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ATSIC’s unique voice and record of achievement

Speech to ATSIS and HREOC Community Workshop

Troy Austin

19 March 2004 - I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners on whose land we’re gathering here today and to welcome my fellow Indigenous people who are here to participate in today’s workshop

I would also like to acknowledge my fellow speakers - Mr Darren Dick of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission - and Mr Frank Guivarra of Victorian Aboriginal Legal Services, whom I’m sure many of you already know

I have been asked to provide some comments on Indigenous rights at the international level. I would like to use the context of disadvantage which Indigenous Australian’s continue to experience. The 2003 Social Justice Report highlighted the following:

• Life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today is similar to life expectancy rates for the total population in 1901-1922
• 2.5 times as many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants die before their first birthday as non-Indigenous children
• Unemployment rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is approximately 3 times higher than the rate for non-Indigenous Australians
• 16.8 % of Indigenous Australians had completed Year 12, compared to 39.5% of non-Indigenous Australians
• Indigenous peoples constitute approximately 20% of the prison population
• Indigenous female prison population increased by 262% between 1991 and 1999. In June 2003 Indigenous women were incarcerated at a rate 19.3 times that of non-Indigenous women.
• Indigenous juveniles constitute 42% of all juveniles in detention nationally despite comprising less than 4% of the total population

So what does this tell us?

For me, it is about Indigenous Australians not freely enjoying their rights.

We do not enjoy our rights to education when we as a nation have more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in prison than we do in universities

What chance do our young people have in realising their dreams when they make up 42% of all juveniles in detention?

What hope are we providing our fellow Indigenous women when we have an increase of 262% in prison?

We do not enjoy our rights to life when the current life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is 20 years less than non-Indigenous Australians

Practical reconciliation, an agenda devised by government without any consultation with Indigenous people, has failed and in some respects, made things worse in these areas

In my view, this is where the international work affects what happens right on your front door-step

Many people ask the question - ‘Why does ATSIC participate at international forums and what does this have to do with my community?’

Let me show link between international participation and the relevance it has to community

Throughout the course of history we have continued to assert our rights as the Indigenous peoples of this country
Since its inception, ATSIC has been involved in international and domestic interventions to secure recognition of the Indigenous rights and human rights that we should be free to express and enjoy

Since the 1970s Indigenous Australians have been developing links with other Indigenous peoples throughout the world, in particular at forums provided by the United Nations

Over that period the need to protect the lives and advance the rights of the world’s Indigenous peoples, dispossessed by the nation states in the UN system, has increasingly been recognised

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples now look to international standards expressed through UN conventions and treaties as a means to pursue our aspirations and advocate for standard setting on Indigenous rights in Australia

Now, that’s why we participate, but the question which remains is what does this have to do with communities

Let me explain

The issues which are dealt with at the UN and other international forums are in many respects the same issues which we deal with on our front door-step

For example, racism and racial discrimination remains an issue confronting this nation, in particular the way in which it effects Indigenous Australians

Australian NGO’s, including ATSIC and other Indigenous groups have been heavily involved in international forums which seek to address racism and racial discrimination.

In 2001, the United Nations convened a World Conference Against Racism in South Africa, which was attended by ATSIC, HREOC and other NGO’s from Australia

The purpose of the forum was to bring together people from around the world and unite in the fight against racism

Through this approach, a Declaration and Programme of Action was developed to guide the way in which countries could seek to address and eliminate racism and all forms of discrimination

While the responsibility rests with countries to implement and deliver the outcomes of this conference, it is the people who hold the power in making things change on the ground

It is the people who turn up in mass to these conferences - it is the people who find whatever money they can to attend these forums - and it is the people who are left to face the consequences of government actions

We must be vigilant and hold government accountable for their actions - or in some respect, inaction!

To bring this back to a simple understanding, the reason why I focussed on this example is because it’s something which many of us deal with on a day to day basis

I would find it very surprising to meet an Indigenous Australian who has not confronted or been subject to racial discrimination

The point I’m trying to make is that while it’s important to participate at these international forums, the real test is how it improves and delivers outcomes for Indigenous communities

I understand that at this point in time, many people, including government, are sceptical about Indigenous participation at international forums which deal with Indigenous rights

I’m also aware that at the domestic level, the government is cautious about supporting Indigenous people where Indigenous rights are concerned
However, we the Indigenous people of this country determine the mandate of Indigenous affairs

It is our livelihood which we’re dealing with, not anyone else’s

It’s now time for us to take control of our destiny, to restore hope and deliver outcomes for communities

If the international community can contribute to our success then lets continue with that approach

In closing, I trust that today’s workshop will be insightful, informative, but more importantly, will provide meaningful relevance to Indigenous peoples and their communities

I hope to get as much as I can out of today’s workshop and encourage you all to make the most of what’s presented to you today

Thank you

Further information: social justice issues page - includes news index and external links