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Issues
'Practical
reconciliation'
'Practical reconciliation' is a term introduced by the Prime Minister
to describe his view of how reconciliation should proceed. He describes
it as focussing 'on practical programs directed at areas of greatest
indigenous disadvantage' and ties it in to 'greater coporate and individual
philanthropy... another dimension of the principle of mutual obligation'.
The concept is fundamentally flawed. Geoff Clarke, ATSIC Chairperson,
said in The Age;
'Mr Howard
knows as I do 'practical' reconciliation is simply his political
translation for the provision of basic entitlements that are the
rights of Australian citizens. They are also part of the politics
of division, by specifically accentuating services to our people,
but not others. In truth, the Government must provide these services
in its duty of care to all Australians. Mr Howard also knows,
as I do, the financial resources currently earmarked to this task
are grossly inadequate for the job.'
In the Wentworth
Lecture, former Reconciliation Council chair Pat Dodson said;
'The
Federal government wishes to drive a wedge between the concepts
of rights and welfare for the Aboriginal people... This is an atempt
at a new spin on a very old wicket of divide and rule.'
At Corroboree
2000 Mick Dodson said;
'The
notion of 'practical reconciliation' is also a furphy. Although
issues of the health, housing and education of Indigenous Australians
are of key concern to a nation, they are not issues that are at
the very heart or the very soul of reconciliation. But they are-
quite simply- the entitlements every Australian should enjoy. The
tragedy is that they are the entitlements successive governments
have denied.'
ANTaR National
co-ordinator David Cooper points out that though practical reconciliation
creates the impression that there are new funds or special grants.
In truth they are reallocations of funds to some communities. The
government has diverted funds away from ATSIC and intends to direct
them to mainstream government departments. This action brings an end
to self-determination.
'Practical
reconciliation' in fact has its origins in writings by the free-market
think tanks, heavily funded by the very mining companies that have
trampled over Indigenous land rights. These are the same think tanks
that brought us the economic (ir)rationalism that has blighted communities
in Australia and overseas, particularly the third world. Pat Doson
sees that this government's 'rice bowl politics is about removing
the centrality of community as the life centre and models on the
individual as the essential unit of society. This is not our way.
With all our social problems the answer is not to attack the foundations
of our community'.
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