NACCHO Aboriginal Health News Alerts will in the lead update to the 2013 Federal Election September 14 publish press releases from all political parties in the areas of Aboriginal Health and social determinants.
The press release below from the office of Minister Macklin (pictured above) follows the incident last week when Dr Mark Roberts Chief policy officer from Tony Abbotts office was demoted after threatening to “cut the throat” of a prominent Australian’s non-profit organisation by cancelling funding once in power.
Dr Roberts reportedly made the threat to Australian Indigenous Education Foundation chief Andrew Penfold at a Sydney dinner on Thursday.AIEF Foundation provides scholarships to help educate 2000 Indigenous children and supports others in financial need.
PRESS RELEASE
Coalition sources have confirmed that Opposition Leader Tony Abbott will slash vital funding that improves the lives of Indigenous Australians.
“While Dr Roberts’ funding threat may have been in the heat of the moment, Coalition sources confirm Aboriginal Affairs will see the axe wielded, should Tony Abbott take Government in September.”
– Paul Bongiorno, Ten News, 19 April 2013
Tony Abbott must guarantee today that no funding invested in programs for Indigenous people would go if he is elected.
After years of underinvestment and neglect under the Howard Government, this Labor Government has made unprecedented investments to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage, with more than $5.2 billion in funding for employment, education, health services, community development and community safety.
Just this week, the Government committed $777 million to renew our work to close the gap on Indigenous health outcomes.
Meanwhile, one of Tony Abbott’s most senior staff was using violent language against the respected head of an organisation supporting Indigenous people, and threatening to cut their funding “when in Government.”
The Gillard Government’s unprecedented investments to close the gap are making a difference. This year we are meeting our first closing the gap target, with more Indigenous children having access to pre-school or kindergarten than ever before, and our target of halving the gap in mortality rates for Indigenous children under five by 2018 is also on track to be met.
The progress we’ve made in partnership with Indigenous people is at risk under a conservative Abbott Government.
Tony Abbott and the Liberals can’t be trusted to deliver for Indigenous people.
We welcome comments below