Indigenous communities

2015 Proposed end to supplying free water and power to some indigenous communities

I don't understand the need for the outrage about this issue to the extent of creating a petition (see below).  I see the petition has garnered nearly 47,000 signatures to date without presenting facts or identifying rational options.  Instead, the rhetoric focuses on scare mongering, emotional blackmail, and cites the worst possible options.

Why aren't the following points suggested in the petition content?

1. The residents in the communities pay for their own water and power - just like every other Australian, which would allow the communities to carry on as usual.  Problem solved.
2. If they don't want to pay for water and power themselves and therefore choose to not have it, why would they not be able to cope living there without water and power?  After all, their argument to continue living there (now with housing and services provided for them) is because they have lived there for 40,000 years - with free amenities only provided for the last generation or so.  They can choose to continue to live there in a traditional way.  Problem solved.
3. If they decide they can't survive without water and power and subsequently move away from the community, surely they can live with relatives somewhere rather than the emotive and limited suggestion listed in the petition?  The token number of people remaining in these remote communities are very small as most of the 'tribe' choose to live elsewhere ie where there are more amenities. These token residents continue to live there to keep their 'connection to the land' on behalf of the 'tribe' for current or future land claims. 

PETITION CONTENT: Do not cut off water and power supplies to Aboriginal Communities

• author: Lizzie Callaghan
• target: Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott
• signatures: 46,573

46,573 (as at 20 April 2015), help us get to 47,000

 

The Australian Federal Government is considering cutting off the supplies of water and power of up to 200 indigenous communities, claiming they cannot afford these basic human rights for their indigenous peoples. In 2014, the government announced that they may cease paying for the utilities, making the individual states responsible for supplying their communities with their basic needs. However, the Western Australia government has already stated that they cannot afford to cover these costs, one of the states where many Aboriginal communities live, as well as the Northern Territory.

Rodney Dillon gave the following statement: "It would be a complete culture shock, a complete mental shock," Dillon said. "This is their homeland. It's where they belong it's where they are proud. They are the keepers of the land. Some might stay and die on the land. The older individuals won't manage it — it might kill them."

If these reasons weren't enough, and audit in 2007 revealed that only 7 per cent of communities in these areas met the requirements for basic infrastructure and service standards. What would this statistic change to if power and water supplies were annulled?

Though ideas have been submitted regarding the funding for these communities, they have all amounted to very little:

- The $1 billion "Royalties for Regions" fund was declined by Western Australia Premier Colin Barnett, who stated that they had not yet reached a solution.
- Peter Collier, Western Australia's Aboriginal Affairs Minister, stated that consultation in general would continue in hopes of finding a better solution. Rodney Dillon, however, has said that no consultation has taken place.

Dillon also stated, "They would be moved to very poor conditions. They're frightened and scared and they speak a different language. Now they're all possibly going to be moved into slums and shanty towns in the city."

No solution has yet been made regarding the wellbeing of these Aboriginal communities, but telling the Prime Minister that it is completely unjust to cut of indigenous peoples' water and power supplies when there are surely other, more humane and decent solutions, should prevent this travesty from occurring. 


http://www.thepetitionsite.com/913/806/727/do-not-cut-off-water-and-power-supplies-to-aboriginal-communities/?cid=fb_LG_AdsAboriginalSuppliesAUS&z00m=22846664