Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Engagement will do more than a treaty for indigenous health

By Fred Chaney - posted Friday, 24 September 2004


We are more likely to achieve treaty like outcomes that will benefit Indigenous health through this pragmatic process, than we are to win a theoretical debate about the relevance of treaties to Indigenous health. In wrestling with this topic I returned to a paper given by Hal Wootten QC at an ATSIC NSW Policy Forum on 2 November 2001. Let me quote a cautionary paragraph from his typescript and its accompanying footnote.

There is no golden key, although people keep hoping they have found: one­ equal rights, self-determination, land rights, recognition, an apology, a treaty. Each of these things has played, or could play, a valuable role. They are steps in a journey but none is a golden key. Don't waste energy looking for the golden key, but seize those opportunities that now and then come along to give things a little nudge in the right direction.

And the footnote:

Advertisement

I am not opposed in principle to the idea of a treaty, which is one way in which an ultimate settlement or reconciliation between Aboriginals and those who have taken over their country might be expressed. However its time would come only after an appropriately representative Aboriginal political structure had developed to be party to such a treaty, and when there was some consensus developed which it was desirable to record in a formal, binding way.

By all means think about a treaty, but the devotion of large amounts of limited funds and energy to it while acute problems of alcohol abuse, family violence and economic dependence are not effectively addressed seems equivalent to fiddling while Rome burns.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. Page 3
  5. All

Article edited by Sarah Lord.
If you'd like to be a volunteer editor too, click here.

This is an edited version of an address given by Fred Chaney to the Indigenous Health and Treaty Conference on September 11, 2004.



Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Fred Chaney is Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia and Deputy President of the National Native Title Tribunal. He was Federal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs between 1978 and 1980.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Fred Chaney
Related Links
Reconciliation Australia
Photo of Fred Chaney
Article Tools
Comment Comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy