"It's time to go...Aborigines!"

So it seems Indigenous Affairs minister Mandy Vanstone has decided that she'll become Big Brother (Sister for the politically correct), and evict at least 50 000 Aborigines from their current settlements (December 10, Herald Sun). It's all part of a new plan she's devised, which could see tiny outback communities move to larger settlements. According to Mandy, indigenous communities with fewer than 100 people are "unviable government funding cannot solve poverty, unemployment and health problems caused by isolation."

She added that the government "couldn't supply money to suit the whims of chardonnay-sipping commentators who wanted to keep the 'cultural museums.'" Ouch, that's gotta hurt.

Ex-ATSIC chairman, Geoff Clark, lives in one such community in Victoria. He thought Mandy's plan was just "kicking blacks", saying that the Aborigines of these communities are once again under threat of being shunted from the little patch of country they were given back.

Mandy Vanstone came out with a mind-blowing piece of information this week in a speech to the Australian and New Zeland School of Government, saying that "Aboriginal kids aren't dumb", and should have the choice of entering a profession.

Such comments were not taking well by Opposition indigenous affairs spokesperson Chris Evans, who said the term "cultural museums" was highly insulting to indigenous Australians. He said that this term, and Mandy's plan in general, were a "real slap in the face for any recognition of their culture."

This article is another really good example of the way journalism attempts to remain objective. Quotes from Mandy were balanced with quotes against what she is saying, and from someone that is neutral and can see both sides of the coin. That someone is Noel Pearson, head of the Cape York Institute. He said that he didn't believe in forcibly moving communities, but he believed Aboriginal towns need to be economically viable.