[Greens-Media] Small gains on Indigenous disadvantage still leave us as international pariahs

[Twomey, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

Small gains on Indigenous disadvantage still leave us as international
pariahs

 

"Indigenous Australians remain the most disadvantaged sector in our
community and the gap in life expectancy is not decreasing," said
Senator Rachel Siewert today.

 

"The small gains we have made on a few of the key indicators still leave
us with by far the worst record in the developed world." 

 

Senator Siewert was responding to the release of the Overcoming
Indigenous Disadvantage Key Indicators 2007 report.

 

"The rate of improvement does not match what we would expect to occur as
a result of the growth in Australia's economy and general standards of
living," she said.

 

"This is a wake-up call for COAG that the business-as-usual approach
isn't working. Its time to get serious and pull their finger out."

 

"Without a concerted effort to commit serious resources to deal with
this national disgrace Australia will continue to be international
pariahs for our record on the well-being of our Indigenous peoples," she
concluded.

 

                 

For more information or comment call 

Chris Twomey on 0407 725 025

 

Email senator.siewert at aph.gov.au <mailto:senator.siewert at aph.gov.au> 

http://www.rachelsiewert.org.au <http://www.rachelsiewert.org.au/> 

 

RESCUE THE SENATE

 

 

 

Senator Rachel Siewert

Australian Greens spokesperson on Indigenous Affairs

 

Friday 1st June 2007