Antinuclear

the Native Title Act of 1993, which facilitates the granting of native title (i.e. right to historically held land) to indigenous communities, is seen as a step towards equality. However, the Native Title Act clearly states that when the native title rights and rights of a non-indigenous person conflict, the rights of the non-indigenous person always prevail, despite indigenous people being the ‘First Peoples’. Such a ruling breaches international human rights, as the “promotion of the interests of the many can never justify violating the human rights of the few”.

Again and again the same thing can be seen within Australian politics. Self determination is a UN defined basic human right for people to be able to freely define who they are “without external compulsion or interference”. Yet the Liberal Australian government under John Howard in 2005 abolished ATSIC (the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission) – a purpose-built democratic institution for indigenous self-determination – on the grounds that it was causing racial segregation. ATSIC was the primary means by which indigenous Australians participated in the political and decision-making system, and the subsequent mainstreaming of indigenous services into the government were seen by many as an attempt to inhibit indigenous self-determination, and limit indigenous people’s freedom to govern themselves. As noted Aboriginal anthropologist Jon Altman stated: “It is ironic that at a time when Australia engages in high risk projects to install democracy abroad, its national government is seeking to eliminate a purpose-designed democratic institution at home.”………http://scan.lusu.co.uk/comment/aboriginal-affairs-why-australia-is-allowing-racial-discrimination/