Pauline Hanson strongly opposes “new jobs-for-the-boys ATSIC”, fearing corruption and inefficiency
MEDIA RELEASE
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has slammed Minister Ken Wyatt’s suggested formation of a new body to manage services for Aboriginals, fearing a repeat of the inefficiency and corruption that plagued the now-defunct ATSIC.
Senator Hanson said the new body, proposed by the Minister for Indigenous Australians, would not help Aboriginals, would feed racism in Australia by encouraging favouritism of Aboriginals, and would probably degenerate into a “jobs for the boys” setup.
“Haven’t we learned anything from the past? We have too many organisations and Government-funded bodies that are supposed to be devoted to Aboriginal issues – they cost millions of dollars, they underperform, and any new similar body will fall into the same category as ATSIC,” Senator Hanson said.
“These organisations often amount to ‘jobs for the boys’, where they hire friends and relatives, they all get paid well, they have a great time courtesy of the taxpayer, and meantime the people don’t see any benefits.
“This idea of unbalanced and favoured treatment of one group over another group is rubbish; it’s actually encouraging racism in Australia, and it doesn’t help Aboriginals.
“All races in Australia should be treated equally; Government assistance should be allocated according to individual need, not skin colour or racial heritage – anyone who agrees with that logic is the racist one, not me.”
Figures show government spending on Aboriginals is, on average, more than double that spent on non-Aboriginal Australians.
The latest 2015-16 figures from the Productivity Commission show total direct Government spending on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders was estimated to be $33.4 billion – it amounts to $44,886 for each Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian, compared to $22,356 each for non-Indigenous Australians.
Senator Hanson continues to raise concerns about Government support of Aboriginals, ever since highlighting the inequality from when first elected to the Australia Parliament.
“I spoke in my maiden speech about the reverse racism that is promoted and favoured by those who benefit from ‘industries’ that revolve around servicing Aboriginals and other minority groups, and that unfairness still exists today, 24 years later,” Senator Hanson said.
“I called for equality back then and was criticised – mostly from bureaucrats and do-gooders who had most to lose from a fairer system – and it’s the same now, with an extra smattering of rabid lefties who also never miss an opportunity to jump in and feed off the issues that impact those most in need.
“Governments encourage inequality by continuing to shovel handout after handout to Aboriginals, along with land and housing, community infrastructure, which all has proved to be no help at all to get these people up on their own two feet.
“We can’t create another body that will sit at arm’s length from Government, that will struggle to make any positive difference, but burning up mountains of money along the way.
“ATSIC was a complete failure, it cost billions of dollars, including $1.3-billion in its final year, and did very little to improve the lives of Aboriginal people; we can’t have a repeat of that past failure.”
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