-----Original Message----- From: Webcentral <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Monday, August 14, 2000 8:36 AM Subject: [atsic] Media Release: INDIGENOUS JOBLESS IN CRISIS WHILE MAINSTREAM UNEMPLOYMENT FALLS >INDIGENOUS JOBLESS IN CRISIS WHILE MAINSTREAM UNEMPLOYMENT FALLS > >There can be little cause for celebration in the lowest mainstream >unemployment rate in 10 years while the Indigenous jobless rate stays at >more than 50 per cent. > >The Government must give particular attention to extreme levels of >inequality in the employment status for Aboriginal and Torres Strait >Islander people. > >The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission welcomes the 6.3 per >cent national unemployment rate announced yesterday but wonders when the >Federal Government is going to pay real attention to the Indigenous jobs >crisis. > >We also call on the private sector to lift their game. While the private >sector provides two-thirds of the mainstream jobs in Australia it only >provides only one third of the jobs owned by Indigenous people. > >Official records show only 50% of our adult population is in the workforce, >compared with 60% of non-Indigenous Australians. Of the 50% in the >workforce, according to government figures, 24% are unemployed. > >But another third of our workforce is engaged in part-time activity under >the Community Development Employment Projects, the CDEP - a "work for the >dole" scheme that has been operating now for some 30 years. > >We have third generation members of some of our communities working in this >subsidised scheme which is not true employment. > >The reality is that our unemployment level is 51% when you take into account >the CDEP program and the forecast is this rate will continue to increase, >not decrease. > >Fifty-one per cent is too high and it's been there for too long. > > As Aboriginal people we have been too passive about our unemployment. > >We have no reason to tolerate poverty in our country which continues to >yield most of the wealth of this country. > >It is time for affirmative action legislation within Australia which >guarantees Aboriginal people get job opportunities with all employers. > >Legislation must require that major employers with 250 employees or more >have at least two per cent Aboriginal employees by the Year 2002. > >The federal Government cannot continue to ignore the responsibility towards >the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. > >Is the Prime Minister really serious about his commitment to reconciliation? > > >Geoff Clark >ATSIC Chairman > >11 August 2000 > >Further information Paul Molloy 0419 690 926 > > > > ------------------------------------------------------ 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/
