Call To End Indigenous Poverty

Member for Lingiari and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia and Indigenous Affairs Warren Snowdon today called on Australians to honour the spirit of Eradication of Poverty Day and focus on wiping out Indigenous poverty.

Mr Snowdon said it was no accident that eradicating poverty had the greatest priority in the international community's Millennium Goals (see attachment).

'Ands that means eradicating the indicators, like lack of access to health services, education, housing, employment opportunities and a real stake in the economy,' he said. . 'This is the grim reality facing many Australians, but it is a particular scourge of Aboriginal people, many of them living in remote Northern Australian communities.

'Ideology will not get them out of the poverty cycle and it is not enough simply to lecture them about taking responsibility for their own fate when they face systemic disadvantages.

'We should take a good hard look at our performance and measure it against the Millennium Goals.

'We need to recognise that we as a nation are responsible for dealing with the indicators of poverty and we all contribute to creating the conditions for a sustainable economy, which will in turn generate sustainable jobs.

'We have to work in partnership to tackle the indicators and improve the outcomes – greatly improved health, better educational outcomes, decent, environmentally appropriate and affordable housing and real jobs

'All Australians are entitled to these and none more so that Aboriginal Australians

'Making poverty history is everyone's business and we can really do if we try,' Mr Snowdon said.

THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger;
2. Achieve universal primary education;
3. Promote gender equality and empower women;
4. Reduce child mortality;
5. Improve maternal health;
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;
7. Ensure environmental sustainability;
8. Develop a global partnership for development.

2006-10-17