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.
Super Councils don't work, and neither do generalised federal policies as they don't address the extended family issues that dictate community behaviour in remote communities. Economic rationalisation that occurred in the cities do not fit the remote world of extended family and traditional ways.
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