‘By whatever definition, it’s still a long road to true reconciliation’

‘However we define reconciliation, there is still a long way to go,’ Co-Chairs Jackie Huggins and Fred Chaney said today as they released the Reconciliation Report Card 2002.

‘Reconciliation Australia believes that progress on reconciliation must be judged against all measures, practical and symbolic,’ they said.

‘However, if “practical reconciliation” is seen as the test, then clearly we have a long way to go. The appalling statistics on Indigenous health, imprisonment, family violence and employment, to name just a few indicators, are living proof of that,’ they said.

‘Our Report Card this year expresses disappointment at the limitations of the Government’s response to the final recommendations of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, while welcoming its positive response on Recommendation 1, and positive response on one part of Recommendation 3,’ they said.

‘In our view, true reconciliation will have been achieved when Indigenous children have the same life expectancy and opportunities as other children in relation to the above and other key indicators. It would also be marked by a formal settlement – an agreement, treaty or similar document – between Indigenous peoples and the nation as a whole,’ Ms Huggins and Mr Chaney said.

‘It is a pity the Government could not see its way open to establish a process towards such a settlement of the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the nation as a whole.’

The Co-Chairs said that, against these goals and measures, the year 2002 has seen some important advances, some negatives, and a frustrating lack of movement on several key issues.

‘One measure of the last point is to note the issues in last year’s Report Card (included with this year’s) which remain issues this year. This is itself a measure of the road yet to be travelled,’ they said.

‘Nevertheless, our Report Card for 2002 notes positive as well as negative developments in the reconciliation process, with the positives including progress on the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) commitment to develop a nationally-coordinated approach to overcoming Indigenous disadvantage, including priority being given to a national benchmarking and monitoring framework,’ they said.

The Reconciliation Report Card 2002 reports on major issues and highlights of reconciliation developments during 2002.

Canberra 9 December 2002

Media contact: Brian Aarons 6295 9266 0418 633 277

Note: Copies of the full Reconciliation Report Card 2002 are available electronically by calling Ms Edna Swift on 6295 9266. The two-page Summary is attached.