ALP Policy Lacks Commitment to Overcome Coalition Legacy

The National Indigenous Postgraduate Association Aboriginal Corporation (NIPAAC) welcomes some aspects of the Australian Labor Party's newly released policy for Indigenous-Australians.

"NIPAAC has identified some good proposals in the ALP policy, which go well beyond the Coalition's commitment. These include funding injections for Indigenous-Australian health and education, a commitment to implementing previously negotiated reforms such as the Social Justice Package and the establishment of a self-governance structure that would replace ATSIC and be developed through consultation with Indigenous- Australians," NIPAAC President Vicki-Ann Speechley-Golden stated.

"In particular, we applaud Labor's spoken commitment to Indigenous-Australian participation in decision- making on matters affecting us. We also welcome the promise to perform symbolic and meaningful acts of reconciliation, such as an official apology to the Stolen Generations," said Ms Speechley-Golden.

"However, the ALP policy sadly seems to be a case of the good with the bad. Despite some great initiatives, the package in its entirety shows a weakness on the part of the ALP to make a realistic commitment to social justice for Indigenous-Australians.

"The Coalition has taken Indigenous-Australians a long way backwards in terms of rights and living standards, and it's easy for the Labor Party to look good against such a dismal policy backdrop. The job for a Labor Government would be to reverse the Coalition's damage, and then go even better, but unfortunately this policy package falls short of being truly progressive.

"NIPAAC is particularly disappointed by the fact that a Labor Government would control funding to Indigenous- Australian affairs, rather than giving autonomy to a new, directly elected national Indigenous representative body.

"That sort of 'mission mentality' is an extension of the colonialist attitudes Indigenous-Australians have endured for over 200 years and it has to stop if we are going to move toward effective solutions implemented under Indigenous-Australian leadership," Ms Speechely-Golden implored.

NIPAAC also believes that the ALP's Native Title policy is particularly shallow, lacking a commitment to even over-turn the 1998 amendments, which significantly undermined Indigenous-Australian rights to land.

Ms Speechley-Golden continued: "With regard to higher education, NIPAAC is happy with the ALP's proposal to introduce 600 targeted scholarships and almost treble the Coalition's Indigenous Support Funding boost. However, during the election campaign, NIPAAC will also be lobbying for a commitment to reversing the ABSTUDY cut-backs, which saw a massive decline in Indigenous-Australian student numbers.

"All the parties need to realise that Indigenous-Australian affairs cannot be just an exercise in electoral politics, with the selective promotion of issues. Solutions must be holistic, deliver real outcomes and build on them."