Open Letter to Mal Brough

Dear Mr. Mal Brough:

Thank you for your reply dated 17 May, regarding my concerns about the Town Camp redevelopment plans. At the time I raised concerns regarding the poor levels of community participation, questionable project methodology and the detrimental effects on local culture and community. These concerns were based on my review of the Alice Springs Town Camps Task Force report and discussions with local Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community leaders (see Blog below). My concerns remain and it was no surprise to me that the plans were unanimously rejected by the Town Camp communities.

Since our last correspondence the Government has recognised that the Territory’s Aboriginal communities are in a State of Emergency. I agree. The levels of violence, alcohol abuse and ill health are indeed a social crisis – a fact attested to by numerous reports and in the voices of many Aboriginal leaders over the past decade. The Government has committed additional resources to address this crisis, and rolled out a number of major policies. In an interview alongside AMA President Rosanna Capulingua on the 5th of July, Tony Abbott MHR was quoted as saying “the Government will pay what’s necessary”[i].

I commend the Government on recognising this crisis and directing substantial attention and funding towards it. However, I would like to take the opportunity to express some of the concerns of myself and other health and community workers involved in working with Aboriginal people in Alice Springs.

1. ‘Aboriginal Crisis’. This is not an Aboriginal crisis – it is an Australian social crisis that must be borne by all Australians. Speaking about it as an ‘Aboriginal crisis’ only serves to place blame on Aboriginal Australians and further polarise community perceptions. Conceptualising it as an ‘Aboriginal crisis’ puts the emphasis on ethnicity as the problem rather than pointing towards the actual problems (i.e. poverty, dispossession, and barriers to accessing mainstream employment and services). Policy that adopts this view and targets Aboriginal Australians, rather than the social ills, amounts to nothing less than racial discrimination, as noted by Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner with regard to the originally proposed ‘mandatory child health checks’[ii].

2. Community Participation. A consistent theme in the multiplicity of reports regarding the burden of health and social ills on Aboriginal Australians is the need for community participation. However, current policies have been made behind the closed doors of Cabinet with, at best, token community participation. For example, the Alice Springs Town Camps Task Force report specifically noted the success of various Tangentyere Council initiatives such as the Night Patrol in reducing crime and violence. Yet Tangentyere Council has faced funding cuts to the very programs that the report identified as deserving additional support. Aboriginal controlled organisations are at the frontline in addressing Aboriginal health and social issues. It is imperative that these groups are involved not only in the implementation of Government policy but also the development, evaluation and modification of policy[iii].

3. Putting a lid on a boiling pot. I welcome the additional law enforcement personnel provided to address the violence and abuse present in some NT communities. However, we must recognise that this is simply putting a lid on a pot of boiling social ills. My fear is that the underlying issues will not be addressed and will simply be contained out of the public eye. The greater challenge is to invest long term in addressing issues of education, housing, alcohol abuse, health, employment opportunities and leadership development!

4. Aboriginal Land Title. I am puzzled and disappointed by the Government’s continued obsession with removing Aboriginal control over land. It shows complete lack of understanding of what land means for Aboriginal people. From a psycho-spiritual perspective, Aboriginal people belong to the land and removing control over it removes a part of the Aboriginal self. From a pragmatic perspective, abolishing the permit system and turning over land and housing to Northern Territory government will not assist in addressing the current crisis, and may be detrimental. Existing titles already allow security, health and welfare personnel access to communities. They also give the community some control in excluding other potentially exploitative individuals and groups. Removing this land ownership will only further erode Aboriginal self-determination, destroy Aboriginal identity and leave communities even more vulnerable to exploitation.

Aboriginal people from Central Australian communities and towns have reacted with great fear to the Government plans. The influx of security and Government personnel has raised the ghosts of the ‘stolen generation’ and many families are scared the Government will again begin removing children. These may be irrational fears, but for people who have experienced removal, exploitation and abuse by Government representatives and white land-owners and miners, these fears are very real. Aboriginal Territorians are feeling hopeless, fearful and betrayed by the current plans. We are crying out for people to stop, listen, and work out decisions in partnership, rather than simply enforce these pre-packaged solutions from outside.

I do hope that this can be used as an opportunity to more fully recognise Aboriginal people as Australia’s First People in equality with our multicultural Australian siblings.

Thank you for your time and attention. I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,
Dr. Hamish Graham

[i] Transcript of doorstop interview Parliamentary offices with Tony Abbott MHR (Federal Minister for Health and Ageing) and Dr Rosanna Capolingua (AMA President), July 5th 2007.
[ii] I also find it extremely disturbing that the Government would consider changing existing Human Rights legislation in order to enable the implementation of other aspects of this policy!
[iii] This means getting greater representation on task forces from trusted Aboriginal leaders such as Patricia Anderson, Marcia Langton, Ian Anderson and Mick Dodson.