Minister focuses on Cape York trial
14.03.2009
THE priority given to indigenous affairs in Queensland can be gauged by the fact that the Bligh Government does not have a specific department looking after the needs of Aborigines.
The Indigenous Affairs Department was abolished by Premier Anna Bligh's predecessor Peter Beattie and has not been restored.
Instead, the Minister for Communities and Disabilities, Lindy Nelson-Carr, has responsibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships.
Ms Nelson-Carr said yesterday the $100 million welfare reform trial in four Cape York Aboriginal communities was a main focus.
It is being run in partnership with Noel Pearson's Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership with a specific aim of getting children to attend school. If parents do not co-operate, their welfare payments could be managed or withheld.
As well, $66 million has been spent on alcohol reforms in 21 communities aimed at breaking down the alcoholism problems that also lead to violence within families.
Ms Nelson-Carr said the Government was committed to ``closing the gap'' in the life expectancy of indigenous people. This commitment includes halving the gap in mortality rates for indigenous children younger than five within a decade and halving the gap in employment outcomes, also in 10 years.
``We are working in partnership with the federal Government on new national agreements in health, education, housing and disability services to drive improved outcomes for indigenous people in Queensland,'' the minister said.
``In the next year, more than $10 million will be spent on specific initiatives to combat chronic diseases in Queensland.
``We established the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation with start-up capital of $25.8 million to focus on supporting educational opportunities for indigenous children.''
Ms Nelson-Carr said the ``halving the gap'' policy included a commitment that indigenous students would become competent in basic reading, writing and numeracy within a decade.
``In line with this, we are ensuring that all four-year-olds in remote communities have access to early childhood education within five years.
``The final commitment in this program is to halve the gap for indigenous students in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020.''
Success has been achieved with the partnership scheme involving the Cape York Institute, with sponsorship sending high-achieving students to city boarding schools to complete their formal education and then go on to university.
All communities now have alcohol restrictions, including banning the consumption of wine or spirits. Those communities that have a public canteen can sell only low-strength beer, and no takeaway liquor is sold. Huge fines apply to anybody arrested for smuggling alcohol.
