The Wire

The Australian pulled no punches with its headline this morning “Sit down cash for blacks to end”. Senator Amanda Vanstone has confirmed an end to what she calls passive welfare, and says the Government plans to introduce the principle of mutual obligation. However 500 million dollars of the money that communities receive isn’t sit-down cash at all. More than thirty-six thousand indigenous people are employed on Community Development and Employment Programs (CDEP Schemes). Annie Hastwell spoke with the Project Coordinator from the CDEP Scheme at Thule Farm on Flinders Island John Clarke, about the difference the project is making to the community there.