Theissue,today:Australia

Government action:

ByEujinyCho

Government action on the issue has been overall stagnant and tokenistic. It took four decades before a formal apology was delivered by Parliament, with a string of conservative prime ministers stating they ‘should not be required to accept guilt and blame for past actions and policies.’ Ironically, however, the apology in 2008 (widely known as the ‘Sorry Speech’) was not accompanied by improvements in social outcomes for Indigenous communities; but rather, a significant worsening in many rural areas The ‘Intervention’ program of 2007 to supposedly reduce levels of child abuse in Indigenous communities has only reduced people’s control of their lives and led to detrimental psychological impacts, concerningly harkening back to paternalist ideals through restrictions on welfare payments, invasive medical checks of children, revoking of Indigenous-owned land, and the establishment of armed police and soldiers in communities Additionally, the ‘Closing the Gap’ initiative of 2008 has similarly been compromised by sluggishness and poor leadership - whilst levels of Indigenous education are on track to meeting targets, child sex abuse, alcohol-related violence, and assault have only increased since.