Do politicians really care about us?

EDITORIAL

A recent ABC report highlighted where Labor and the Coalition is promising to spend our money if elected in two weeks time.

Yes, ‘our money’ as all government spending is funded by the taxpayer.

So we would expect mention of funding to Close the Gap, funding to support remote communities, education funding to hep stop Indigenous youngsters being incarcerated, funding to challenge the scourge of domestic violence, funding to grow employment opportunities.

Well, of 15 specific areas of government spending there was not one mention of First Nations or support for Australia’s indigenous population. Not one.

Does the word ‘Indigenous’ appear in Canberra’s dictionary of platitudes?

Billions for this and billions for that – but no sign of any millions, let alone billions, for our most impoverished peoples.

The ABC has described it as a ‘laundry list’ of commitments from both Labour and the Coalition.

So have First Nations people been washed away, written off that list?

Minority parties, who will not be in government, to be fair, have made some progressive commitments, but they may have little say in any outcomes.

No mention of Indigenous rights.

Very little mention of life expectancy issues that see Aboriginal Australians living on average 8-9 years less than non-aboriginal Australians.

No mention of low attainment levels in education and how to address that. Or higher unemployment rates.

Indigenous Australians make up 3.8 per cent of the population but 30 per cent of the prison population.

Both major parties have sidestepped any talk of future rights talks, constitutional recognition or treaty.

They all, when quizzed, talk the talk, but when it comes to action?

Little wonder political engagement within First Nations communities is low.

Little wonder there is no trust in what Canberra says.

In two weeks we go to the polls to elect a Federal government – but will your vote make a difference?

We would like to hope so – but historically we all know that has not been the case.

There are three key political issues that affect Indigenous people:

• Constitutional recognition
• Treaty and Truth-Telling
•  Closing the Gap

But in reality it is much simpler:

Opportunity, equality, employment, healthcare, education – a fair go.

In 2025 is that too much to ask for?