Radio Australia Today Editorial

When Are Things Going to Improve?

30 April 2008

Some figures came out yesterday that showed that indigenous death rates in this century are still three times that of white people in most states and territories in Australia.

The average life expectancy of aborigines is still 17 years shorter than the rest of the population. Which means they will be lucky, as individuals, to reach 60 years of age, and for a elder-managed society like the indigenous one here in Australia, this can be devastating on a national as well as personal level. Fewer elders, less chance of culture being passed to the next generation.

Mick Tsikas [Reuters]

Infant mortality figures are yet to be updated, but the last set of results indicated that aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are not faring well in this category either.

But why, is the question.

Over the years researchers have offered differing opinions. Social workers claim its the stress within the family unit; historians like Henry Reynolds have maintained its been the pushing of these people from their natural culture; governments have put it down to poor housing.

Yes, everyone seems to have an opinion, but the indigenous people themselves seem to be the last people consulted. Various governments, from the days of Gough Whitlam back in the 1970s, have tried to form representative bodies among aborigines, and each has faced their own problems. As Pat Dodson told us on the Breakfast Club, aboriginal society doesn’t operate on a parliamentary basis. But he says some representation is better than no representation.

I did a major in aboriginal studies. My lecturers were aboriginal. What they told us in those classes was shocking, including the health figures that were confirmed by the Indigenous Affairs Minister yesterday.

Things are not well in the indigenous society in this country and haven’t got better.

The one good note from the minister was a quote from a health worker who says that experience from indigenous societies in other countries shows that the age gap between white and black can be narrowed. The minister has promised to find out how.

Let’s hope that for the indigenous people of this great land, things start to improve. Now.