Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter today put forward his approach to Closing the Gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, following a report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare which shows that the gap is widening when it comes to cancer and suicide.

The report also shows that imprisonment rates of Indigenous people has risen over the last 14 years and the gap is widening significantly, yet it remains a notably absent topic within the Government’s Closing the Gap reporting system.

Mr Katter today advocated a seven pronged program that addresses the following:

Title deeds: These are the foundation stone of development for First Australians, without which they cannot build an economy. Finance always has to be secured by a mortgage, to do so the Bank will always require a title deed confirming ownership of land. There is no other way that job creation and economic development can occur.

Housing: Restoration of the 1980s work for the dole program where all housing in First Australian communities is to be built exclusively with Indigenous local labour. During the 1980s over 2,000 houses were built under this program where the Government’s alternative tendering funding (using an outside workforce) was sufficient for only 400 houses. This program would require the complete abolition of the current Government tendering programs, and ideally would also include the provision of ten concrete-block making facilities.

Provision of irrigation entitlements: Most First Australian areas are awash with water, Kowanyama and arguably Pormpuraaw are on Australia’s biggest river system, the Mitchell and Coleman River Systems. Issuing such rights would further facilitate economic development of these communities.

The implementation of proper community development programs: For example, rugby league, beauty therapy and hairdressing training, country music and rodeo programs used as communication channels to engage the community. These must apply to Indigenous communities as well as non-Indigenous communities, otherwise they will have no one to compete or interface with.

Provision of university degrees to train First Australians in the administration of their community areas: We have requested meetings with JCU to commence such an education scheme.

Removal of restrictions on market gardens: Restoration of the right to run chooks and pigs and grow fruit and vegetables.

Diversionary facilities: Restoration of “The Law” whereby community members who were misbehaving were banished from the camp into the bush to live by themselves until they were prepared to behave themselves. Essentially, this involves removal rather than incarceration.

“These are the programs that will see the gap halved within six years, within 12 years the situation will normalise,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter served as Aboriginal Affairs Minister in the Queensland Government during the 1980s. His electorate of Kennedy includes the communities of Doomadgee and Mornington Island.