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This letter first appeared in The Australian, 1 October 2008Letter to the EditorDear Editor, Reconciliation Australia has just wasted probably more than $50,000 on a report by Access Economics assessing the economic benefits of alleviating Indigenous disadvantage. The work by Access is fine as far as it goes, but as they make quite clear in their report 'the complex policy and program mechanics of how to achieve a real reduction in the disadvantages faced by Indigenous Australians are not addressed.' The economics of alleviating economic disadvantage do not lie in projecting facile 'what if' scenarios. The economics lie in finding the least cost path to achieving the reduction of disadvantage. After millions of dollars of support and hundreds of conferences, all we hear from our political leaders and from our industry gatekeepers are targets and whingeing. Reconciliation Australia should give up the not-so-cheap tricks and be honest. There will be no change in outcomes until Aborigines work. Gary Johns |
Who Was Bennelong? The 25th of November 1789, almost two years after the landing of the First Fleet, was a remarkable day for Australia, just as it was equally remarkable for a certain individual who went by the name of Woollarawarre Bennelong.... [more] |
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