>9 May 2000 > > >Budget fails to advance "practical" reconciliation > >An initial analysis shows the Howard Government has failed to make any >significant advance in tonight's Federal Budget on its own pledge to achieve >"practical" reconciliation. >There is precious little to meet the desperate need in Indigenous housing, >employment, education and health. >The one bright spot is the funding of an additional 1,500 places to the >existing 33,000 or so in ATSIC's Community Development Employment Projects >scheme (CDEP). >Prime Minister Howard recently gave an undertaking to the ATSIC Board that >these new places would be approved in the Budget. He has delivered. >However, the demand for new places clearly outstrips the number available >and CDEP-a voluntary work scheme that substitutes for the dole-is no >substitute for the creation of permanent full time employment. >There are no desperately-needed new funds to support the organisations which >deliver the scheme, mostly in regional Australia, so that they can create >more accredited training and assistance for CDEP participants moving to >mainstream employment. Some 65% of CDEPs are located in remote Australia >where labour market opportunities are limited, the costs of living are >extremely high and service provision is often poor. >ATSIC advanced a number of proposals to Government which would, if adopted, >have demonstrated a clear commitment at "practical" reconciliation. >For instance, we had sought a substantial injection of funding for community >housing and infrastructure in our communities to address the massive deficit >which still remains and was clearly identified in a recent >ATSIC-commissioned national survey. >The Government's rural and regional package may provide indirect benefits to >Indigenous communities, but it needs to consider an Indigenous-specific >package to address the severe inequities in health, education, employment >and housing. >I am committed to working with the Howard Government to advance "practical" >reconciliation. The Prime Minister has said he is happy to do so. >ATSIC calls on the Prime Minister to begin work with us immediately to >ensure next year's Federal Budget delivers a substantial down payment on >"practical" reconciliation. > >Geoff Clark >Chairman > > >Contact through the Office of Public Affairs: Martin Freckmann 0427 631 >045 > >Craig Sproule >A/g Administration Manager >Office of Public Affairs - ATSIC >Ph: 02 6121 4952 >Fax: 02 6282 2854 >E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > ------------------------------------------------------ RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/recoznet2%40paradigm4.com.au/
