Stephan, you are in the first instance, confusing being black with being indigenous. Even the original Australian inhabitants were migrants. Obama is the son of an African citizen, as far as I am aware, he is is not the descendant of an American slave even.

The so-called indigenous people that you quote are also, most if not all, part white, as are all the leading lights in the Australian "aboriginal" community. As such they are just as entitled to classify themselves as white but I suspect that they choose not to do so for pecuniary reasons.

When we start to see some honesty about their antecedents from those who represent our Aboriginal community, the community at large will start to lose their racial intolerance and your aspirations for future leaders may come to fruition.

David

It will take a couple of generations before an aboriginal has a chance of being PM here.
First the current generation has to decide if they are to have a "traditional" lifestyle, or if they wish to join the modern economy.
You see they cannot get high paid jobs and provide education for their kids if they follow the traditions of their ancestors, and they cannot get educated and join the modern economy without abandoning their family and tribal ties and responsibilities.
("Well to do" aboriginals can have their family descend upon them until little is left. It is very hard to get ahead!)
Given the unjust treatment in the past, and the gross dishonest with which the likes of Howard tries to this day to deny their history, it is not surprising that they have no desire to abandon their culture for the western "multi-culture" that is now Australia.
So it is a very tricky bind: After driving them into the least productive and most inhospitable zones of Australia, we now have to either let them live in misery and squalor. (Not acceptable) Try and "save" some kids from the squalor (stolen gen). They cannot return to what they used to have, because Australia will not go away, but they also cannot just fade away.
The solution is to make them wealthy enough to live safely, then give them incentive to earn more and disincentive to slack off. *Just like the rest of us.*
It is not an aboriginal problem, it is a cultural problem with a historical twist. We need to be able to help people without requiring they become beholden to us, and also without spoiling them. Humans are very easily spoiled, so this is as much an issue as no help. (There are many stories of the "gift" mentality going awry)
I believe the author is right to focus on the basic human needs of housing, water and sewage. Education is harder as our new education model punishes parents for living in poor areas.
I await the rants...

I am sure many Australians would vote for Noel Pearson even in front of our current PM. We want a PM that is not an activist (usually in things for themselves) but one who genuinely is concerned for all Australians. Obama was able to project himself as hardworking, intelligent and caring. That may turn out to be a fallacy but it does show that most don't care what the skin colour of the PM or President is. It is a bit rich however to complain you have not got a black PM when they make up such a tiny proportion of the population. I think you would find that they are over represented in many areas of Government. Just look at how many aboriginals were nominated as Australian of the year. Quite disproportionate I suspect.

VK3AUU, or David, makes interesting point. I don’t care whether or not black people were the first people to occupy the land before it became Australia after white settlement or not; so, let’s say the ancestors of black and part black Australians were the first – they were indigenous.

But, no one living now can be called indigenous; Australians, no matter what their background, are Australian. Black Australians have no more right to special treatment than do I, a third generation Australian, and I have no more right to special treatment than does an immigrant who has been here just long enough to be awarded citizenship.

Continued...

As usual, Stephen Hagan spends most of his time writing about anything but the point until his last page. So let’s get to the part where Hagan repeats his opinion that: “…Australians are the most racist people in the developed world for their treatment of the first Australians and I make this claim comfortable in the knowledge that I am sufficiently supported by incontestable statistical data.”

Note Hagan – himself racist in his attitude to white Australians – doesn’t supply the “incontestable statistical data” that he claims make his own racism “comfortable”. And, even the first black man to put foot on this continent was NOT Australian.

“Sure there are a growing number of non-Indigenous Australians who continue to support Indigenous people in seeking a fair go and equal access to the wealth of the bounty that is reaped from our lands”, Hagan patronizingly says. Yes, there are, more than he thinks! But the black Australians he is whinging about DO NOT WISH TO AVAIL THEMSLEVES OF EQUAL ACCESS. They would rather sit about in remote regions where it is just too damn expensive to supply “running water”, jobs and everything else that most Australians have HAVE TO DO to maintain the standard of living they would be quite happy to see black Australians also enjoying. They have “rights to (their) lands” but they don’t do anything with them; and it is impractical to do anything with them, anyway.

...continued

You cannot have what is available in cities and towns out in the middle of nowhere! And you cannot expect Australia taxpayers to set up another Las Vegas or an Indian gambling joint in the middle of a desert!

Thousands of black Australians have quietly taken their rightful places in the community and the economy; many look black, many look white because of inter-marriage. Not many are Ernie Dingos, and they just fit in with the rest of us.

