[Greens-Media] Aboriginal Health an International Scandal

[Twomey, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

Aboriginal Health an International Scandal

"Australia's standing on the health of its Indigenous peoples is an
international scandal," said Senator Rachel Siewert today. 

"The Howard government is not focusing on the real issues, but wasting
the little effort it expends on Aboriginal affairs on ill-conceived
social experiments, like privatising home ownership and shared
responsibility agreements," she said.

Senator Siewert said that the Oxfam report released today was "a damning
indictment of Australia's approach to Aboriginal healthcare."

"The 17 year life expectancy gap will not significantly improve until
the major inequalities in the system are fixed" said Senator Siewert. 

"How can we hope to improve the situation when Aboriginal Australian's
per capita access to primary healthcare remains at 40% of that enjoyed
by other Australians."

We have good reason to be ashamed," she said.

"We need to follow the example of other first world nations and put a
massive injection of resources into Indigenous health of around $500
million per annum."

"We need to start now to achieve equality of outcomes within a
generation - as called for by Social Justice Commissioner, Tom Calma and
backed by a range of organisations including Oxfam, NACCHO and the AMA,"
said Senator Siewert.

"Today in Australia, when half the Aboriginal population aged over 15 is
already showing signs of chronic disease, it is simply not acceptable
that they are receiving a lesser level of service right across the
continuum of care." 

"The reason Indigenous Australians have reduced life expectancy, double
the infant mortality and suffer much higher rates of chronic disease are
all linked directly to disadvantage, poor living conditions and lack of
access to primary care," she said.

We need to focus on primary health, on early childhood programs, access
to affordable medicines, and safe and healthy housing. Australians don't
want to see any of their citizens having to put up with third-world
health outcomes," concluded Senator Siewert.
	           
For more information or comment call 
Chris Twomey on 0407 725 025

Email senator.siewert at aph.gov.au
http://www.rachelsiewert.org.au

RESCUE THE SENATE

Senator Rachel Siewert
Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal Affairs

Monday 2nd April 2007