How to close the gap.

The article in last week's "The Saturday Paper'' by Dr. Tracy Westerman titled above, is so true and overdue. It is refreshing to hear from First Nation persons that we have enough qualified practitoners in just about every profession if not totally, that given the correct support by governments, we would resolve all or at least most issues relating to the ongoing failings pertaining to our indigenous citizens (brethren). The correct support does not necessarily have to be financial, although it would in most matters.

The political parties that have inevitably assumed their right to govern, have always been of white (European) extraction, particularly since Federation. The evolution of the so-called "two- party"system that was arrived at initially in West Australia, came about when the conservative cohort lost the seat of Swan to labor in 1918. The then Nationalist Party successfully passed the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 through parliament ,initiating the "Preferential voting system", which benefitted them. This situation continues today. So we continue on as a racist nation while ever the bigoted coalition is allowed to hold sway. Labor participates, while ever they allow their opposition to lie and cheat in or out of parliament instead of confronting their corrupt deceit, in the interest of good government.

We cannot continue as a nation,to deny our first nation people their rightful place in parliament. Since being granted the right to vote in 1967 it was not until 1984,that First Nations became compelled to vote in elections. One must ask, are they all aware that at this time, their voting is compulsory. It is extremely difficult to ascertain how many first nations actually voted at the previous federal election. The AEC (Australian electoral commission) goes to great lengths to try to ensure all first nations people enrol and actually vote. You can be sure the political parties don't seem to care. Particularly the coalition? The parliament filled with independent members selected and voted in by their individual electorates, answerable to their electorates, would bring about true democracy.

www.movementforbettergovernment.com.au