The Wire

Mainstreaming. It’s a phrase that’s been bandied about countless times so far in 2004. It’s seems to be the Government’s solution to managing indigenous affairs but indigenous leaders say it’s not the answer and never will be. This week, the Queensland government has taken over supervision of an 18 million dollar indigenous housing program after complaints of incompetance were made. Kirrily Boulton interviewed Housing Minister Rob Schwarten about the decision to take over the activities of the Aboriginal Construction group rather than replace the supervisors or introduce corporate governance training. In an example of mainstreaming on a much bigger scale – the ongoing efforts to repatriate indigenous remains will also be affected by the planned axing of ASTIC. Chairman of the Aboriginal Provisional Government Bob Weatherall says protocols ensured Indigenous Australians had a pre-eminant role in the return of remains to their rightful communities, with a smaller involvement for government. But the abolishment of ATSIC means there are no policies to ensure this. He says such examples of mainstreaming deny indigenous people the right to their own affairs.