the complexities of bush welfare

I've been thinking, off and on, all week about the complexities of welfare. I've been wondering if the way I've been thinking has been paternal - them and us. As my dad used to say "Who are they?" getting 'us' - my brother and I - to define the other, to define ourselves. I'd been thinking 'they' and 'us', 'they' being Aboriginal people in remote locations, and 'us' being people who make decisions. Yeah right, nice one Lynn. So, I realise that the discussion about welfare for Indigenous people has been brought out into a foreign forum - what do I know about the way that CDEP works? about the needs of people and business in remote and rural areas?

I know a tiny bit, from knowing people that have worked in remote areas, from working for Centrelink. I know enough to know that the issue of welfare and work is incredibly complex.

Okay, so the thing that most shocked me about The Australian's editorial was that Aboriginal people are blamed and called 'indolent' for working within a structure - CDEP - that has been set up for years. That was put in place as a means of getting Aboriginal people to work. It offended me that people that have been doing the 'right' thing by the welfare system are now accused of being lazy.

There hasn't been much more in the news about the issue. The ABC reported on Monday, February 27 that Kimberley MP rejects welfare plan.

The state Member for the Kimberley, in northern Western Australia, has rejected a plan which would block welfare to Aborigines who turn down employment.

The Federal Government has foreshadowed a stricter system, whereby payments would only be directed to those who genuinely cannot work.

The push has come from the Indigenous Land Corporation, which has revealed that 60 per cent of its staff are non-Aboriginal.

But the Member for the Kimberley, Carol Martin, says the Government needs to look at working conditions, instead of refusing the dole.

"Why would you want to go and work somewhere with CDEP [Community Development Employment Projects] with a top up? Why would you?" she said.

"You don't get job security, you don't get the benefits of an award that actually looks after your rights and interests as an employee. As far as I'm concerned, if they operate as a business, they come with the same integrity as other businesses."

This implies that the much vaunted jobs with the Indigneous Land Corporation are not much better than CDEP, are not full-time award wage jobs.