New
start and new hope vital for Indigenous Affairs,
Social Justice Commissioner finds
The annual Social Justice and Native Title reports of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Dr William Jonas were tabled in federal Parliament late today.
They reveal the inadequacies of Australian government policies and practices in effectively dealing with ongoing discrimination against Indigenous people.
Both reports recommend
a revised approach to Indigenous equality. "We need special remedial
measures to overcome historically-entrenched patterns of racial inequality,
as well as active intervention to protect the distinct cultural characteristics
of Indigenous communities."
"Public debate on Indigenous issues has often been divisive, scape-goating
Indigenous people as somehow being 'privileged' and enjoying 'special
treatment' compared to the general population. The reality could not be
further from the truth," said Dr Jonas.
Dr Jonas will address a media conference on the reports on Friday 7 April at 10.30 am at the Commission: Level 8, 133 Castlereagh Street, Sydney. Copies of the reports will be available from 9 am.
Social Justice Report
The Social Justice Report focuses on Indigenous young people. It profiles disadvantage in employment, housing, education, health and justice, which by any criteria is disturbing.
"Across every socio-economic measure and across all age groups, Indigenous people are severely disadvantaged, none more so than the children and young adults," Dr Jonas says.
The report finds that mandatory detention laws in NT and WA discriminate against Indigenous youth and breach universal human rights standards the Australia Government has pledged to uphold.
Native Title Report
The Native Title Report considers the principles upheld by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), namely equality and the requirement that the government negotiate with Indigenous people over native title legislation. In view of these principles the report agress with the findings of the CERD Committee that amendments to the Native Title Act are discriminatory.
The Commissioner
Dr Bill Jonas took up his term as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice in May 1999. He comes from the Karuah River area of NSW and is a former Director of the National Museum of Australia.
The reports
Under the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Act 1986, the Commissioner is required to report annually on the "enjoyment and exercise of human rights by Aboriginal persons and Torres Strait Islanders".
Under the Native Title Act 1993 the Commissioner is also required to report annually to the Attorney-General on "the operation of the Native Title Act and its effect on the exercise and enjoyment of human rights by Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders".
The 1999 Social Justice and Native Title reports and summaries of each are available on the HREOC website.
1999 Social Justice Report | 1999 Native Title Report
For further information please contact Margie Cook on (02) 9284 9677 or 0418 637 230; or Darren Dick (02) 9284 9782 or 0408 230 975.
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and Equal Opportunity Commission. Last updated 2 December 2001.
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