IndigenousX, 27 September 2018:
Tony Abbott, the Special
Envoy that nobody asked for and nobody wants, appears to have been
unceremoniously booted from a school meeting in Borroloola NT, on his first
trip to remote communities in his new role.
The community was
angered by Abbott’s hypocrisy, cutting millions from community based services
while he was the ‘Prime Minister for Indigenous Affairs’, and his vision for
assimilation through education and punitive policies linking attendance rates
to welfare payments.
Parents, Elders and
school council members challenged Abbott over his comments that Aboriginal
children should not only speak English first, but ‘think’ in English too, and
attempts to force failed ‘direct instruction’ policies on the school.
Gadrian
Hoosan, a parent and school council member told Abbott he ‘was not
welcome in the community since intervention policies ripped out community
funding leaving residents worse off, while denying much needed new housing and
basic services.’
‘He looked like he
couldn’t wait to get out of there when we all started bailing up on him. He
picked the wrong community to try and bully. We have a strong school here and
strong families. He’ll be having nightmares tonight. We told him we don’t want
him as our envoy.”
Jack Green, an Elder and
bilingual education advocate from Borroloola said,
“Tony Abbott says he
wants Aboriginal culture and language out of our schools but we know these
things are what keep our kids and our communities strong and healthy. Abbott
doesn’t represent our community or Aboriginal people – he’s not our envoy!
As Elders and educators
we know what is best for our children. Its time he stepped back, stood down and
let us speak for ourselves.”
This is the latest
criticism of PM Scott Morrison’s bewildering and insulting decision to make
Tony Abbott a ‘Special Envoy to the PM on Indigenous Affairs’ rather than
explore options to promote Indigenous self-determination, enter into a
Treaty/Makarrata, push for an Indigenous voice to parliament, or instigate a
Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
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