Dear Individual,

The people for the Voice are those that are
trying to close the gap. It's the anti-Voice
agitators that don't want this to happen
for a variety of reasons. As I keep telling
you - get your facts right!

Hi Paul,
I think it's honorable you brought this issue up, if anything, to show how unrealistic these targets (or timelines at least) really are.
- Lets so we hypothetically go to extremes, lets say we could house every aboriginal and torres straight islander in a Hilton hotel that was connected to a world class hospital and education facilities in the hotel lobby.

I ask, would even that change these peoples outcomes, when they are more or less born into a kind of PTSD and resentment of the other nations inhabitants - specifically white?

- And this is before we look into the reality of the situation we currently have. Look at the kids right now in Darwin and Alice Springs, you think they are ever going to stop stealing, drinking, or even have just a small amount of respect for authority, if only for their own best interests?

You are more or less expecting them to fully assimilate, in order to reach those goals, They don't seem to want to do that, just hate and blame for what is just as much their own choices in this day and age.

This whole rent and reparation thing just encourages them to keep doing what they're already doing, only everyone else must give them more.

It's going to take a long time and a hell of a lot of money, and even then no outcome is even assured when they choose to live differently than more civilized people (no offense to indigenous)

I do wish for better outcomes for them, but how is this going to happen, and in fairness - at what cost to everyone else?

Start by teaching them that there's a life you're given, and the one you make for yourself.
How are they even going to understand what that means (and their potential to live differently) when they live out in the bush?

I had a quick look at the figures on the page you referenced Paul and on the first 4 or so indicators there had been an improvement. Indeed on the education one it appeared Aborigines might actually be doing better than the rest.

Why is it that instead of celebrating that we are expected to flagellate ourselves because arbitrary deadlines are not being met. We should be adjusting the deadlines to something realistic. But like so much of government these days, the media department rules over all.

I also wonder why it is "we" who are guilty for progress not being faster. Don't aboriginal Australians bear any responsibility?

It's the same logic underlying The Voice - that the problem lies with us. I have a number of Aboriginal friends who are doing quite well because they, or a forebear, took hold of their own destiny rather than waiting for someone to do it for them.

Those who haven't made that same decision need to be encouraged to. Unfortunately, commentary like this on the Closing the Gap, or laying the blame on the many because they've "failed" to listen to Aboriginal voices detracts from real solutions. Indeed The Voice is just another iteration of current approaches, which are alleged to have "failed", and an assumption that there will always be a "them" and "us" and that there will always be a gap.

What was ATSIC, how much did it cost, did it do any good at all, why did it fail.

Thy would you expect the VOICE to do anything better? Or is it just a product of trying to harm the majority?

get your facts right!
Foxy,
I did & as an indigenous friend told me just hours ago, it's easy to tell them (ignorant do-gooders) anything !

Dear Individual,

That's the difference between us.

I prefer evidence-based facts found in libraries, museums,
and archival documents, just to list some.

You'd rather listen to opinions from people who
tell you what you want to hear.