“If the former president of the Labor Party, Warren Mundine, can’t get a number one Senate ticket in New South Wales or even a safe blue ribbon House of Representative seat, who can?”
A racist comment if ever there was one. Maybe there were better people for the job.
Hagan’s cheering for black President Obama totally overlooks the fact that there are more black people in America than in Australia, and they are not ‘indigenous’. And, many of them voted for Obama JUST BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK – far more, I understand, than those whites who voted against him BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK – both foolish ways to decide how to vote.
The things Hagan wants are simply not the way things are. There have been black Australian politicians, and SA has had a black Governor, which most people seem to think is quite an honour. The might be black politicians in the future in enough of the sort of people wanted by parties offer themselves.

But, Hagan’s race-driven agenda will not succeed, nor should it succeed

'dying 17 years younger than our white counterparts, severely over represented in the criminal justice system...'

So are men compared to women. They've also always been behind in general health and are falling behind in the Education System...

But on topic, I think access to porn and alcohol, which are both legal for most other Australians would be a start. Can you imagine in your wildest dreams the government bringing in the military and banning something that is legal for the rest of the community to any other section of society? Imagine if they banned alcohol for men only? Or banned porn for women only?

It's really divisive and allows the rest of the community to think aboriginals *cant* be responsible members of society.

Houellebecq, I am sorry, but you should have lived in the Northern Territory, (as I did) when aboriginals were not allowed to have access to alcohol. It was a much safer place for everyone, blacks and whites. Then the white do-gooders from the south thought it would be a good idea for them to be given the same rights as the rest of the community, without explaining to them that with rights come obligations and it was all down hill from there.

Fortunately, there are some places where they have pulled themselves up by their boot straps, but these are still too few. Although there is much more that needs to be done, the ball is now in their court now that the government has said "Sorry".

David

Stephan

It would indeed be a proud moment if we had an Aboriginal PM. While you may perceive my views as parochial, there are some ingrained problems which articulate indigenous spokesmen refuse to acknowledge.

Having worked in education for 10 years, I assure you that truancy among indigenous kids is high. In my location, businesses in the CBD, during school hours, have resorted to calling the police when invaded by groups of indigenous kids who should have been at school.

Principals who repeatedly sent notes home to parents or suspended these kids were wasting their time. Parents would not even respond.

One must ask how much control parents have over their children?

I witnessed a fine example of wonderful parenthood by a poor, very shy Aboriginal widow who had seven or eight kids. These kids lived 40 kilometres from the school they travelled to by bus daily and their attendance record was excellent - better than other kids. In addition to that, the widow was the only Aboriginal parent in the school who, each month, graciously gave her assistance at the school canteen.

To the best of my knowledge all her children have found successful careers and have rightfully taken their place in an affluent society.

If you aspire to great things for your people Stephan, as the widow did for her children, I must ask you why this aspiration has not been instilled in the parents of truanting children?

My observations continue to reveal that many indigenous kids have been educated by elders to resent whites. As young children they delight. As teenagers, they hate.

I too grew up in a remote area, in a canvas lined humpy with a "thunderbox" down the back yard. Certainly we had running water, however, none of the hardships we endured were permitted to be used as an excuse not to attend school even though we would arrive at school, bare-footed, cold and hungry.

Education = success. Illiteracy = failure. All Australians have that choice.

Stephen,
I dont know if you read the posts your articles attract or not, so i maybe wasting my time.

Firstly, I don't know if Warren Mundine has ever tried to get nomination for candidacy for the Senate or a House of Reps seat. He seems a good level headed bloke to me and I see no reason for him not to get a nomination. Aden Ridgeway was part aboriginal and he was a Senator. Did not Charles Perkins hold a fairly senior position in the public service and there are a number of public servants with aboriginal heritage.

Someone stated a while ago that some 65000 aboriginal people have got higher education quals. I do not know if that is true but I know this, those that have those quals did not get them by not going to school and then sitting at home. No they had to leave home and go where there were high schools and then to Unis and study. The same as anybody else has to. Good on them. I acknowledge and applaud everyone who has the willingness to get out and have a go.

You say "---wish that all indigenous Australians be afforded equal right, access to the same education, health, legal, housing and employment opportunities" Stephen they do. All australians are equal and have the same opportunities.

All that live in Sydney, canberra, or other large city have access to the same facilities. In fact it could be argued that those with aboriginal heritage have access to more legal facilities than others.

