Careful Banjo asking about what is an aboriginal, Andrew Bolt got dragged
into court for raising that question and he is now gagged and cannot
discuss the matter on risk of contempt of court.

Very dangerous ground.

This whole discussion can be rendered useless by one question;
For how long, a thousand years, will this argument continue ?
I would suggest that in one hundred years there will be next to no
observable aborigines. In 300 years there will be none.

Hi Bazz, where you been ?!

But on the other hand, in a hundred years, perhaps ten per cent of Australians will have some distant Aboriginal ancestry, and in 300 years, pretty much everybody will have Aboriginal, Sudanese, Vietnamese, Tamil and Anglo ancestry etc. Beautiful people ! It will be heaven for old pervs like me :)

BTT: On the other hand, apart from the work- and education-oriented Aboriginal population, I could be wrong but it does seem as if the welfare-oriented population has turned away more and more from education and work opportunities. I have relations in this category, and they do seem, over the last fifteen years, to have shut the door on opportunity and become quite settled and content on welfare. They have a detailed knowledge of all manner of welfare services, but none of education (and work) opportunities.

Of course, this leads into all manner of personal and family crises and disasters, but it seems that once you are far enough down a certain path, you can't even begin to understand the possibilities and benefits of switching onto another path. Closing the Gap is going to be much harder than policy-makers think.

Joe

What needs to be addressed is the apparent nepotism and favouritism in aboriginal organisations.

It is corruption and it does narrow the representation and advice (to government).

Aboriginal organisations wouldn't be only public bodies affected by that, but this thread has to do with Indigenous policy.

Hi OTB,

Neville Shute, yeah, a great writer.

Yes, it's sometimes amazing how nepotism rules in Aboriginal organisations, and between organisations. People look after their own, regardless of talent. In some organisations, half of the staff are closely related and - wonders ! - nothing ever seems to get done by that organisation. But the money keeps rolling in. Amazing !

Hot-shots wheel and deal to make sure their kids also get positions, if not in the organisation or government department that they control or influence, then in another one similar. Nobody slaps down a hot-shot.

I'm sure many people who have worked in Aboriginal organisations, would feel the same, if they were asked, 'Would you do it all over again ?' - they would answer, 'Well, let me think about that.'

'Probably not.'

'Sh!t no.'

Yes Loudmouth, in a number of generations almost everyone will have some DNA.
Are the trendies suggesting the special legislation apply to everyone ?

That is why it is absolutely stupid to write it into the constitution.