Australia admits ‘national shame’ of failing to help Aboriginals
PTI, Feb 12, 2020, 3:09 PM IST
Sydney: A pledge to close the health and wellbeing gap between Aboriginal and other Australians is failing, the government admitted Wednesday, describing the situation as a source of “national shame”.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said just two of seven key targets to improve the lives of Australia’s indigenous people were on track – unchanged from last year.
More Aboriginal children were enrolled in early education and graduating from high school than ever before, he said, but attendance rates were still lagging behind other groups.
Other targets to halve the gap in child mortality, literacy, life expectancy, and unemployment rates were not being met.
Morrison called the failure to give indigenous children equal opportunities to other Australian kids “a national truth and a national shame.”
The admission comes 250 years since Captain James Cook’s first voyage to the vast continent, a journey that led to British colonisation and upended indigenous communities.
The life expectancy for Aboriginal Australians is about eight years lower than the national average.
Indigenous children are twice as likely to die before their fifth birthday and 25 times more likely to be incarcerated than the rest of the population, according to official statistics.
The report marks 12 years since former prime minister Kevin Rudd made a historic apology to Aboriginal people for centuries of injustice and launched the “Closing the Gap” initiative.
“Over decades, our top-down, government-knows-best approach has not delivered the improvements we all need,” Morrison said.
“The results are not good enough.”
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
US going to historically tight presidential election
Expect Canadian government to ensure justice, uphold rule of law: PM Modi
Khalistanis clash with people at Hindu temple in Canada, Trudeau says unacceptable
Trump says he would not mind somebody ‘shooting’ at him through fake news
US Elections: New Iowa poll shows Kamala Harris leading in presidential race
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Udupi: Gas cylinder explosion during party causes extensive damage in apartment
Stay Safe Online: Tips to avoid cyber fraud!
FIR against Sanjay Raut’s brother for remarks against Shiv Sena’s woman leader
Kodagu murder case accused escapes from police in Hyderabad
New software for fast-tracking project approvals: Karnataka Minister Patil
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.