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Closing the Gap is another broken Labor promise that fails Indigenous Australians
The expected release of the 2012 Closing the Gap report this week headlines what will be a litany of failures by this Labor government on Indigenous Affairs.
“To kick start it, the report will be delivered late – just like it has every year since Kevin Rudd promised to present it on the first day of Parliament every year but he failed to do in 2009 and in 2010,” Senator Scullion said.
Government’s program on getting children to school is a shambles
Following the release of an evaluation report for the School Enrolment and Attendance Measure (SEAM) trial, the Gillard Government’s incompetence can now include being unable to get children to attend school, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs Senator Nigel Scullion said today.
“The report shows that this trial program is an absolute shambles that has not been implemented properly,” Senator Scullion said.
Constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians
JOINT PRESS RELEASE:
The Hon. Tony Abbott MHR, Leader of the Opposition
Sen the Hon. George Brandisc SC, Shadow Attorney-General
Sen the Hon. Nigel Scullion, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs
Today the Expert Panel on the Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians delivered its report.
The evidence mounts that Labor has failed on Indigenous housing
Evidence that Labor governments federally and in the Territory have failed on Indigenous housing continues to grow after Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs Senator Nigel Scullion found some appalling living conditions during a trip to Maningrida this week.
“I found there were 23 people living in a two bedroom home - that is just atrocious and should not happen in a country like Australia,” Senator Scullion said.
“I am disgusted and every Australian will feel the same way once they hear about this.
Scullion’s Wickham Point prediction on the money
Country Liberals Senator for the Northern Territory Senator Nigel Scullion said his prediction that the recently opened Wickham Point detention centre could be full within a month have proven to be on the money, with the first 500 person compound almost full.
“420 asylum seekers are now being held at the Wickham Point facility and I warned back in early December that this new compound would only provide about a month’s relief given the number of boats that were arriving,” Senator Scullion said.
“Now just over a month later and sadly, I was right.
Fall out from live cattle export ban could see NT industry shut down for good
Indonesia's plan to drastically cut the amount of beef it imports continues the fallout from the Gillard Government’s botched ban on live cattle exports that will hit the Territory hard, Country Liberals Senator for the Northern Territory Nigel Scullion said today.
“News that Indonesia's 2012 permit allocation of live cattle imports will be slashed from 500,000 a head to 280,000 a head as well as a huge reduction in boxed beef has shown how this inept Government has created an image of Australian as a sovereign risk,” Senator Scullion said.
Wickham Point detention centre could be full within a month
The newly opened Wickham Point detention centre is an expensive bandaid solution that could be full within a month, according to Country Liberals Senator for the Northern Territory Senator Nigel Scullion and the Federal Member for Solomon Natasha Griggs.
“With the rate of illegal boat arrivals increasing since the Gillard Government bowed to the Greens on onshore processing the first 500 person compound, which will take its first asylum seekers from tomorrow, will quickly fill up,” Senator Scullion said.
Arthur Beetson statement
The Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs Senator Nigel Scullion’s statement on Arthur Beetson:
Arthur Beetson was a giant, both figuratively and literally, on the rugby league field as one of the greatest players the game has seen.
As the first Indigenous person to captain a national team, Artie was a trailblazer and an inspiration for all Aboriginals.
Arthur lit the fuse that is State of Origin, showing champions have one more big game in them when at the age of 35 he captained the mighty maroons in the first ever Origin match in 1980.
Labor’s Stronger Futures Legislation recognises four wasted years
Aboriginal people in remote NT communities remain locked in poverty and disadvantage because the federal Labor government has done nothing for four years, the Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs Senator Nigel Scullion said today.
“The Stronger Futures legislation is the intervention under another name retaining many coalition initiatives such as alcohol and pornography restrictions, welfare quarantining, welfare linked to school attendance, and town ship leasing,” Senator Scullion said.
Historic day for Territory with Obama visit and increased US military presence
Country Liberals Senator for the Northern Territory Nigel Scullion says today is a historic day for the Territory with the first visit of a sitting American President to the top end when US President Barack Obama flies in this afternoon.
“It is a proud day to be a Territorian and to see President Obama visit Darwin,” Senator Scullion said.
“Had there been more time in the President’s schedule I would have loved to shown President Obama some of the real Territory by taking him fishing or to some of the Territory’s unique natural wonders.
