Recession driven rise in xenophobia

In light of the unforeseen global economic crisis and the devastating Victorian bush fires that claimed more than 200 lives on Black Saturday recently, two contrasting Indigenous public issues in recent weeks signalled to me the end of any hope of the current government following through with their promise of injecting significant resources into Closing The Gap strategies, after the historic Apology address by the Prime Minister on February 13, 2008.

Last week the federal government made an unconscionable decision to shut down a key Australian Crime Commission taskforce carrying out groundbreaking investigations into Indigenous violence, child abuse, drug trafficking and alcohol-related crime.

The 30-strong taskforce, which has spearheaded investigations into child prostitution and the trucking industry, and the failure of some government agencies to report child sex abuse, will be wound up in June.

The cost saving decision to shut down the taskforce, with an annual budget of $4 million, was reported in the Herald as causing widespread dismay among law enforcement agencies who viewed the taskforce as the first serious attempt in 50 years to pinpoint the causes of Indigenous crime endemic in remote communities.

The second public news story that captured my attention has more sinister implications for our people as it highlights the raw ugliness of racial intolerance at its pinnacle.

The Daily Liberal reported anonymous residents of Beveridge Crescent in Dubbo, New South Wales, had complained about the prospect of the Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) purchasing a $400,000 property in their street.

The Dubbo newspaper reported the following day, that NSW housing minister David Borger ordered the purchase be cancelled, citing the fact that the five-bedroom luxury property did not suit the profile of what should be purchased for public housing purposes.

That decision was questioned by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council representative for the central region, Councillor Stephen Ryan, who asked in which Dubbo streets the AHO may be able to house its clients.

The debate took an ugly turn when Beveridge Crescent residents awoke to the site of the vulgar act of vandalism, which was quickly patched up by council staff. Dubbo Mayor Greg Matthews was reported in The Daily Liberal saying he was telephoned by a resident and informed of the graffiti.

“I was told there was a racist remark painted on the road and I was immediately disappointed,” Cr Matthews said. “Obviously this is a delicate matter but everyone is entitled to have an opinion. It’s just up to people to control their emotions.”

I suspect similar incidents of racial intolerance will occur more frequently around the nation as mainstream society feels the global economic pinch. In particular, I predict rural communities with large Indigenous communities will come in for some unsavoury treatment from intolerant residents recently laid off work or experiencing downsizing of their home and car as a result of reduced pay packets.

I make this prediction cognisant of the wave of racial unrest witnessed during difficult economic times following Pauline Hanson’s rise  to national prominence after her February 14, 1996 expulsion from the Liberal Party as their candidate for the federal seat of Oxley for derogatory comments made about Aborigines.