14 July 2004
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S TRUE AGENDA ON RECOCILIATION REVEALED
"There can be no better example of the underhand way in which Prime Minister Howard continues to destroy the Reconciliation process in this country than the unannounced removal of Reconciliation as a Government objective," Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) National President Phil Glendenning said recently.
The Government has deleted Reconciliation from the work of Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA).
"The Howard Government cannot be believed when it says it supports Reconciliation", he said
"Nobody is fooled by its hollow rhetoric and its actions speak for themselves:
- It has rejected the final recommendations of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, delivered in 2000.
- It has led a virulent and divisive campaign against the aspirations of Indigenous Australians to gain recognition of their rights and identity as Indigenous peoples.
- It is currently seeking to dismantle independent Indigenous representation and involvement in policy and service delivery, and to return to mainstream delivery and appointed 'advisors'.
- Its mainstream approach under 'practical reconciliation' has failed to stem the ongoing, entrenched crisis in Indigenous communities, with life expectancies 20 years lower than other Australians, health conditions at 'Third World' standards and worsening, and education and employment opportunities far below those of other Australians."
Phil Glendenning is also Director of the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education in Sydney. Links to the Centre's website and the ANTaR website can be found at left.
The Government has deleted Reconciliation from the work of Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA).
"The Howard Government cannot be believed when it says it supports Reconciliation", he said
"Nobody is fooled by its hollow rhetoric and its actions speak for themselves:
- It has rejected the final recommendations of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, delivered in 2000.
- It has led a virulent and divisive campaign against the aspirations of Indigenous Australians to gain recognition of their rights and identity as Indigenous peoples.
- It is currently seeking to dismantle independent Indigenous representation and involvement in policy and service delivery, and to return to mainstream delivery and appointed 'advisors'.
- Its mainstream approach under 'practical reconciliation' has failed to stem the ongoing, entrenched crisis in Indigenous communities, with life expectancies 20 years lower than other Australians, health conditions at 'Third World' standards and worsening, and education and employment opportunities far below those of other Australians."
Phil Glendenning is also Director of the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education in Sydney. Links to the Centre's website and the ANTaR website can be found at left.
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