Australians of all political persuasions rubbed their eyes and opened their curtains this week with one hell of a hangover. As the nation recovers from a fiery month of debate over the date of Australia Day, you’d be forgiven for thinking little else significant happened in Indigenous affairs throughout January.
During all the kerfuffle media, politicians and activists alike talked about nothing but the ramifications of changing the date — either positive or negative.
However, it was hard not to notice that several highly significant developments in the Indigenous policy debate were overlooked.
On January 11 the Closing the Gap Refresh website was launched, encouraging people to make submissions for a major overhaul of the decade long government strategy. Given that only one of the seven targets is on track to succeed you’d think this would warrant significant attention.
The refresh represents an opportunity to reshape some of the core foundations of Indigenous policy. Perennial issues such as home ownership and private tenure on Indigenous land, small business ownership, and the ongoing inefficiency of program delivery should have been front and centre of this month’s debate.
Similarly, on January 17th another government consultation was released — this time opening a review of the remote employment strategy, known as the Community Development Program (CDP).
The history of CDP is usually one of headline-hogging controversy. Providers listing dead people and prisoners on their books to gain more funding, participants completing ‘fake work’ to earn welfare payments, and allegations of racial discrimination have all tainted this controversial policy.
However, these issues and many more gained little traction when the conversation got serious in January. The nation was tanked-up on a fractious issue that — while important — will have no tangible impact on the outcomes of the most disadvantaged portion of Indigenous Australians.
So now the change the date debate has been had for another year, it’s time to resume focus on the most pressing issues:
Developing more comprehensive Closing the Gap targets; ensuring that Indigenous programs are effectively evaluated; and viably engaging remote communities in the economy.
These sorts of debates often need a catalyst. The Prime Minister’s annual Closing the Gap speech in February would be a good place to start.
Home > Commentary > Opinion > Nation awakes from Australia Day hangover
Nation awakes from Australia Day hangover
During all the kerfuffle media, politicians and activists alike talked about nothing but the ramifications of changing the date — either positive or negative.
However, it was hard not to notice that several highly significant developments in the Indigenous policy debate were overlooked.
On January 11 the Closing the Gap Refresh website was launched, encouraging people to make submissions for a major overhaul of the decade long government strategy. Given that only one of the seven targets is on track to succeed you’d think this would warrant significant attention.
The refresh represents an opportunity to reshape some of the core foundations of Indigenous policy. Perennial issues such as home ownership and private tenure on Indigenous land, small business ownership, and the ongoing inefficiency of program delivery should have been front and centre of this month’s debate.
Similarly, on January 17th another government consultation was released — this time opening a review of the remote employment strategy, known as the Community Development Program (CDP).
The history of CDP is usually one of headline-hogging controversy. Providers listing dead people and prisoners on their books to gain more funding, participants completing ‘fake work’ to earn welfare payments, and allegations of racial discrimination have all tainted this controversial policy.
However, these issues and many more gained little traction when the conversation got serious in January. The nation was tanked-up on a fractious issue that — while important — will have no tangible impact on the outcomes of the most disadvantaged portion of Indigenous Australians.
So now the change the date debate has been had for another year, it’s time to resume focus on the most pressing issues:
Developing more comprehensive Closing the Gap targets; ensuring that Indigenous programs are effectively evaluated; and viably engaging remote communities in the economy.
These sorts of debates often need a catalyst. The Prime Minister’s annual Closing the Gap speech in February would be a good place to start.
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