maracas1, I don't think there has been any policy on indigenous affairs that hasn't been "flawed". It doesn't matter which side of politics (or even the aboriginal people) they come from. Someone will always has a problem with it. From my experience, those who have assimilated into our society, for the most part, have done very well. It would be interesting to know the proportions of aborigines living in towns as opposed to those on outstations. It may well be time that some hands were gently forced.

maracas1 - What's your solution?

Should all the services of a township be brought to every outstation? We can't afford it, that's obvious, so this is what the government has decided is the next best solution. You can vote against them at the next election.

Why is the policy flawed? Please enlighten us?

The current government is trying to help, there will always be people unhappy, you're one of them.

Go spray at the government, we're just folks expressing opinions.

I think leaving people in the middle of nowhere with a lack of services and access to the rest of this wonderful world is bordering on criminal. Why should generations of Australians be left as virtual zoo exhibits so that a bunch of academics can sprout rubbish about how wonderful and pure their isolated lifestyles are.

If Dr Thalia Anthony really believed these outstations are a solution she should go and live in a community for 6 months. She would go from being an ideologist to having a little commonsense. I know of many whites with some fanciful ideology about aboriginal culture who go to communities and last a matter of days returning with their tail between their legs. One woman Radio national interviewed told of her being a nurse and all her experiences. She had enough trauma in 3 months and seemed proud that she was able to last that long. Even many on the gravy train can't cope despite earning a lot more money than they would in the real world.

Dr Thalia Anthony lecturer in Faculty of Law at University of Sydney her presentation scripted to current attacks against proposed changes in government policy.

Leading NT government policy change is Ms Alison Anderson MLA

Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage
Minister for Parks and Wildlife
Minister for Arts and Museums
Minister for Indigenous Policy
Department of the Chief Minister
Northern Territory Government

Alison has considerable experienced with outstations, living and servicing same, with her extended family at Papunya, surrounding communities and "outstations", as a respected "Traditional" woman in Central Australia.

Some confusion about outstations, why people live upon them, or just regularly visit them.

Government policy is NOT stopping outstations.

Federal and NT governments fostered and supported homeland communities and outstations longer than economic efficiency warranted.

Government policy is NOW about reducing wastage of public money, reducing construction and servicing where people do NOT live regularly enough, do NOT live with sufficient numbers, so not justify expenditure.

Centrelink money paid to people living where no employment options available, such as these outstations.

IF policy intended to stop outstations, force people back into big communities, need only suspend prima facie racist exemption of Centrelink job search requirements to people living where employment is NOT reasonably available.

Frustrated with many relations who's UNemployability directly linked to their exploiting this exemption so never need work, for those drained relations who do/did work so suffer seriously under-recognised impact upon them which often results in their giving up and joining the unemployed.

Dr Thalia Anthony suggests living on outstations is so people are to be self sufficient.

Spell out how you prove "self sufficient"



Stopping Centrelink unemployment monies might encourage "traditional lifestyle" of hunting and gathering.

More likely people will flock to nearest town where Centrelink will pay them.

Read complaints from Mt Isa about people coming for alcohol.

Alison and self have both spent periods of time living like this, we can assure you it is not as easy as it looks.

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Unfortunately most of the comments posted are ignorant, presumptious, ill-informed, lacking in respect and empathy. For one thing, these communities are not 'in the middle of nowhere'. They are on the traditional lands of the pople concerned - to those people this is home, not 'the middle of nowhere'. Really, it is in the eye of the beholder what is remote and what is near. The presumption of many white people to pontificate about Aboriginal affairs, of which most know next to nothing, is always astounding.

As far as the argument that outstations have outlived their economic efficiency or such, where is the analysis that backs this up? what criteria are being applied? what is the level of subsidy to non-Aboriginal people living in remote areas (eg the Assistance for Isolated Chidrens Scheme, or the rural projects that were tax dodges and have just gone belly up). There are over 500 communities in the NT that classed as outstations - many of these are stable healthy communities which have generated a considerable degree of income and employment. Many are communities, for example on pastoral properties, that have been there since before whites came, and have shown remarkable resilience, sometimes in close relationships with the pastoralists. Are all these people to be packed up to live in squalor on the fringes of Alice Springs or Tennant Creek? I suggest to those posting to make some real effort to understand the situation before rushing into print with uninformed opinions that are little more than raw prejuidice.

I would enjoy "physical, emotional, social and cultural health benefits", too, if I were subsidised by the government to the tune of $30,000 per year. A recent book reveals the work schedule of the white professionals who 'service' these communities:

Monday: debrief, destress, deal with paperwork and plan visit
Tuesday, all day: travel to community
Wednesday and Thursday: do some productive work
Friday: travel back to Darwin

Two days of productivity out of five; and enough travel costs to employ an extra worker. This is where the 'welfare' money is going. When people are dependent on services it makes sense to house them where the services are. The alternative is a spectacular failure.