All that live out the back of Woop Woop the same applies. It does not matter if a persons heritage is aboriginal, chinese, pom, indian or eskimo. What opportunities there are, are available to all. Because a person chooses to live in a certain place means he/she has to accept the facilities that are there. If he wishes to gain a job in a certain field or further his education he has to go and live where those jobs or facilities are.

continued

Stephen continued

If he has a condition that requires specialist treatment, he has to go where the specialists are.

You speak of running water and sewerage being made available. Hey, I live in the bush and I had to pay for my own and to get the phone and power connected, nobody came along and did it all for me. I accept that because I want to live here.

Not too far away is a small villiage of about 400 people. Some years ago they got a reticulated water supply and later sewerage. The council did the work after doing the sums and the people agreed to pay a special 'villiage improvement rate' which pays the loan monies the council took out to enable the work.

The recipiants of the services pay for them. That is how it is done.

Is that not simple?

Was there ever such a winger.

Yes Mr Hagan, I think we should supply aboriginal communities with exactly the same facilities as our "other" comunities.

My community is not remote, it's less than 60Km from the Brisbane GPO, so it must be rich, hay? In my community, our rural watch association [do you have any of those?], delivers our news letter to 830 homes, housing a little over 3000 people.

Most of your comunities, of this size have running water, a septic, or sewerage system, a health center, staffed by a nurse or 2, a police station, with 6 to 10 police, a school, a sports centre, & playing fields, all supplied at tax payer expense.

So just what do we have in our privileged more or less white community? Well we have a volunteer fire brigade, [do you have any of these?] with most of the equiptment paid for by fund raising, although we now pay too much extra in our rates, & get some equiptment. Oh, yes, we get 3 hours of mobile library as well. This only costs us, on average $1600 a year.

Now, what don't we get. Well, how about running water, sewreage, a health centre, nurses, a police station & police, a school, sports centre, or playing fields. We do have a pony club, but the grounds were donated by a resident, & the facilities built, & payed for by the members.

Most of our kids have to spend more than an hour each way, getting to & from school, on a bus, which for many of us, is not free, & its 28Km just to get to a tip.

So you winging fool, just tell me where to go, to pick up all those extra facilities you have, that we don't. I suggest, next time you look where your foot is, before opening your great mouth.

Just to second what Banjo has said:

I had a similar experience living in a small -white-community in an outback/bush area.There were no council supplied water , sewerage or garbage services .

And to add injury to insult, the (distant)responsible council would impose rates, a component of which was listed as water & garbage -services, it had neither the will nor the way to supply

I firmly believe that both white and black
Australians would benefit from the removal of these "activists". They do more harm than good, merely serve to make the divide from both sides much deeper. Interference that we all can do without. Let these trouble makers get a 'proper job' and we may see progress.Without them we will all be Australians and that is how it should be.

Stephen - not one of your better articles.

There's so many holes in it that you've provided a venue for a free-for-all for the OLO anti-Aboriginal contingent.

While I'm obviously sympathetic to Indigenous issues. I don't think this article has helped very much.

...

ONE ACTIVIST MAY HIDE ANOTHER
...

“Knowing others is wisdom, knowing thySelf is enlightenment” Lao Tzu
...

The word "activist", in the broad sense of the term, may be defined as someone "advocating or opposing a cause or issue vigorously".

On Line Opinion describes itself as a forum for public social and political debate about current Australian issues.

It follows therefore that anyone "advocating or opposing a cause or issue vigorously" on this web site, may be duly described as an "activist" in the broad sense of the term.

Anyone wishing to avoid falling into this category, when publishing comments, would be well advised to express his or her assent or dissent with a certain degree of moderation and, might I add (for good measure), respect.

One can never be too careful in such matters.

...

CJ Morgan. You do many of us who make comments on Aboriginal matters a slight by referring to us as "Anti Aboriginal". In my past, I have had quite a few Aboriginal friends of both sexes who I regarded as good people, regardless of their race or colour.

Stephen complains of the lack of facilities in remote areas, but this is a problem for both black and white citizens. The whites have used their resources to provide things for themselves. From where we stand down here, the blacks have squandered the largesse which the government has provided and now they still complain, via advocates like Stephen, that they have nothing. Stephen, I would suggest that you address your pleas to those for whom you have concern, and encourage them to get up off their tails and use their hands and brains in conjunction with their fortnightly handout to provide these things for themselves.

