Post date: Jun 29, 2015 9:59:33 PM
Media Release from the Bishops Commission for
Relations with Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders
AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE
Media Release | 25 June 2015
Solidarity: On the road to justice
Governments at the State and Federal levels must become serious about the
immense shortage of housing stocks in townships, instead of contemplating how
they can make it worse by forcing more people from remote areas into town-zones
already suffering from serious deprivations, according to the Bishop of Broome,
Christopher Saunders.
In his statement to Catholic parishes across Australia as the Church prepares to
celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People on Sunday 5 July 2015,
Bishop Saunders said, 'The crime rate in townships is far greater than in remote
areas, as is serious drug abuse. Needles are not found lying around in bunches in
remote villages as they are in regional townships.
'The original argument in favour of closing off funds to many remote communities
was an economic one. There is not enough money to pay for the homelands, it
was said. It is simply amazing how it is in this country that whenever governments
over-spend or income shrinks, it is always the poor who pay to rectify the fiscal
shortfall.'
Rural Australia is in a depressed state and the Aboriginal people in rural Australia
are better off when living on traditional lands, than in exile away from it, the
statement reads.
'There is no evidence to suggest that leaving traditional homelands for life in towns
will benefit the people presently living in remote villages. It is a fact that life is better
in the remote villages than in the fringe dwelling settlements,' Bishop Saunders
said.
'When this nation realises that more rather than fewer resources are needed to
meet the needs of Aboriginal people in this country, then, and only then, will we
begin to overcome the challenges before us. Then might we effectively whittle
away the disproportionate numbers of Aboriginal people who suicide, who are in
gaol, are unemployed, are suffering ill health, are homeless, are under-nourished
and who are oppressed by the effects of poverty and a poor education.
Sadly, it appears that history repeats itself. Just when we thought that there was
light at the end of the tunnel - the result of legal judgements like Native Title and
Wik, and just when the Homelands Movement had proved a boon to displaced
traditional owners, the ominous noise of negative change and repression is heard
yet again.
There are numerous examples of Aboriginal people in Australia who have learnt to
live above the quagmire of defeat. But, there are many, many others who live
below a robust capability.
Bishop Saunders declared that 'Non-Aboriginal Christians must stand in solidarity
with their Aboriginal brothers and sisters, while Aboriginal Christians are called to
be determined, not to falter, no matter the obstacles that rise up to make a just way
difficult. In faith and through prayer, the energy needed to seek justice, to right
what is wrong and to find a new, positive way forward is at hand.'
Download the ATSI 2015 Statement
Parish and school resources from NATSICC
Media Enquiries:
Aoife Connors
Media Communications Director
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
0450 348 597