Indigenous Education Hypocrisy

Senator Trish Crossin says the Prime Minister's Indigenous education rhetoric doesn't ring true given his record on policy in this area over ten long years.

"Mr Howard made a series of statements at the Reconciliation Conference about the importance of indigenous children attending school, and of education offering the greatest hope for young Aboriginal people.” Senator Crossin said.

"However in Higher Education since the abolition of the ABSTUDY loans scheme in 2003 indigenous students commencing university have declined by 11%.

"At the same as his Government has yet to respond to serious concerns raised in the Senate Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee report on Indigenous Education which was tabled in June 2005, over 12 months ago.”

"This report criticised the detrimental effects of changes made by the Howard Government in Indigenous education funding.”

"It found that many previously successful cultural and sporting programs which improved attendance had been cut by these changes, and that many of the smaller more remote schools were now missing out on funding in some programs altogether.”

"Wadeye for example will only receive $154,000 to last for the next three years under the new Parent School Partnership Initiative Scheme where previously they would have received $312,000.

"The Committee report recommended that steps be taken to genuinely engage again with parents and community, that funding applications and decision making procedures be simplified and that a certain minimum level of per capita funding be made to every school.

"The Prime Minister to now start emphasising the importance of Indigenous Education and school attendance are just hypocrisy when he has done so much to damage them” Senator Crossin said.

2006-07-27