" Ownership " of Australia ?

For a very long time the Indigenous people who lived on the Australian continent before the British decided to create a penal colony in Botany Bay were virtually ignored.  That is a grievance they have every right to protest, but that is also not the situation today.  They now have exactly the same rights as any other of the twenty-four million people who call themselves " Australian " !

During the last census about six hundred and seventy thousand people claimed to be " Aboriginal or Torres Strait islanders ".   That represents three percent of the Australian population, but the true figure is probably much greater.  It is not certain how many people with some degree of Indigenous blood in their ancestry chose to tick that question box - and how many elected not to.

One of the problems our original Australians have in being heard is their uneven distribution within the Australian states.  In the Northern Territory they represent thirty percent of the population and  that can not be ignored, but in some other states their numbers are not significant - and they find it hard to mount a forum.

There seems little doubt that past injustice is both recognised and a subject of regret across the wider community and some form of restitution is favoured - but exactly what will achieve that end has not emerged as a possible solution to either community.

The latest proposal was to create what was termed a " Voice to parliament " in the form of a separate chamber from which Indigenous people would debate their concerns and bring forward plans for adoption by the Australian parliament.   It would have no power of veto over the deliberations of that parliament and it would be unlikely to gain the support of a referendum needed to bring it into existence.   At most it would be a powerless " talking shop " while others may claim it as a " third chamber of parliament ".

A proposal to include Indigenous people in the Australian Constitution has wide general support, but exactly what form that should take has become the stumbling block.  Unfortunately, the integration of our Indigenous citizens into a prosperous Australian culture has been very uneven.   Some have chosen to retain a traditional tribal life remote from urbanization and this has made it difficult to provide both education and health services.  It is unlikely that either will reach all strata  of the Indigenous communities by the middle of this century.

One of the sticking points between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities is the  contention that white people " stole the land ".   The settlers certainly did not ask permission and the arrival of the first fleet was a form of " invasion " but such were the protocols that existed in that day and age.  Similar dangers exist today.

During the second world war this country faced imminent invasion by the Japanese and our small population seemed unlikely to be able to beat back such overwhelming numbers.  We are heading towards an overcrowded planet and it is quite likely that in the future we will come under stress from other nations jealous of this great lands food production capacity.   We only have ownership of this land as long as we can defend it from others.

Perhaps the best we can offer our Indigenous people is help to educate their kids and bring them good health.  The Australian society is prosperous and Indigenous people are scattered through all walks of life and that is rapidly increasing.  Instead of a separate chamber of parliament, Indigenous people can best be served by standing for office and winning seats - and making their voices heard as we advance this country together.