So much for reconciliation in Victoria

May 27, 2009 in Campaigns, Rants & Raves
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Yesterday was National Sorry Day.  Last year the Prime Minister of Australia finally delivered an apology for the deeply disturbing and paternalistic policy of stealing Indigenous children from their families and homes. Colloquially known and rightfully known as the “Stolen Generations”. I’ve posted a few times about this topic and find it remarkable that despite this the Government and Opposition maintain what looks like more paternateralistic policies for Indigenous Australians.

But recently the Brumby government decided to cease funding to Reconciliation Victoria.

A stunning decision to make given the focus on efforts to close the gaps in health, education, employment and life-expectancy by a range of community, not least Reconciliation Victoria. It just seems to re-enforce some of the suspicions that Australia’s governments simply continue to pay lip service to Indigenous Australians. Let’s not forget that today was the start of Reconciliation Week, and just a couple of weeks ago the fate of Reconciliation Victoria was sealed.

Advocacy is an important to ensure that Indigenous issues are not simply pigeon-holed and approaching them on a singularly-focussed basis. It’s important that the right way is taken to include Indigenous Australians. The education work and development of programs and working communities and activists will either be done sporadically or not at all.

This decision will undoubtedly set back the work being done by Reconciliation Victoria and others.  Perhaps the Victorian government is worried about having to compensate for the Stolen Wages of Koori workers. Poor judgement produced this terrible decision and makes a mockery of claims of reconciliation with Kooris and with Australia’s Indigenous peoples.

Shame Brumby Shame!

But it shouldn’t stop us, the “ordinary” people from doing what we can toward reconciliation in Victoria.