2009-08-29

Australia: We Are Not Bigots; The Aborignes Themselves Are Responsible For Their Own Oppression, Discrimination, and Poverty


Australia on Saturday rejected a United Nations report claiming racism against Aborigines was "entrenched" and that programmes to address child sexual abuse in remote communities were "overtly discriminatory."The report into the welfare of the 500,000 people among Australia's 21 million population who claim Aboriginal heritage was delivered to the government by UN special rapporteur on indigenous rights James Anaya.

He urged Canberra to stop quarantining welfare payments as a way of ensuring money went on rent and food rather than alcohol and cigarettes. He said banning pornography was discriminatory.

"It's inappropriate to their circumstances but is also, as expressed by them, demeaning," Anaya said, claiming the restrictions reflected "entrenched racism."

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin vowed to press ahead with the programme.

"I have got a responsibility to do better by the vulnerable children who are subjected to abuse because of alcohol," she said. "These are the jobs I have and I intend to get on with them."

Aboriginal leader Warren Mundine also rebutted the UN verdict, saying "this rapporteur's report should be dealt with the same as every other rapporteur's report: just drop it in the bin and actually get on with the job."

Opposition Liberal Party indigenous affairs spokesman Tony Abbott said Anaya's report was "sanctimonious claptrap" that required repudiation.

"This is the kind of nonsense that we are used to from these armchair critics," Abbott said.

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