Editorial:

Destroying ATSIC — a giant step backwards

So the Howard Government is to abolish the Aboriginal and 
Torres Strait Island Commission (ATSIC) as the end result of a 
long campaign of denigration and lying about the work of the 
Commission and its leaders.

What is happening now has nothing to do with any supposed 
misappropriation of money, any incompetence on the part of ATSIC 
or the alleged personal conduct of this or that leader of ATSIC. 
It is the end result of a long line of policy decisions that have 
the aim of turning the clock back for Indigenous people to the 
days of assimilation and integration.

In the 19th century it was genocide, in the 20th century it was 
integration and assimilation. Historically Australia's Indigenous 
people have resisted and fought back. By the time of the 1988 
anniversary of the second century of the white invasion of 
Australia, Aboriginal people were able to proudly proclaim — "WE 
HAVE SURVIVED!"

Few know about the activities of ATSIC because a compliant press 
does not publicise its achievements. Here are only a small 
number.

ATSIC has been responsible for schemes that provide employment 
and training in a range of activities. For example, one scheme 
has supported about 35,000 participants employed by around 270 
Community Development Employment Projects.

ATSIC has used its funds to build around 500 houses. Around 6800 
people were accommodated in new or upgraded dwellings.

It has built up 25 Aboriginal legal services with 95 service 
sites across Australia.

ATSIC supports 22 licensed radio stations and 105 remote units 
presenting art and craft activities and language centres.

Lack of work and a climate of humiliation has led to family 
violence: ATSIC has held roundtable meetings for women and men 
and established the National Indigenous Working Group on 
Violence. It now supports 13 Family Violence Prevention Units in 
areas of high need.

It is working to re-link the families of the "stolen 
generations".

ATSIC has sent its representatives to the various bodies of the 
United Nations and sought their assistance to force Australian 
governments to change their racist policies.

The UN Human Rights Committee criticised the Australian 
Government for the amendments to the Native Title Act and branded 
them as "discriminatory".

The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 
expressed concern that Indigenous Australians remained at a 
"comparative disadvantage in the enjoyment of economic, social 
and cultural rights."

In 2000 the UN Committee against Torture reminded Australian 
governments that they are answerable for their treatment of 
Indigenous people caught in the nation's justice systems.

But for the Howard Government these ATSIC activities are among 
its greatest crimes as they exposed the policies of Australian 
governments in the eyes of the world.

In 1993 the UN General Assembly, with Australia as a sponsor, 
launched the International Decade of the World's Indigenous 
People which had the aim of encouraging governments to "seek 
means, in consultation with Indigenous people, of giving 
Indigenous people greater responsibility for their own affairs 
and an effective voice in decisions on matters which affect 
them."

The formation of ATSIC was a long step towards the fulfillment of 
this aim.

In a speech in May 2000 Aboriginal leader Mick Dodson generously 
said: "I bare no grudge against those who made the policies and 
laws that took my grandmother, my mother and sisters and placed 
them in missions, orphanages and government settlements. I don't 
hate those who made my father's love for my mother a jailable 
offence."

He asked: "Who did these things to my grandmother, my father, my 
mother and two sisters? Who took the kids?"

The Indigenous people of Australia have waged a courageous 
struggle against economic, political and social discrimination 
and continuous racism for more than 200 years.

Fundamental to progress by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait 
Island people is RECOGNITION of them not only as the original 
owners of the continent but as two national minorities within the 
Australian State.

Their inalienable right to land and its resources, jobs, 
education, health and other social services, and above all 
equality should be their natural right. These steps would provide 
the economic, political and social basis for their real 
liberation. By destroying ATSIC the racist Howard Government is 
going full speed in the other direction.