CM,

What do you mean by "autonomous regions" sounds very "apartheidy" as applied by the White regime in South Africa for many years. I believe Aboriginal people see themselves as Australian, and like many they also see themselves as having an Aboriginal heritage, which is important to them as well.

Regardless of the off the planet rantings of some, on both sides, at the end of the day we should come together as a united people. I can't see how 'The Voice' is divisive. Despite many of goodwill and much good intention, a great amount of time and money spent by the settler population on the mountain of problems, we have not been able as yet to overcome Aboriginal disadvantage. Therefore a new approach is reasonable.

I don't think those of Aboriginal heritage want to be a united people as they don't seem to want to settle disagreements between Anglo-British and Aboriginal people. So maybe we should let them govern themselves. We can still provide defense and foreign affairs services against external powers through the national ministry of defense as we always have. If poverty happens in Aboriginal communities then that is the responsibility of the Aboriginal institutions just as it is in any nation or state. If the autonomous region needs funds then they need to raise them as part of the business and revenue operations within the autonomous region- just like any other state or nation. Hong Kong is one very successful semi-autonomous region in the world. Maybe the Aboriginal SAR (Special Administrative Region) can be just as successful given the amazing Aboriginal people and their incredible creativity. As with any nation the governing structures within that region determine whether people from other places immigrate- based on character- or whatever the sovereign principles of the state determine. It seems those on the communist side keep kicking the can down the road because they don't want to reach a conclusion- I believe it was Trotsky that talked of permanent warfare- the unions seem to embody this in the form of rolling strikes- sadly it is the communities that suffer when they can't get on a bus to work because of the strikes.

We must be decisive and stable.

Dear Canem Malum,

You w#nking on about Reds under the bed doesn't illustrate stability now does it.

Ultimately though you likely have a solution. Let those lands be autonomous. In the USA there are Indian reservations which make substantial amounts from natural resources and gambling, so much so that it is invested back into sovereign wealth funds and each member of the certain tribes are given $1,000,000 when they come of age.

Ensure all mining royalties from resources taken from Aboriginal lands are given directly to them and would see a quick turnaround in addressing these issues. Does it get your stamp of approval?

Regarding Steele Redux's question-

In principle I currently don't have a problem with mining royalties in autonomous regions going to Aboriginals- in the same way that a states mining revenue should stay in the state. Though I'm concerned also in principle with the idea of free money that you don't have to work or take any responsibility for. I could see the possibility that Aboriginal autonomous regions and mining could be used to destabilize Australia as a whole and this would obviously be unacceptable. Of course Aboriginal territories may not be the same under such an arrangement as they are now.

Perhaps Aboriginals could be allowed to sell mining products into the Australian market and in turn sold overseas according to international agreements.

But I'd be interested to hear what others have to say on the issue.

This would be a big change to Australia so there needs to be a way of ensuring that any autonomous territory would be subject to the Federal government (or state government).

Also steps should be taken to ensure that large mining companies weren't able to exploit the arrangements inappropriately.

The devil is always in the detail.

CM,

Given your negative track record on the Forum in relation to matters Aboriginal, I am rather circumspect when a person of your undoubted bias, suggests something along the lines of separate development. You speak of an autonomous aboriginal territory, but then are quick to place a restriction, "any autonomous territory would be subject to the Federal government (or state government)". I envisage from you the need for armed guards, vicious dogs and barbed wire fences, somewhere in the most inhospitable part of Australia. Am I wrong?

There you go- I consider Paul1405 to be biased and bigoted against Anglo-Australian's and wants to execute permanent revolution against them in the form of never ending Aboriginal revolution- similar to Trotsky Permanent Revolution. I suppose he has what he thinks is a reason for his hateful Anglo-phobic vengefulness against White Anglo-British people.

Just remember Trotsky would have been worse than Stalin- as he believed that mass deaths were a necessary outcome to achieve Communist utopia.

100 Million dead under Communism.