[Greens-Media] Federal budget fails to address Indigenous disadvantage.

[Twomey, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

> "The Federal Budget does not seriously address the disadvantage
> experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples," said
> Senator Rachel Siewert today.
> 
> Senator Siewert is the Australian Greens spokesperson on Indigenous
> Issues.
> 
> "There are a few small, mostly one-off funding initiatives announced,"
> she said. 
> "But this is only really fiddling around the edges, and will do little
> to bridge the gap between Aboriginal Australians and the health and
> standards of living of non-aboriginal Australians."
> 
> It is estimated that $2.1 billion dollars is needed to properly
> address Aboriginal housing, between $250-$500 million per annum is
> needed to bring health standards up to those of non-Aboriginal
> Australians. 
> 
> The government has only committed an extra $100m per year for four
> years.
> 
> "Aboriginal Australians are increasingly left behind as our nation's
> standard of living progresses."
> 
> "Basic services and infrastructure that are taken for granted by the
> majority of Australians are sorely missed by most Aboriginal
> Australians, particularly in remote and rural areas."
> 
> "What should be a basic human right is treated as a one-off 'special
> privilege' grant, becomes something that has to be negotiated for or
> traded off in an SRA, or part of a short-term pilot program that
> inevitably runs out just as it starts kicking in," said Senator
> Siewert.
> 
> "If we can't address Aboriginal disadvantage in an economic boom time,
> when can we address it?"
> 
> "This Government is clearly not serious about fixing the disadvantage
> faced by Aborignal Australia," she said.
> 
> 
> For more information or comment contact:
> 
> Chris Twomey
> Personal Advisor
> Senator Rachel Siewert
> Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia
> WA office: 08 9228 3277 Canberra: 02 6277 3587
> mobile: 0407 725 025
> www.rachelsiewert.org.au
>