Decades of governments:

•  arguing about what to do;

• how to do it;

• reconciliation;

• accept the past and move on, etc!

• And the most obnoxious excuse used by the present Liberal Government has been,  "Why should I say sorry?  I can't be blamed for what my forbears did".  Such an attitude is pure arrogance and unfortunately this exploitation continues even (2007) today. 

• However, it might be pointed out, these sort of people are quite happy to benefit, from the activities of their forbears.  

• Therefore I believe that the present generations has some responsibility to try to repair the damage this has caused the Aborigine Nation.

• If you examine the list of lease owners it is easy to understand the reluctance of past governments to enter into any reconciliation agreement.

Rejection; government and bureaucratic stonewalling "we give, we take back!” These are all actions that Federal Governments have considered or used.

Granting assistance is Conditional assistance, e.g. conditional to receiving  help the government negotiates from a position of strength requiring the Aborigines to lease aboriginal lands back to the government.

That sort of condition has to be the most incredible condition to force on a section of the Australian people.   Aborigines were granted citizenship right decades ago.  

Therefore any such condition as above is discriminatory against one section of the Australian community.   As citizens of this country the Aboriginal people should be entitled to the same health and social care as is available to other citizens of Australia.

• It is my personal view that such a condition may be in Breach of the Australian Constitution and our citizens Common Law Rights, apart from possibly breaching international law.

Influence of Vested Interest Groups.     However when the lease ownership is examined one could assume that most of the proposed proposals were influenced with a bias towards those with vested interests and or controlled by lobby groups, influencing government decisions.

Aboriginal Australian or Australian Aborigines?    Disputes involving whether the issues relate to Aboriginal Australians or Australian Aborigines suggests the discussion is about a class of Australians e.g. Italian Australians, Greek Australians, etc.  

If this argument of Aboriginal Australians is accepted then this would appear to imply they belong to a section or class of Australians, i.e. Italian, Greek, Asian Australians, etc.

If so, then they are already recognised and should be treated as equals without bias or discrimination.

Alternatively if they are considered as Australian Aborigines, the meaning suggests acknowledgement of their sovereign rights as a Nation i.e. the Aboriginal Nation.    The Australian Federal Government has shown a reluctance to concede this.

First Steps.   The success of any reconciliation and recognition of sovereign rights will only succeed when the first step is taken..   From there, further steps will result finally in success.

There must be good-will on both sides for it to work. The government of Australia must recognize that the Australian Aborigine has rights under international laws and treaties.

While the Aboriginal Nation is a Nation as a whole, it means that it encompasses all of the Aboriginal Clans or Tribes, each with their own traditions, language and laws.

The integration of these peoples into a Nation of clans or tribes will only occur through negotiations among the Aboriginal peoples; not by the white or “other” ethnic groups comprising of the multi-cultured citizens of Australia

We, as Australian citizens, whether white, black or pink or whatever colour background will not resolve the problems created by the past, until we empower the Aboriginal Nation to work towards their own solution.

We are not entitled to tell them how they should fit into Australia   Nor is giving them handouts,  the solution to reconciliation.   That in itself is an insult!

Governments and bureaucrats have treated the Aboriginal people as subject people who don’t know how to behave. Governments have taken a paternalistic, self righteous approach " you poor people, you do not know what you need. Only we know."

STATE OF CENTRAL AUSTRALIA.     

The proposal attached on this web page is one idea for a possible solution that will allow the Aboriginal Nation control its own destiny in the same manner as other states, having all of the same rights and responsibilities.

If invited, Australia can work with the Aboriginal people to assist with the staff training and the development of appropriate infrastructures e.g. medical, hospitals,   Para medic/ambulatory services, Environment and Health, Education and industry training, etc.

The situation would be the same as any state/s approaching the Federal government for funding or other assistance. 

Funding should be equal to that given to other states.

However, it is also important that Australian Aborigines have the right to make their own decisions and only choose, if they so desire to seek assistance from outside of their own people to develop this proposed State of Central Australia.

Let this new state meet and work with its peers without prejudice or bias; as an equal but recognizing their cultures and different ethnic needs.

If you support granting The Aborigine Nation their own state then show your support by signing the petition, which you can download from the link from the menu alongside.

Note: February 2008. We now have a change of Federal government, with Labor winning the election. It will beinteresting to see how Reconciliiation will progress under this government.

The government will still face the problems of the ming industry and the vested interests of the leaseholders. There will be also a problem of the possible shareholding interests of thosein our parliament and how they may find themselves in a conflict situation.

NOTE: It is now February 2008 and we have a change of government to a Labor Government. While it is early yet as the government needs to settle in, it will be interesting to see how this will pan out or will this government also be successfully lobbied by the pastoral and mining interests against the interests of the Aboriginal People.

J W.   Personal thoughts on these issues by Community Advocate;