David

INDIGENOUS??
The Australian Aboriginal is no more indigenous than the guy who runs my local kebab shop. They simply arrived before Captain Cook and his merry group, just as my ancestry arrived before Iman and his kebab making skills.
The other ridiculous notion is calling them an Indigenous group, this just alienates them from society further rather than welcoming and integrating. The aboriginal community refer to themselves as Aboriginal or Abbos, so who makes the rules on political correctness? Why not call them Australians?
No running water? In Redfern is this or in the outback where even our farmers and graziers have no running water

VK3AUU - I can't recall you ever making a comment on OLO that was in any way supportive of, or positive about, Aboriginal people. Do correct me if I'm wrong.

And welcome to Juda - you're obviously in good company here. OLO is infested with racist bigots. However, you'll find that there's also plenty of educated, decent people who will try and help you overcome your ignorance and prejudice.

CJMorgan, thank you for the welcome.

"And welcome to Juda - you're obviously in good company here. OLO is infested with racist bigots. However, you'll find that there's also plenty of educated, decent people who will try and help you overcome your ignorance and prejudice."

I will accept the ignorance comment as I would assume a forum would offer many educated and experienced voices and as such my mind will be opened further. The other slurs you can have back as I dont fall into the categories.

I recall the guist but not the specifics of a comment which was made to me some time back on OLO. I'd made a comment along the lines that race just was not an issue to me. It was pointed out to me that is mostly because it's rarely had to be. I think the comment came from Rainer but I'm not sure.

The article reminded me of that. Race is very much an issue to Stephen, he's written articles which refer to pride in his race, mentioned favouring sporting teams because of the racial makeup of the team etc. Stuff I can't easily relate to but which I have tried to place in context when I think about the different impacts our "racial" backgrounds have had on our life journies.

I wonder if Stephen fais to understand that race has very little significance for those who it's not had to be significant for. That his assumptions about people voting largely along racial lines don't actually apply to many of those who have not had to struggle with racial identity.

That some voted for or against Obama because of racial issues but for many the contest was not between Obama's skin tone and his message of change, it was between MCain's sense of "same old" and the possibility that Obama may actually be different. Race came into it but for many it was a much less significant issue than Stephen seems to be willing to consider.

Stephen I think understand why race is such an issue to you but it's a mistake to assume that it's of the same relevance to everybody else.

R0bert

...
ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR !
...
I am not sure what the gentleman of Scottish origin had in mind when he wrote those words. According to my Oxford Dictionary the word "fair" may be interpreted in 12 different manners. N°1 is "beautiful", N°3 is "blond, not dark". N°5 is "just, unbiased, equitable, legitimate, in accordance with rules", N°6 is "of (only) moderate quality, not bad, pretty good".

The one meaning that is indicated as specifically "(Austral., NZ, & sl.)" is N°8 "complete, unquestionable". That is the only one that, I think, most would agree, does not appear to apply.

Perhaps Peter Dodds McCormick, the song writer in question, had in mind that typical Australian slang expression "fair dinkum" which, as everyone knows, means "true, authentic, genuine, real". It is not listed in the Oxford Dictionary under "fair" but under "dinkum".

Well, it's anyone's guess what each of us has in mind when we sing our heads off at international sporting events.

There appears to be some doubt as to who, exactly, should "advance": those who are beautiful? blonds only? those who are of (only) moderate quality? whoever considers himself to be complete and unquestionable? or, as a possible last resort, authentic Australians only?

Allow me to suggest that knowing Peter Dodds McCormick as I do, he was probably trying to please everybody, from one end of the rainbow to the other: white, black, yellow, brown, red, even true blue Australians.

I do not know what our good friend, Stephen, thinks of the national anthem. I have never heard it played on the dijereedo. Personally, I must confess, I prefer Waltzing Matilda though I have never heard that played on the dijereedo either.

I would be interested to hear alternative suggestions from aboriginal song writers and composers for our national anthem when we become a republic. I am sure they could come up with something nice.

I find it quite amusing to think that all the national orchestras around the world would have to equip themselves with dijereedos in order to play the Australian national anthem.
...

Stephen, CJMorgan et al,
I suggest that instead of this continual complaint about the status quo, you read the following article at
http://harvardmagazine.com/2006/03/the-marketplace-of-perce.html and consider the opportunities lost in the past and grasp those that are available in the present. Read particularly the bit about SEED.

Have a look at the histories of Stephen's father Jim and also in particular his grandfather. They were men who got out and did things. They didn't spend their lives sitting and complaining.

