BY RALF SCHARRMAN
DARWIN — "Shame — our shame" — these March 7 words, used to describe the behaviour of Aboriginal people by the Northen Territory minister for indigenous affairs, John Ah Kit, in the NT Parliament, have sparked debate in the territory about the real causes of Aboriginal disadvantage.
Ah Kit talked of drunks and beggars in the streets, and a lack of will from "so many" Aboriginal people to take charge of their own lives. His comments echo the high profile musings of Indigenous commentator Noel Pearson, who has blamed much of the social dislocation in Aboriginal communities upon "welfare dependency".
"The comments made by minister John Ah Kit are having the same effect as the brutal attacks [on homeless Aboriginal people]", local indigenous activist, and Socialist Alliance member, June Mills told Green Left Weekly.
"We don't need the blame in our community. We don't need more policies — we are living under constant police surveillance, we are living under a magnifying glass", she pointed out.
Ah Kit's comments came only days after seven Aboriginal people were viciously attacked by five young people at three different locations in Darwin's northern suburbs. It was said in court that the attacks weren't racially motivated. However, the judge refused to give the offenders suspended sentences, out of fear that to do so would "declare open season" on "the itinerants".
Unfortunately, it may be too late. Recent "anti-social conduct" laws, and Darwin city by-laws, target homeless Aboriginal people, the long-grassers. The laws prevent anyone from lighting a fire or sleeping in public, and give the police power to confiscate belongings like blankets, kettles and musical instruments.
The council are constantly fining Indigenous people and the "night patrol" harasses them.
"The only shame that there is, is the governments neglect and inability to improve the situation of Indigenous people in Australia", Mills argued, pointing out that homelessness is a sign of the poverty and dispossession of Indigenous people. "The land rights issue has to be readdressed", she said. "The government resources should be channelled towards education not more policing".
Ah Kit's comments were welcomed nationwide by leaders of the two major parties — reflecting the bipartisan agreement to scapegoat the victims of racism, instead of admitting the failure Indigenous policy and the existence of institutionalised racism. Just as Labor's Bob McMullin cited Noel Pearson as justification for not increasing funding to Aboriginal services in the election campaign last year, so both Labor and Liberal politicians have welcomed Ah Kit as providing cover for their plans to further cut services to Indigenous communities and "get tough" on black offenders.
The Long-Grass Association is holding meetings to assess the constantly worsening situation for long-grassers, and to develop strategies to protect some of the most vulnerable members of society. A meeting is planned between the long-grassers and members of the night patrol to attempt to improve the police and night patrol treatment of long-grassers, and make it more "culturally appriopriate".
From Green Left Weekly, April 10, 2002.
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