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Australia admits ‘failing’ to improve Aboriginal lives
SYDNEY, Feb 14, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – More than a decade after vowing to “close
the gap” between indigenous Australians and the rest of the country, the
government on Thursday admitted it was still falling far short.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that only two of seven government
targets to improve the wealth, health and wellbeing of the first Australians
were being met.
Efforts to improve early education and rates of high school qualifications
were on track, but targets in other areas — including boosting employment
and increasing life expectancy — were falling behind.
“I want Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to have the same
opportunities as all other children growing up in Australia,” Morrison told
parliament.
“But this is not true for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
in Australia today. It’s never been true. And I don’t know when it will be
true. And that is the truth we must confront again today,” he said in
parliament.
Aboriginal Australians make up about three percent of the total national
population of 25 million, but remain the country’s most disadvantaged
community.
The unemployment rate for Aboriginal Australians is three to four times
higher than the national average.
Suicide rates for Aboriginal children are five times higher than for the
rest of the population according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Thursday’s report marks eleven years since former prime minister Kevin
Rudd made a historic apology to Aboriginal people for centuries of injustice.
Morrison said while the “Closing the Gap” initiative will continue to take
action across the broad range of issues, he would place immediate focus on
education.
The prime minister pledged several new initiatives, including cancelling
student debt for teachers who spend four years in remote communities.
“Education is the key to skills. It is the key to jobs. It is the key to
building enterprises — and giving young Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Australians the opportunity to create their futures,” he said.
“It’s the key to a good life. If you can’t read, if you can’t write, there
is no possible way you can share in the prosperity of Australia.”
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1117 hrs