David

Leigh,

All I can say, you can’t speak for America if you aren’t American.
Secondly, why should aboriginal people leave home/country where ancestors have walked for thousands of years and still hold traditional links? If they leave home/country how can these people justify links through Native Title if they are driven away because they have no water, access to health etc etc don’t you see what the government are trying to do? Aboriginal people should have the basics just like anyone else in Australia, and we will get an indigenous PM one day, give it a few generations, Australia is only young.

Billya, "In your dreams, mate".

The government has been providing health services to Aboriginals for at least the past 40 years. When I lived in Tennant Creek in the late 60's we had a feeling that services were provided to Aboriginals, Public servants, Pregnant women and the rest of us, in that order.

The services are there, but if they don't want to use them, no one can make them.

David

I am not your mate and I do not wish to go on with my personal issues regarding your comments, lastly, you are only speaking for Tennant Creek - typical to paint the brush on every other indigenous person in ALL locations across Australia (who are affected in these remote/rural locations) that is part of the problem on why we have these problems in the first place, if only aboriginal people were treated right in the first place we would not have these problems and if government knew how to deliver these services properly we also would not have these problems, but then again, you speak for ALL of us do you?

A glib article. What would be useful is if people like Stephen looked at what elements might be present in Aboriginal culture which limit the effectiveness of past and present attempts to improve services to remote communities and to those living in towns.

Do traditional creation myths hinder peoples take up of opportunities?

Does the explicitly spiritual nature of aboriginal belief limit ability to utilise our materialistic solution based approach?

Are the traditional paternalistic attitudes a factor?

Can Stephan acknowledge that the poor condition of remote communities is in part the result of some wishing to partly turn their backs on modernity?

Does the dislike of whitey by many aboriginals lead to less education
for their kids?

Is Stephen aware that employers in Alice Springs are sponsoring the migration of black Africans to fill otherwise unfillable jobs? Comment?

palimsest

Are the traditional paternalistic attitudes a factor? Certainly

Can Stephan acknowledge that the poor condition of remote communities is in part the result of some wishing to partly turn their backs on modernity? No. It is only partly true. Many want modern day convenience without modern day responsibility.

Does the dislike of whitey by many aboriginals lead to less education
for their kids? Undoubtably. Many have been indoctrinates with the black arm band of history from an early age.

Is Stephen aware that employers in Alice Springs are sponsoring the migration of black Africans to fill otherwise unfillable jobs? Comment? This is happening throughout many communities in WA also.

"dying 17 years younger than our white counterparts, severely over represented in the criminal justice system, under represented in home ownership and having least access to employment and award wages, health facilities, education and rights to our land."

Here's a novel idea! Stop abusing your bodies with alcohol and other drugs, stop committing crimes, stop beating each other senseless, join the rest of society and move to where the jobs are instead of demading the government provide first world facilities to bush camps.

And more than anything, stop this childless, racist mantra that all your problems are the fault of white people and your personal responsibility is nil.

Try it! It might just work!

grn

If you were born black (aboriginal) and lived black (meaning you acknowledge your aboriginality and identify yourself to be aboriginal) you would personally understand what they went through. It’s sad to see that you can write something like that and not understanding the wrong and barbaric things that OUR indigenous people have gone through - if you were some what educated or Aboriginal you would understand no matter what background you are from.

...
NEITHER YES NOR NO BUT HOW ?
...

My understanding is that the Aborigines had been living in this country for about 50 000 years when the British government took over and colonised it with convicted criminals whom they exiled, as prisoners, from their homeland. That saved British taxpayers a lot of money and provided free (slave) labour for the British colony.

I understand the eight months boat trip was no joy ride and there was no picnic on arrival. The first batch arrived in 1788 when slavery was in full swing and continued for 80 years until 1868. Slavery had already ended three years earlier, in 1865, when the USA, the last country to abolish it, finished freeing about 4 million black Africans.

A total of 165 000 convict slaves were deported from the UK during that period and about 3 000 died en route. Most of them were petty thieves who had stolen food just to survive. Many were only children. The youngest was only nine years old. It was all work, no play and lots of punishment by flogging.

Those so called "first settlers" were not Australians. They were British. They were not conquering heroes. They were convicted criminals. They did not come here of their own choice. They were deported from their country by the British government to develop the colony as free labour.

Perhaps I am wrong, but I can't help feeling that the aborigines were not the only victims of the British government. Those so called "first settlers" were too.

Unfortunately, whereas the latter progressively obtained their freedom and ceased to be victims, the aborigines never really have, even to this day. The handicaps they have to overcome are of a different nature to the ill treatment they received from the foreign invaders of their country. 50 000 years of isolation from the rest of humanity have left their toll. How can any human being, however brilliant he may be, bridge a 50 000 year civilisation gap in a single lifetime?

