"Anyway, an Order of Australia at the highest level would go to the first person who solves this problem."
Speaking from a West Australian's viewpoint, the problem WAS solved at some stage.....and then some clowns unsolved it, and were probably given Orders of Australia for stuffing things up....
50-60 years back, Aboriginals were assimilating well into society, holding down responsible jobs, liked and respected by all. Some were veterans of the Korean War & in the Army Reserve. Many were shearers & truckdrivers. Those that preferred to stay closer to their roots did so, with whole family communities on pastoral properties, where the men were drovers, the girls kitchen hands, and the elderly cared for. Those that I knew were happy on their stations -that they identified with. Some preferred to live on reserves or "missions". They were not allowed to drink, and the fear of punishment under tribal law kept the youth in line.
Then what happened? Against the wishes of many, they were given the right to drink. Then came the Whitlam era, which turned most of the assimilated people into welfare recipiants - they were paid so much more under their welfare system for not working, than those with jobs. I knew several who gave up their jobs because they owed it to their family- the extra money. This killed the incentive then for the youth to get a job in the first place. Then the unions & do-gooders brought in a law that said -ALL people on a pastoral property had to be paid an award wage -incuding the oldies who sat around the perpetual fires under the gums -instead of the meagre wages and keep the community received, resulting in them being kicked off the properties that were their home. They then became "fringe dwellers". Gradually, they lost their tribal culture, dignity, self respect, et al, developing a cargo-cult mentality. instead of reverting to their Aboriginality, they really lost it... Look at Ken Colbung, now deceased, a respected Aboriginal. He had served 15 years in the Australian Army, served in korea, and in recent decades grew his beard & dreadlocks, wore his red headband, and was maily concerned with the whereabouts of the Wagyll in respect to proposed building sites. I mean him no disrespect, but maybe if Whitlam had not....Ken and others may not have....reverted. We now have a race who has lost purpose, direction, respect for both tribal and white man's law. I think those who brought this about should be gaoled as well as recalcitrent Aboriginal youth.
