Free Australia

It is our understanding that things have not moved on greatly since Prime Minister Kevin Rudd issued a long overdue apology in recognition of the suffering visited upon Australia’s Aboriginal population by previous governments and religious organisations.   However, in order for apologies to be accepted as sincere there is normally a change in behaviour and attitude towards the one at which the apology is directed.
 
This does not appear to be the case, as there are some serious concerns still being raised by Aboriginal people about the level of paternalism being shown towards them by heavy-handed governance.

Just one example of these concerns is what is known as a Centrelink "basics card" to enable "income management" which restricts what and where they can buy their needs.  Restrictions are placed upon the purchase of cigarettes, alcohol, and pornography.  The main issue with such a policy, besides being paternalistic is that it generalises all people in receipt of this basics card as being untrustworthy with money, and uncaring towards their children.  This is wrong and damaging to Aboriginal people.
 
Aboriginal people love their children, and care for them just like non-Aboriginal people.  It is a shocking insult to say (by means of an intervention that suspended the Racial Discrimination Act) that this is not the case. If the same degree of intervention were to happen in non-Aboriginal communities there would be a rightful uproar, so why the silence over what is occurring against Aboriginal people.

Other issues in need of serious discussion are the establishment of a Treaty and South Australia's King William IV 1836 Letters Patent which added recognition of the rights of ‘any Aboriginal natives’ or their descendants to the lands they ‘actually occupied or enjoyed’ to South Australia's Foundation Act in 1834.
 
The FREE AUSTRALIA PARTY considers that Australia has lived rent-free long enough and needs to pay its own way and give due recognition beyond symbolic gestures of acknowledgement of the previous landowners.
 
The FREE AUSTRALIA PARTY considers it of utmost importance to recognise the original inhabitants of this country and has a policy in place to do so.  It is one of our policy directives to ensure that a seat is made available for an Aboriginal representative, of their choosing.  This individual will be able to sit in that seat taking an active role in the formation of any governmental policies applicable to them, or otherwise.

The FREE AUSTRALIA PARTY considers it to be consistent with a theme of making things right to invite a leader, elected from amongst them, to come and take up the seat we would create if elected into power to do so.  In so doing, the FREE AUSTRALIA PARTY believes that a healing of the people, the land, and the nation would occur due to obstacles being removed.