Imre Salusinszky; 20/8/08
Higher fertility rates among NSW Aborigines combined with a white exodus to the coast will put indigenous people in the box seat to fill the employment gap in rural and regional NSW over the next 15 years. New figures in a paper prepared for NSW Aboriginal Affairs Minister Paul Lynch illustrate the drastic rise in the proportion of indigenous people living west of the Great Dividing Range. Over the next 15 years, the Aboriginal population of NSW is expected to grow by 35per cent, more than double the growth expected in the population overall. Combined with a drift of Aborigines from the bush into regional towns, and the migration of non-Aborigines away from those areas, the effect will be felt most strongly in regional and rural NSW. The paper says the growing proportion of Aborigines in regional towns has major implications for future demand for government services, including housing. John Taylor, a researcher at the Australian National University’s Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, said yesterday the figures heralded “something of a salvation” for Aboriginal people in the regions.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24210398-5013404,00.html
Aboriginal workers ‘can’t be found’
Patricia Karvelas & Stuart Rintoul; 20/8/08
Tony Abbott says Aborigines will feel cheated when they see Pacific Islanders being paid to pick fruit in rural communities while they languish on welfare. The powerful Kimberley Land Council agrees, describing the federal government plan as “shameful”. But at Orange World Mildura, where this season’s crop will rot unless more seasonal labour is found, Joe Scopelliti is not so sure. Looking around his orchard, he sees Turks, Greeks, Vietnamese and Australians. Tongans have pruned his vines. As for Aboriginal people? “You just can’t seem to find them,” he says. “If you’re telling me they want to work, I’ll give them a go,” he says. “Why not? I’ll employ anyone, so long as they are willing to work.”
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24210441-5013172,00.html
Tags: Aboriginal, Australia, Human Rights, Workers