Redfern Speech Still Resonates

[Skid_MacMarx]

Paul Keating's 1992 address on Aboriginal injustice is Australia's most unforgettable speech, a radio survey has found.

The ABC Radio National survey drew 5000 responses, with listeners ranking the former prime minister's so-called Redfern speech third behind Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech in Washington in 1963 and Jesus's Sermon on the Mount.

In an address at Redfern Park in December 1992 to launch Australia's celebration of the 1993 International Year of the World's Indigenous People, Mr Keating urged non-Aboriginal Australians to "open our hearts" and called for national reconciliation.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/redfer...5366164409.html

Another area sadly neglected by the Howard Administration.... reconciliation

and Indigenous health:

Australia has been ranked at the bottom of a league table of wealthy nations working to improve the health of its indigenous people.

The report, to be published today by the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and Oxfam Australia, found New Zealand, Canada and the US had narrowed the life expectancy gap between non-indigenous and indigenous people to approximately seven years.

But in Australia, Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders are still dying nearly 20 years younger than non-Aboriginal Australians.

Oxfam said Australia lagged behind other wealthy nations in redressing the imbalance in indigenous health on a range of fronts.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/scanda...5366104454.html

[Santa1503559644]

Before Al, SteveB and co drop in and rant about RN ...

Let me just say, whilst the most "unforgettable" speech may in some quarters be the one you mention, I think this phrase from a speech still takes the cake:

By 1990...

[Aloysius]

Before Al, SteveB and co drop in and rant about RN ...

Let me just say, whilst the most "unforgettable" speech may in some quarters be the one you mention, I think this phrase from a speech still takes the cake:

Over to you blue leader

[Skid_MacMarx]

Remember Bob Hawke's empty promise that by 2000 [sic] no child in Australia would live in poverty? The Howard Government is now promising that no Australian will live without broadband, but the promise does not stand up to close scrutiny.

Coonan is touting the $162.5 million Broadband Guarantee, announced today as an aid to getting broadband to all Australians, but it is more like a band-aid: a protective measure to keep out the dirt in the hope that nature will provide a permanent solution.

http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/10222/1095/

I agree, I'm no big fan of Hawke... he was referring to the introduction of Family Assistance:

After the Liberals were swept from office in 1983, the Hawke and Keating Labor governments continued to tighten eligibility and means test conditions. At the same time, in a bid to quell the unrest generated by massive job losses and declining wages, they introduced training programs for the jobless and an increased (but means-tested) child endowment program, titled Family Assistance, that included rent subsidies. It was in this context that then prime minister Bob Hawke made his 1987 election pledge that no child would live in poverty by 1990.

In reality, the Family Assistance program only subsidized continued wage-cutting. It slightly raised income levels for those working families no longer able to survive on their pay packets. Increased family allowances raised social security to 29.5 percent of total budget outlays, yet the number of children actually living in poverty soared. All social security benefits remained below or near the poverty line, even with rent assistance.

http://www.wsws.org/news/1998/apr1998/pov-a8.shtml

[Santa1503559644]

To be fair, my reference was to what most Aussies would most remember.

That speech, if you believe him, was supposed to read "By 1990, no child should live in poverty" or something along those lines, but you have to admit ... it's hard to beat for a clanger!

Read my lips!

L-A-W

Non core

Kiddies in da water!

We decide who...

I could go on for days!

[Skid_MacMarx]

Martin Luther King's speech would be the most memorable for me...

[StevenA]

Hey, thanks Santa - this is the first time that I have been referenced in another thread before I've even contributed.

I hope you are not insulted Aloy !

[Aloysius]

Hey, thanks Santa - this is the first time that I have been referenced in another thread before I've even contributed.

I hope you are not insulted Aloy !

Not at all, Santa has his very definitely held honest opinions which he freely shares - good on him - just as long as other definitley held honest opinions are also tolerated in the finest Australian inclusive tradition.

[Hussla]

Not our fault aborigines are totally incapable of even trying to fix their own problems,

Either way if it wasnt for white man they'd still be sleeping in bark huts and wearing loincloths.

We helped at least bring them out of the stone age, if the British never came long who know's where they would be in 60,000 years? maybe they may have finally managed to invent the wheel!

Want to help them? Cut off all government programs, funding, special rights, privledges and let them earn a place in society rather than get government handouts for starters.

[Steve C]

Not out fault aborigines are totally incapable of even trying to fix their own problems,

Either way if it wasnt for white man they'd still be sleeping in bark huts and wearing loincloths.

We helped at least bring them out of the stone age, if the British never came long who know's where they would be in 60,000 years? maybe they may have finally managed to invent the wheel!

Want to help them? Cut off all government programs, funding, special rights, privledges and let them earn a place in society rather than get government handouts for starters.

It's also conversely not my fault that my dumb-arsed third fleet ancestors imported every ludicrously inappropriate European concept and animal with them, to a land that already had inhabitants with the knowledge of how to deal with and exploit the land for benefit and reward without harming it.

Sure we brought some things the Aboriginals didn't have - but not all of it was good.

Bet the tune would have a different ring, if it was a 2nd or 3rd generation Australian of Extraterrestrial Alien origin who's ancestors had colonised our continent, saying; "It's not our fault these Aussie Earthlings are incapable of even trying to fix their own problems." "If it wasn't for us aliens they'd still be duped into working extended overtime for minimal salaries, and putting up with degenerating services." "Sure they've had to give up procreating, and any semblance of emotional connection with each other and nature, but we helped at least bring them out of the coal fired almost nuclear age." "If we Aliens didn't come along who knows where they'd be in 60,000yrs?" "Maybe they may have finally managed to invent safe renewable energy sources!"

"Want to help them?" "Cut off all Government programs, assistance, primitive culture rights and sub-culture priviliges so they are forced to earn a place within our superior Alien derived society for starters."

"That'll put those whinging, griping, drunken layabout Aussie Earthlings where they should be"...

[mello yello]

... if the British never came long who know's where they would be in 60,000 years?

..still harping over 1966 and the ONLY time they ever won The World Cup

Want to help them?

They didnt need any help in 1868 when the first cricket team to tour from Australia was a team of Aboriginals and they duly whipped the Admirals arse.

spanky spanky

Either way if it wasnt for white man they'd still be sleeping in bark huts and wearing loincloths.

Now that sounds kinky

Might try that one night with Katie

[Austen]

..................Now that sounds kinky

Might try that one night with Katie

Pictures at 11.00 :ph34r: ???

Austen.

[stahc]

Pictures at 11.00 :ph34r: ???

Austen.

take ya time...............won' be home till 7

[mello yello]

A preview of tonights program...

sleeping in a bark hut wearing only a loincloth

outside bark hut ...waiting to do it like they do it on Discovery Channel

What we had to contend with 60000 years ago

<---going blind Winky