Is our Minister for Indigenous Affairs for real?

I did it!

Finally got the job application finished and emailed.

Why do these things always take so much longer than one thinks? And the irony is not lost on me – I’m applying for an office job whereby I show off my expertise and speed in putting together documents on the computer.

I don’t think much of Mal Brough’s latest idea. Brough is Australia’s federal minister for indigenous affairs. Back in May I thought the man was doing a good job with his determination to solve some of the problems facing our indigenous peoples. But I don’t think this is the way to go. Smacks of putting people in zoos for tourists to gawk at.

Very distasteful.

And it seems I’m not the only one who thinks this. Indigenous MP Linda Burney describes the plan as outrageous.

Although I do support the basic idea of taking aboriginal youth who show promise out of their communities for a short period of time so they can receive decent training in job skills and gather ideas to take back to their families and communities.

But not this “Aboriginals on Display”, with visitors pointing and saying “oh wow, look at the native person.”

Get a better idea Mal.

According to Adele Horin in today’s SMH, “sex workers on Sydney's streets are more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder than soldiers returning from combat or police officers.”

I can’t bring myself to comment on the troubles in Lebanon yet. Except to say that if I were visiting a country and war broke out, I doubt it would occur to me to seek help or to expect help from my embassy or government.

Here in the Alice, the new Alcohol Court has heard its first case. Designed to deal with habitual drunks and their anti-social and criminal behaviour, today’s hearing sentenced a 21 year old man to a 2 month prison sentence but then suspended the sentence. Thankfully the man is required to undergo treatment at the Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Programs Unit. Link

No word from anyone in the family as to why my father’s funeral has been delayed. I’m just the eldest daughter, why would I need to be told?

Still playing catch up with my day after my big sleep in.