Centralised or Localised ?

Another ongoing debate in indigenous affairs. Should services to remote communities be be centralised or localised ? What is the best way to deliver services ?

Fred Chaney is someone I trust so when he suggests a new model of localised authorities to "boost community participation and accountability" then I take notice. Read about his new plan here.

At first I thought 'Here we go again. Another new model that will solve everyone's problems'. After the Federal Government had decided to establish service 'centres' it seemed that centralised services under the control of super-councils was the way forward. Is that happening ? Is it working ?

Well Fred appears to think there is a better way. And his efforts to promote indigenous well-being have been relentless.

Income Management

Putting restrictions on how people spend their own money wouldn't generally seem acceptable. That's until the Federal Government introduced income management with the NT Intervention.

There's been a lot said about the pros and cons of this scheme and I wont go into that just yet.

But today's article is the first time I've seen any community - indigenous or not - asking for permission to introduce income management. The attached article makes it sound like a 'bad news' story as the locals had a specific version they wanted implemented. But reading between the lines says there are communities who do see income management as part of a solution to community dysfunction, and who are prepared to introduce it to their own communities. That's proactive and it ought to be encouraged.

Marcia Langton - Straight-Shooter

I first encountered Marcia Langton when I watched the documentary 'First Australians' on SBS. This series was a history of indigenous Australia and Marcia gave a no-holds-barred account of how indigenous Australians were treated from 1777 onwards. Her demeanour was fierce, almost scary, and yet she seemed quite credible. She didnt come across as blaming anyone, but simply described what happened to indigenous people in no uncertain terms. Marcia is now very well known, and with Noel Pearson, is my favourite spokesperson on indigenous Australia. Marcia Langton from Melbourne Uni speaks out ...
http://www.theage.com.au/national/a-case-for-change-20120904-25chg.html

And the full transcript. Marcia covers everything from education to health to remote communities to racism. You MUST read this....
http://www.theage.com.au/national/full-transcript-marcia-langdon-20120904-25cxw.html

  I think Whitefellahs in Oz often wonder what they can do to help reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous. Especially in the south where the indigenous population is lower. Well if you think Marcia Langton has something important to say and you want to do something that might make a difference, why not support the Expert Panel to promote Constitutional Reform in Australia. Marcia is a member and I reckon she deserves the support of the average Australian. Join youmeunity.org here

The Boyer Lectures 2013
In 2013 Marcia has come out and supported the mining companies who are providing employment for indigenuos Australians during the mining boom in W.A.
However Marcia is being criticised because her travel and research have been partly funded by the mining companies.