Vincentian Social Justice

1. Vincentian Social Justice

2. Productivity Commission’s series of reports regarding ‘Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage’ in 2009. • Indigenous Juveniles are 28 times as likely to be detained as non-Indigenous juveniles at 2007. • Between 2001 and 2007, the Indigenous juveniles detention rates increased by 27%. • Between 2000 and 2008, the detention rate for Indigenous women increased by 46% and for Indigenous men by 27%. • Indigenous people were hospitalised as a result of spouse or partner violence at 34 times the rate of non-Indigenous people. • Indigenous women sought assistance to escape family violence at a rate of 45 per 1000 population compared with 3 per 1000 for non-Indigenous women. • Nationally the Indigenous homicide death rate is 7 times the non-Indigenous rate. • 65% of Indigenous people living in remote areas are likely to be living in overcrowded, often very substandard housing • Indigenous young people are three and a half times less likely to be in the labour force that non-Indigenous young people in very remote areas.

3. The cost of dealing with young offenders is $80,000 per annum.

4. Report – ‘Little Children are Sacred’.

5. Housing is an example of urgent need. • An average of 30 people living in a 2 bedroom substandard dwelling is common in many Indigenous communities. • Health, Education and family are all affected by such conditions. The report ‘Little Children are Sacred’ is one of many reports that have documented the results of such conditions. • If a young person is living in such conditions they cannot sleep properly, or study or (often) feel safe. There are many cases where a young Indigenous person has committed an offence in order to be incarcerated to get away from the dangers inherent in such conditions.

6. Measures of responses that have attracted most criticism • – exemption from the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, • the compulsory acquisition of an unspecified number of prescribed communities • and the partial abolition of the permit system – • have been interpreted as undermining important principles and parameters established as part of the legal recognition of Indigenous land rights in Australia.

7. A lack of consultation with Aboriginal community leaders is often cited . • The fact that the action addresses very few of the specific recommendations contained in the “Little Children are Sacred” Report, but introduces measures not suggested in the Report. • The Aboriginal leader GalarrwuyYununpingu initially supported the response but had lost faith in it by 2010.

8. The United Nations have expressed concern over the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act – writing to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2009 following a complaint made to the UN by a number of Aboriginal communities. • It is claimed that the Intervention has created chaos and increased poverty and racism. • In order for the Federal Government to implement the NT Emergency Response, suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 was required making it legal to force communities to sign over control of Aboriginal land in 5-year leases; prohibit the consumption and distribution of alcohol in communities; and control spending through income management and store cards and the take-over of Aboriginal service providers. • Has not uncovered any paedophilia rings and no child sexual abuse cases have been prosecuted. • Only 2 of the 97 recommendations in the “Little Children are Sacred” Report were implemented