Macklin vows to end black poverty
14.12.2006
IDEOLOGY is dead in Aboriginal affairs and Labor will design policy that ``makes poverty history'' for all families, black and white, said Opposition indigenous affairs spokeswoman Jenny Macklin yesterday.
However Ms Macklin's first outing in her new portfolio was marred by an attack from Aboriginal leader Noel Pearson, who criticised the dumping of her predecessor Chris Evans.
Ms Macklin yesterday said that while symbols had a role to play in reconciliation, they did not help indigenous people get ``jobs or an education''.
``I think when it comes to indigenous policy, ideology must end, it's past its use-by date for both of the major political parties and it's time that both sides of politics actually took responsibility for the results when it comes to employment, health, education and dealing with drug and alcohol abuse and violence,'' she said.
The former deputy Labor leader and education spokeswoman will travel the country early next year in search of the ``things that work'' in Aboriginal communities. Labor will then design policy to expand them.
``The critical thing for me is that Labor will end the ideological battles of the past and take responsibility for delivering in these critical areas,'' she said.
Mr Pearson has said Senator Evans ``could be the best federal Labor frontbencher with responsibility for indigenous affairs that we have had''.
Ms Macklin said she wanted to continue Senator Evans's good work. ``It is our responsibility in the national parliament to make poverty history here in Australia first,'' she said.
``I think we need to confront the most difficult issues -- the impact of alcohol, drugs, violence, child abuse -- and do that in a way that we can get solutions rather than apply blame.''
But Mr Pearson, director of the Cape York Institute, said he did not believe replacing Senator Evans was necessary.
``He has taken welfare reform seriously, and substance abuse, and he is much more aligned with our thinking about what should happen,'' Mr Pearson said.
``I am concerned that we are going to go back to traditional thinking about Aboriginal policy with Jenny Macklin and I hope I am going to be proven wrong.
``We need Labor policies that are in favour of welfare reform; strong against substance abuse and strongly in favour of personal responsibility.''
The criticism came as Ms Macklin insisted she would not get into a political argument with the Government on the issues facing Aboriginal communities.
``I think both sides of politics need to look at the problems and come up with solutions,'' she said.
``When it comes to welfare dependency I want to do what we can to foster an enterprising culture, one that actually addresses what is a long-term receiving culture. It didn't just happen under this Government. It's been around for a very, very long time and of course I see education as the key to that.''
Ms Macklin said while there was ``no question'' that symbols were important, ``they don't get you a job or a good education''.
``I'll be travelling around Australia focusing on the things that work so we are able to scale up from the things that are working,'' she said.
She said both sides of politics had failed indigenous people. But to address the problems, she first wanted to ensure the $14 billion family payments system was examined to ensure it helped people find jobs.
``I want to ensure that our policies encourage people to work. That means making sure that the family payments system provides incentives for people to work,'' she said.
``We need to change the culture from a receiving-welfare culture to an enterprising culture and that applies right across the Australian community.
``Labor is the party of work and we want to have policies, whether it's in family payments, tax or education, that provide the incentives and skills to get people jobs.'' She said the current family payments structure contributed to the disincentive to work.
