Greens Challenge The Government To Find Indigenous Solutions Not Fault

[Cr David Risstrom]

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GREENS CHALLENGE THE GOVERNMENT TO FIND INDIGENOUS SOLUTIONS NOT FAULT
 
Australian Greens Senate Candidate and Melbourne City Councillor David
Risstrom today called on the federal government to hold talks with
Indigenous Australians rather than blaming them for their own disadvantages.
 
Councillor Risstrom said Indigenous people are the most disadvantaged people
in Australia, particularly in the areas of health, education and employment.
 
³The responsibility for health care, education and employment rests
primarily with federal and state governments and mainstream service
providers, which have failed to deliver real outcomes in any of these
areas², said Cr Risstrom.
 
³International experience reveals that the best policy approach for
indigenous people is self-determination².
 
³This means involving Indigenous Australians in decisions about their own
health care, education and employment opportunities.²
 
Councillor Risstrom said while the federal government wants Indigenous
Australians to fade away the Australian Greens support their right to
self-determination.
 
³We all, including the federal government, should talk to Indigenous
Australians to achieve real, effective change that delivers equality and
justice and respects what Indigenous people have to offer.²
 
³As part of that we should focus on solutions not faults.²
 
³The government has ignored Indigenous Australians advice and concerns and
consequently its policies have failed, now it is blaming the people it has
failed by silencing an Indigenous voice.²
 
³History shows the assimilationist model failed, it failed again in the
guise of practical reconciliation and now with the abolishment of ATSIC it
will fail again.² 
 
³Indigenous self-determination is vital if we genuinely want Indigenous
people to have equal access to rights and quality of life other Australians
take for granted.²
 
 
For more information or to arrange an interview contact:
Simon Lansdown Victorian Greens Media Officer - 0415 535 564



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