Kipp, in another 40,000 years, Leigh's descendants will also be entitled to claim they are indigenous Australians. After all, the Maoris have only been in New Zealand for less than 1000 years and they are making that claim already.

I'm not sure why everyone thinks that the present push is only going to last for six months. It will take longer than that to get the whole deal up and running. New staff need to be recruited, housing for the staff needs to be built, a whole raft of new infrastructure has to be put in place. All this is going to take time, probably something of the order of a couple of years if my understanding of the pace at which the Public service operates. Also, living in the Territory for a white person is not easy. It requires a greater than average dedication to the task so that the turnover of staff will be higher than would apply in the confines of the capital cities from where they will mostly be drawn. I have spent several years there in my youth so it is something about which I have some knowledge.

Kipp,

I am a native Australian because I was born here. I am as much a native as black Australians, whose forebears also immigrated here - from Polynesia and Asia. If you read history, you would know that the very first generation of white Australians were referred to as 'native'.

For the record, I am a third generation Australian of Scottish, English and German background . None of this so-called heritage means a thing to me as the only identity concerning me is Australian.

Also for the record, I firmly believe that the only true Australians are those born here. Yes, that does make people of non-Anglo/Saxon/Celtic parentage, irrespective of their skin colour or the shape of their eyes, just as Australian as I am, if they were born here. Unfortunately, many of these Australians are discouraged from thinking of themselves as true Australians, thanks to multiculturalists, left-wing lunatics, right-wing lunatics, and overseas-born officials who have their snouts firmly rammed into ethnic- industry, tax-payer funded, troughs.

Why is it that Democrats always reckon they have the answers but won't tell the rest of us?
I am a third generation Australian - but have to confess I do not feel very much at home here and feel less at home by the day. I am not allowed to acknowledge my ancestry as I am not indigenous or Greek or Vietnamese or some other 'ethnic' grouping. Not sure what it makes me - nothing at all probably.
Let's face it a good many 'indigenous' Australians have more immigrant blood in their veins than pre-settler blood. One of the real solutions might be to accurately acknowledge everyone's ancestry.
Many indigenous people resent the Clarks and Mansells of this world styling themselves as 'indigenous' and taking over their affairs to the detriment of everyone.

When 20 or more people are living in a 3 bedroom house, there will be abuse. When some of those people are drunk and many are vulnerable, there will be abuse. When the adults do no work, expend no physical effort, there is the potential for sexual abuse. In the past, aborigines were employed to build their own omes. The raw materials for adobe and pise exist on site. How can it cost $1.4 billion to build 4,000 homes - $350,000 each!? The undefined elements in this exercise seem daunting. What is to be done with abusers? Will they be charged, tried and if convicted imprisoned? How will their sentences be calculated? What will become of children found to be traumatised? How is employment to be generated in these settlements which can lead to youths and adults finding meaning and pride in their achievement?
Shock and awe? What foresight!

Turning off the 'river of grog' will make good headlines. But I fervently hope that appropriate medical support is provided. Sudden cessation of supply to a veteran alcoholic, without a medicinal substitute, can cause catastrophic and irreversible brain damage (yes, worse than what is caused by the alcohol itself). Unfortunately, because of the taboo nature of the affliction and its treatment, few are aware of this peril.

With due respect, Casual Reader, I would suggest that the Aboriginal Medical Services (I work for one), DHCS Clinics, NT & Commonwealth Health departments and all concerned are aware of this and have their medications and staff ready for that wonderful day when alcoholics en masse may have to put down the bottle.