From what I have gleaned Tom Calma's report isn't taking the future of Indigenous peoples out of their hands but installing Indigenous representatives in the many communities.

What the grievance appears to be is over the funding arrangements. I agree with Stephen that communities must be the instruments of their own future. Governments and others can only provide support but the real achievements and progress for Indigenous people can only come from Indigenous people. However, the use of government funds needs to be open and transparent and accountability goes across the board to all government funded programs.

Afghanistan's right to self-determination is not wholly relevant here if using it as a comparison. In Australia we are all part of the same community made up of Indigenous peoples, immigrants, those born here with anglo-saxon and European origins.

Our system seeks to achieve equality for all groups within its borders and to close the gaps for Indigenous people in relation to health and education, it can only do that as you say with full involvement of Indigenous people but funding arrangements should not detract from the ultimate goals.

When the people in indigenous communities pay the rent on the houses provided for them, & look after these houses, as well as the average private owner would, then, & only then should we even think of again giving them control of any tax payer money.

About the only thing in which they have managed to score an "A" rating has been in the corruption when they have had our taxes to spend.

Meanwhile, their councils should collect any money they wish to spend, from their own comunity. Having their own people watching the leaders, may, just may, make them accountable for the money in their hands.

If the people of PNG can find the money to pay a head tax, with no access to welfare, or public housing, I don't think it's too much to ask our people to help themselves, just a little.

In fact, I think it's only by making them personally responsible for the maintenance of their housing, & townships, that we can start to help them. Transplanted to PNG, they would all be dead in a month, appart from the politicians among then, & blokes like Stephen.

I am just so sick of carping, winging, tax payer funded, indigenous commentators.

Curmudgeon

Why don't you write something to ask these questions in the public domain? You can show all of us how to write then.

rubyappeal - this is the public domain and I'm not asking the author to write a better article I'm asking what he's complaining about as he forgot to say this. The posts gave me a better idea of what was going on, but I'm still fogged about precisely why the author was upset over the report.
If anyone wants me to write an abusive article then I'm happy to oblige but I'd have so many targets that it would be difficult to pick one.

The best post here is from DWG. Why set up separate conditions for people, isn't that what apartheid was about? We are, or should be, all Australians with one set of laws and complete equality for all.
We have freedom of religion, freedom of speech and freedom from those who would be dictators. Who could ask for better?
Some Australians need more help than others, it should be willingly given, willingly taken.
Our children should be protected, educated and taught responsibility and respect for themselves and others.
This is exactly what this country needs-and should get.