... (continued) ...

...
NEITHER YES NOR NO BUT HOW ?
...
... (continued) ...

Yet, to many of us, It seems so simple. They just have to do the same as we do. But they can't. Why not? What's wrong with them? If we can do it they can too. They just have to read that article about SEED on the Harvard Magazine that David VK3AUU posted here in his penultimate comment. And with all those privileges and hand-outs they get, it should be easier for them than it is for us.

Unfortunately, as Darwin pointed out some 200 years ago, only those who adapt survive. That is the law of nature. Aborigines are close to nature. If they heard Darwin’s message perhaps they might understand.

Personally, I would find it difficult to walk in the footsteps of an aborigine. To see the world through his eyes. To hear what he hears. To smell what he smells. To feel what he feels. To think as he thinks. To know what he knows. To perceive what he perceives. To survive as he survives.

If I were lost somewhere in the Australian outback what a fantastic feeling of relief I would have at the sight of an aborigine coming towards me. I wonder how he would feel if he were lost in our urban environment and he saw me coming towards him.

...

I just love these Australian /Americans (dare I guess Indigenous Australian) that speaks so freely with statistical backup, yet knows nothing of what he speaks.
The approach if anyone had bothered to read the text was one of dreary and bigoted (anti-white) statistical drivel about American politics and racial integrity. One doesn’t get the true gist of his intent until he links his dreary dialogue to the point of his argument lack of indigenous representation.
The main point I am getting at here is just because an article can quote opinions using a large amount of (speculative) data doesn’t mean they’re right or even accurate for that matter. The simple FACT on this election that it was won in the secondaries at the end of 2004 seems to be overlooked here.
It was blatantly obvious that with an unheard of anti Republican Senate swing, and an obvious house of Reps landslide that the USA was going to elect a Democrat as their next leader. The Republicans were going to be hard pressed catching the lost ground that would have still lost them the election.
The battle for the presidency came downs to an Obama v Clinton affair nothing to do with race.
Stick that in your peace pipe and smoke it

...
THE STOLEN GENERATION
...

For 80 years, from 1788 to 1868, the British government deported about 165 000 convicted criminals as free, white slave, labour to its colony in what we now call Australia. Slavery ended officially, world-wide, when the last country to abolish it, the USA, finished liberating 4 million black African slaves in 1865.

Then, during the 100 year period from 1869 to 1969, the Australian and State governments implemented what has notoriously come to be known as the "stolen generation" policy whereby about 100 000 aboriginal children (mostly of mixed descent) up to 5 years of age were removed from their families and placed in special institutions or white families. This represented perhaps 20% of all aboriginal children.

The governments considered the aborigines were uncivilised and incapable of raising their children. The police had the right to remove any aboriginal child that was suspected of being "neglected".

Today, 13 February 2009, is the first anniversary of the apology presented by the socialist Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, to all Indigenous Australians:

"...We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country..."

Lest we forget ......

...

...
REDUCING INDIGENOUS DISADVANTAGE
...

The Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory, Jon Stanhope, says there has been enormous progress in the ACT in reducing the gap between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

"Things are changing quite significantly and dramatically; you see it in terms of the levels of achievement, particularly of Indigenous children in our primary schools," he said.

"We still have issues, carrying it through into the secondary sector, but we're reaching a point now where the outcomes achieved by indigenous children in our primary schools are getting very, very close to those outcomes achieved by non-indigenous.

"That's a major change."

Let there be hope, Stephen. And there is hope. Patience my friend. It may not happen in our lifetimes but what are they on the time scale of 50 000 years of aboriginal isolation from the rest of the world ? Just two infinitesimally tiny blips. No time at all.

...

...
SLAVERY TODAY
...

Despite the fact that slavery was abolished officially some 150 years ago, according to the United Nations estimates, there are about 27 million slaves in the world today.

The two main forms of human trafficking noted by a recent United Nations study are sexual exploitation and forced labour. The numbers have increased exponentially since abolition.

Happily though, Australia has managed to avoid the phenomenon. The numbers here are quite modest. Nothing like those 165 000 white slaves deported by the British Government as forced labour to colonise the country - those so-called "first settlers" whose landing at Sydney Cove we joyfully celebrate on Australia Day.

On 12 February 2009, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)published the results of a study of human trafficking in 155 countries. As it so happens, the report was published on Darwin's 200th birthday. Apart from that, there does not appear to be much to celebrate.

...