Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Discrimination in Australia

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Causality: links between equality and human rights, health and education

Inequality: variations in human rights within countries

Who are the ATSI?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

Avg life expectancy ~10 yrs lower than non-indigenous Australians

70 yrs compared to 80 yrs

Have AUS's highest levels of drug and alcohol abuse, and homelessness

Seeing their traditional lifestyles disappearing

How have the ATSI been discriminated against?

Racial Discrimination Act makes racial hatred an offence and protects ATSI peoples against discrimination in:

Employment

Getting a job/working conditions/promotion/dismissal

Education

Enrolling for/studying a course

Accommodation

Renting/buying a house/apartment

Getting/using services

Banks/insurers/government departments/transport or telecom services/doctors/restaurants/shops

Accessing public places

Parks/govenment offices/restaurants/shopping centres

Social justice - recognising the distinctive rights of ATSIs

Before 1967, ATSIs not considered to be Australian citizens

Later that year, voting & citizenship rights for ATSIs written into constitution. Before these changes, ATSI peoples couldn't...

Vote, gain political representation or participate in shaping the country

Legally own property until 1975, many were forced to live on 'reserves' until 1971

Raise their children (in some cases)

ATSI children were removed by the Australian authorities to be raised in 'civilised' white communities. These children became known as the 'stolen generations'. This practice didn't end until 1970.

ATSI Inequality Indicators

2011 - 43.8% ATSIs lived in remote areas

2.2% non-ATSIs

2014 - ATSI rate of imprisonment 15x higher than non-ATSI

2014 - 41% ATSI adults smoked

13.8% non-ATSI

2014 - unemployment rate 3x higher than non-ATSI

2015 - 30% ATSI adults lacked basic literacy skills

By 2011, 54% ATSIs aged 20-24 achieved Australian equivalent of A-levels

Health Issues

2016 report by HealthInfoNet, an NGO, found that ATSIs often lack:

Good (or any) employment opportunities

Safety

Access to decent education

Connections to family and friends

Enough money to get by on a day-to-day basis

'Closing the Gap' initiative

2005-2012: life expectancy gap for ATSI men closed by 0.8 yrs, closed by 1 yrs for ATSI women

1998-2012: death rates from circulatory diseases reduced by 45%, death rates from respiratory diseases reduced by 27%

2008-2012: death rates from all avoidable causes 3x higher than non-ATSIs

1998-2012: ATSI infant mortality reduced by 64%

Education Issues

20% compulsory school-age ATSI children not enrolled

Many ATSI children enrolled do not attend regularly

ATSI parents suspicious of official institutions so refuse to enroll their children

78% ATSI children chieved required literacy standards at age of 8

Compared to 95% non-ATSI children

In Northern Territory, 42% ATSI children reached required literacy standard

How is the Prime Minister attempting to promote anti-racism and equal rights?

Entitlement of all Australians to enjoy equal rights

National immigration policy that is non-discriminatory

Reconciliation with ATSI people

Maintenance of Australia as a culturally diverse and open society

Denouncing racial intolerance