The Australian National University
Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research
ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
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Philip Martin

Potemkin in Cape York: The Politics of Misrepresentation in Aurukun's Welfare Reform Trials

Wednesday, 2 April 2008

The community engagement strategy for the Cape York Welfare Reform trials was designed to represent communities and individuals under consultation strictly in terms of seven pre-determined 'community dysfunctions' only. They were: the abuse and neglect of children; alcohol abuse; drug abuse; petrol sniffing; problem gambling; poor school attendance; and dysfunctional housing tenancy arrangements. However, much of the research conducted on the ground in Aurukun suggests community members do not define themselves or their immediate families in terms of 'social-norms deficit'.

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