studio:prisoner

So continuing on what I read today, about the breakdown of the intervention in Northern Territory and that seems the Rudd government has given up on. (I use Rudd government, as I believe there will be some Labor politicians that still want to support the work that was being done up there). An astounding figure i read today about the strategic housing program that seems to be incredibly mismanaged is that they have already spent $46 million dollars, and not one house has been built. Another figure I found out that they will be spending $700,000 to build each house, $700,000 you ask? it will cost $300,000 to build the ACTUAL house, and the rest, $400,000 into the pockets of the “bureaucrats”… most likely.

Kevin Rudd back in 2008 was more than happy to make himself look like a great guy by saying sorry for the stolen generation, which I believe has been an important step in reconciliation. But I believe behind all that Mr.Rudd was just trying to create I guess a “popular” figure for himself. I believe he is too washed up in keeping his profile higher than what it needs to be than actually worrying about what is actually happening. He has been calling himself a reformist to the likes of the Hawke/Keating era, he hasn’t even been the PM for 2 years yet. Back to the issue on hand, from the start it seemed he was all for the intervention in the handling in the Northern Territory but with the replacement of the man in charge back in March with a no-body from Canberra, how can things progress? To help what seems to a failed state in our own country.
A quote from Tony Abbot, opposition spokesman for indigenous affairs:
“If the Prime Minister were under internal political pressure and needed to appease the Labor Left, these actions would be understandable, if inexcusable. Instead, because he hasn’t yet worked out how to turn his political authority into change for the better, he’s pandering to the old gaurd in Aboriginal policy when he has no need to. He’s reinstating the old, failed order just when some of its most thoughtful and  former supporters have come to lament its disastrous consequences. The result of this surrender will be another lost generation of Aborigines condemned to live without decent education, employment, housing and personal security.”

The original planned intervention was meant to help these remote communities that are desperate need of help. And to stop the many different departments tripping over themselves, with an intervention, there was one mindset to the task. But removing the governing power that was already making progress just seems stupid, and show’s that Mr.Rudd doesn’t really care.
Another interesting note, is that 2 days before the 2007 election, Noel Pearson, one Australia’s most respected Aboriginal leader spoke of his dread of a Rudd prime ministership. Thoughts?