The Aborigines and Australia.

Aboriginals have inhabited Australia for between 40-60 000 years. On that scale, as Bill Bryson estimated 'the period of European occupation of Australia represents about 0.3% of the total'. The start of the problems that we see today can be traced back to the first landing of the white man way back in 1788.

It's a bit of a mess down under at the moment, and it has been for quite some time. The problem, some would say, is the Aboriginals-the Abo's or others would say it's the whites. The situation in Australia now is critical- Aboriginals are segregated from the rest of society not only culturally but socio-economically. The disparity between black and white, in terms of living conditions and quality of life, is shocking to say the least. The life expectancy of an Indigenous Australian is 17 years lower than his white counterpart (men are not expected to reach 60). 1

Indigenous Australians are 11 times more likely to be in Jail than a white person, 20 times more aborigines are abused as children than white people.2 The problem is their for all to see.

Historically the blame for the problems can certainly be laid upon 'the white man'. When the Europeans first set foot in Australia, where the Aborigines had been already for up to 60 000 years, they wiped out half of the indigenous population with imported disease. Between 1788 and 1900 the aboriginal population was cut by 90% through disease, direct violence and land violation. Aborigenes were slaughtered by the hundreds up until the 1930s, they were used as slaves, beaten and abused.3 The number of Aborigines intentionally killed by whites is thought to be around 20 000.4 Is it any wonder that Aboriginals feel mistreated and are resentful towards the more affluent, better educated, longer living white people that live right next door to them?

There is no easy solution and there have been steps in the right direction. Aborigenes can no longer be killed without the law being brought against the murderer (in 1805 it was deemed legal to punish aborigenes as 'one saw fit' for any crime- essentially legalizing genocide)5. The next positive step to be taken was to begin to consider Aborigines as human-something that didn't happen until the 60s (Aboriginals were not counted on the 1963 census). Aboriginal children are no longer taken away from their parents at an early age and given to white people to adopt. Until 1969 aboriginal children did not belong to their parents but instead to the state, which meant they could be removed from their parents perfectly lawfully. It is believed that between 1/10 and 1/3 aboriginal children before 1963 were taken from their parents and givent to a white family- they are known as the 'Lost Generation'. This has had serious effects on the population in later life:
"Almost half of the Aboriginal people who died in custody and were investigated by the Black Deaths Royal Commission, had been removed from their families as children..." Kirsten Garrett, Background Briefing, Sunday, 11 February 1996

For all the progress that has been made there is still so far to go. Aboriginals and whites both need to be progressive in their thoughts. The white people must formally apologise (through the government, which is all white) and the Australian people must cut racism out of their society. It is important that Aboriginals are given financial assistance to work themselves out of poverty- their children should be helped with extra schooling and their land rights should be thoughtfully considered and wherever possible provided for. It is down to every mother and father in Australia to teach their children whether black or white, that the colour of someones skin is not important. We must understand the hardships that aboriginals have been through and help them break their socio-econonomic downward spiral. At the same time Aboriginals have a part to play. They must accept that it was not this generation of white Australians who beat and killed them, that laws have changed and attitudes will follow. Aboriginals must react positively to the repression that they have faced and the community as a whole must try its hardest to stamp out alcoholism and child abuse. It is no longer an option for Aboriginals to complain about how things have changed and their land has been taken- they must take a forward step and embrace multiculturalism. Racism must be obliterated in both the white and black communities.

Not every white person is a racist and not every aboriginal is a drunk. Australians (white and black) must push for a peace and, while remembering the past, move on together.

"It's the same each time with progress. First they ignore you, then they say you're mad, then dangerous, then there's a pause and then you can't find anyone who disagrees with you."

Tony Benn

1 and 2)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_Australians#Issues_facing_Indigenous_Australians_today

3)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_massacres_of_Indigenous_Australians
4,5) 'Down Under'- Bill Bryson

Further Reading

White Australia Policy:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Australia_Policy
Aboriginal History:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Indigenous_Australians
General Indigenous Info:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_Australians
Aboriginal Smoking article:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6932787.stm
Child Abuse/Alcohol ban:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6229708.stm
Alcohol abuse:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6353693.stm
Jail/Justice:http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22291927-5006789,00.html