrutiny - the govt hiring security guards to watch people in a new housing development [ABC], and a raid on the National Indgenous Newspaper in Canberra[ABC] are recent examples, although ongoing ‘racial profiling’ by the police is occuring.
Fortunately the Australian Council of Social Services and the UN Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission have both challenged this plan, labelling it racist and paternalistic. ACOSS points out that indigenous Australians are the poorest group in Australia with life expectancy that is 20 years less than the general population; unemployment rates that are 3.8 times higher; and school retention rates to year 12 that are 44% below that of other Australians.
“Indigenous people must have the tools and resources to take the initiative and manage their own services. History has shown that reliance on old-style paternalism or mainstream services can not reduce poverty, poor health and disadvantage.” ACOSS has recently draw attention to the way that representative demcoracy in this country continues to fail indigenous people: - in the electoral system - in the govt’s actions to take away thier self-management - in delivering health care - in the govt’s actions that exacerbate poverty [and here] - in the criminal justice sytemThe impulse to punish for poverty and disadvantage in citizens largely caused by government policy is frightening but typical of atop-down approach to government.
The UNHREOC claims the new welfare requirements breach the Race Discrimination Act.
Murandoo Yanner had stronger words. Yanner says it is a return to the oppressive 1960s. “It is reverting to an already tried and failed method, with no logical basis to it other than ultra-conservatism…Basically, it is about paternalism, having a great white god watching over us and teaching us to wipe our kids’ noses.”
Other indigenous leaders join him, with one saying “It’s denigrated our Aboriginal community - it’s totally created apartheid within Australia, this move by the Howard Government”. [ABC-1] [2] [3]
But where is the outrage in the non-indigenous community? It’s only a matter of time before Howard targets poor white Australians again. We must all have self-determination to live decent lives, not the authoritarianism of a self-styled dictator proclaiming his right to guardianship over us. It’s an important time for non-indigenous Australians to stand together with our indigenous brothers and sisters because many of us are next
originally published on Darwin Indymedia
Categories: indigenous rights, social justice |
