Indigenous Policy
Developing a national Indigenous policy framework that recognises needs, rights and legacies and delivers results
Topical Issue 2 / 2009
April 2009 - Developing An Indigenous Policy Framework
'Developing a national Indigenous policy framework that recognises needs, rights and legacies and delivers results', based on a presentation to the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) National Conference, ‘Building a Fair Australia in Tough Economic Times’, Australian Technology Park, Sydney, on 2 April 2009. This paper examines current Indigenous policy, including Closing the Gap, a monolithic approach that privileges statistical equality over all else and undervalues difference and diversity.
A comparative analysis of the influence of think tanks on indigenous policy in Australia and the USA
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
One of the defining characteristics of Indigenous policy during the Howard era was the emerging influence of conservative think tanks, and in particular, the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) and the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership (CYIPL). While this development mirrors other policy settings, there are some unique features of the ideologies espoused by CIS and CYIPL. Both appear to have a religious quest to transform Indigenous societies.
Ideology, Evidence and Competing Principles in Australian Indigenous Affairs: From Brough to Rudd via Pearson and the NTER
Discussion Paper 289 / 2009
Abstract:
This paper tracks the recent rise of ideology and evidence discourse as a way of describing good and bad Indigenous affairs policy. Expressing dissatisfaction with this discourse, it suggests a slightly more complex analytic way of thinking about Indigenous affairs involving three competing principles; equality, choice and guardianship. The paper suggests that dominant debates in Indigenous affairs balance these principles and move between them over time.
What's new? The 1997 parliamentary Inquiry into Indigenous Business
Discussion Paper 177 / 1999
Abstract:
In 1997, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs commenced an Inquiry into Indigenous Business. However, after a Commonwealth election held late in 1998, the government decided not to continue the Inquiry and its investigations have not been published. This paper summarises some of the evidence given to the Inquiry to see if this increases our understanding of Indigenous businesses.
