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Monitoring
‘Practical’ Reconciliation
Evidence from the Reconciliation Decade, 1991-2001* *Summary of Discussion Paper 254 (2003), J.C. Altman and B.H. Hunter, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, Australian National University. “In conclusion we note that while practical reconciliation forms the rhetorical basis for Indigenous policy development since 1996, there is no evidence that the Howard governments have delivered better outcomes for Indigenous Australians than their predecessors.” About the research Altman and Hunter used information from censuses conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 1991,1996 and 2001 to assess the well being of Aboriginal people in absolute terms, and relative to non-Indigenous Australians. They examined data on employment, education, income, housing and health. The period the research covers is roughly equivalent to the decade of Reconciliation, and the second 5-year period coincides closely with a change of policy following the election of the first Howard government. In the earlier part of the decade the Keating governments’ policies focussed on both indigenous rights (the ’symbolic agenda’) and practical improvements in socio-economic conditions of Aboriginal people. In the period since 1996 the emphasis has been entirely on ‘practical’ reconciliation. The research shows that in terms of absolute improvement in well-being of Indigenous Australians, there is little to distinguish the two periods of the decade. However, when outcomes for Indigenous Australians are compared with those for other Australians there is a significant difference. The earlier period saw Indigenous people closing the gap relative to other Australians. Reconciliation Scorecard Using data from three censuses, the researchers chose a range of indicators for each of five socio-economic areas: employment, income, housing, education and health. Altman and Hunter then created a Reconciliation Scorecard enabling comparison of the Keating and Howard Governments with respect to Reconciliation.
Practical Reconciliation is Failing Practical reconciliation gives emphasis to Indigenous Australians having the same life chances as other Australians. Prime Minister Howard has claimed that practical reconciliation is closing the gaps, but in fact Indigenous Australians have not shared in the benefits of national economic growth from 1996-2001 as much as other Australians. Of greatest concern is that over the whole decade 1991-2001 there has been a relative decline in the education and health status of Aboriginal Australians compared to other Australians. Altman and Hunter discuss some of the reasons that practical reconciliation policies may not be working, among them: Indigenous disadvantage is complex and grounded in a history of alienation, hence the ‘symbolic’ issues have intensely ‘practical’ expression; it fails to recognise rights of first peoples as first peoples; and it neglects the large number of Indigenous youth entering the workforce, as well as the importance of educating girls to improve health outcomes for children and reduce family size. For the full discussion paper, click here>> |
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