Oz ‘failing’ to improve lives of the Aborigines

MORE t ha n a decade a f ter vow i ng to “close t he gap” bet ween indigenous Austra lians and the rest of the country, the government on Thursday ad mit te d it wa s s t i l l fa l ling fa r short.

Prime Minister Scott Morr ison sa id t hat on ly t wo of seven government targets to i mprove t he wea lt h, hea lt h and wellbeing of the first Austra lians were being met.

Ef for t s to i mprove ea rly education a nd rates of high school qualifications were on t rack, but t a rget s i n ot her a rea s – i nclud i ng boost i ng employment and increasing life expectancy – were fa lling behind.

“I wa nt Abor ig i na l a nd Torres Strait Islander children to have the same opportunit ie s a s a l l ot her ch i ld r en g row i ng up i n Aust r a l i a,” Morrison told parliament.

“But t h i s i s not t r ue for Aborigina l and Torres Stra it Islander children in Australia today. It’s never been t r ue. A nd I don’t k now when it w i l l be t r ue. A nd t hat i s t he t r ut h we must conf ront a g a i n t oday,” he s a id i n parliament.

A b o r i g i n a l A u s t r a l i a n s make up about three per cent of t he tota l nationa l population of 25 million, but remain the countr y’s most disadvantaged community.

The unemployment rate for A bor i g i na l Au s t r a l i a n s i s t h ree to fou r t i mes h ig her t han t he nationa l average.

Suicide rates for Aborigina l children are five times higher t han for t he rest of t he population according to t he Austra lia n Bureau of Statistics.

Historic apology

T hu rsday ’s repor t mark s eleven yea r s si nce for mer prime minister Kev in Rudd made a histor ic apolog y to Aborigina l people for centuries of injustice.

Mor r i son sa id whi le t he “Closing t he Gap” init iat ive wil l continue to ta ke act ion across t he broad ra nge of issues, he would place immediate focus on education.

The prime minister pledged s e v e r a l n e w i n i t i a t i v e s , including cancelling student d e b t f o r t e a c h e r s w h o spend fou r yea rs i n remote communities.

“Educat ion i s t he key to sk i l ls. It is t he key to jobs. It is t he key to building enterprises – a nd g iv ing young Abor i g i na l a nd Tor r e s St r a i t I s l a nder Au s t r a l i a n s t he oppor t unit y to create t hei r f utures,” he said.

“It’s t he key to a good life. If you ca n’t read, i f you ca n’t write, there is no possible way you can share in the prosperit y of Austra lia.”