Abolition of agency reduces Aboriginal input on health policy
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《英国医生杂志》
The Australian government has rejected recommendations of a panel reviewing the performance of the main elected body representing Aboriginal people, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, and instead announced it will abolish the commission, despite its role in influencing national health policy.
The panel抯 report, which was given to the government in November 2003, noted the important role of a reformed commission in ensuring the input of indigenous communities into health policy.
Last week Prime Minister John Howard announced that the commission would be abolished. 揥e believe very strongly that the experiment in separate representation—elected representation—for indigenous people has been a failure . . . We will appoint a group of distinguished indigenous people to advise the government on a purely advisory basis in relation to aboriginal affairs,?Mr Howard said.
Mr Howard also announced that the government would 搈ainstream?Aboriginal programmes into current government departments. While direct decision making over health funding was removed from the commission and taken into mainstream government in 1995, the organisation continued to advise on health policy. The decision to abolish the commission substantially reduces the ability of Aboriginal organisations to advocate coordinated approaches across portfolio areas.
Mike Lynskey, chief executive of the Fred Hollows Foundation, a healthcare charity that works extensively with Aboriginal communities, views the decision as a setback for improving the health of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. 揙ne of the clear things we know is that if people feel good about themselves and in control of their affairs then their health will improve,?he said.
Canada, the United States, and New Zealand have narrowed the life expectancy gap between indigenous and non-indigenous people to between four and 10 years. However, the life expectancy gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians is 20 years and widening. 揌ealth standards have improved for North American Indians where they have been given responsibility so they can work out their problems with some dignity and respect,?Mr Lynsky said.
Australia also performs worse than less developed countries. United Nations and Australian government data show that the percentage of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders reaching the age of 65 is much lower than in the general populations of Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The commission抯 acting chairman, Lionel Quartermaine, cites the deterioration of Aboriginal health since budget powers were removed as evidence against the mainstreaming of health policy advice and employment programmes. 揑 mean, we抳e still got health issues in this country on third world par . . . has failed in the past, it will fail in the future,?he said.
Mr Lynsky agreed: 揑f important changes are left sitting in the bureaucracy without some pressure driving it then it is very difficult for anything to happen. When government talks about mainstreaming things, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people feel like they are being left out in the cold.?/p>(Canberra, Bob Burton)
The panel抯 report, which was given to the government in November 2003, noted the important role of a reformed commission in ensuring the input of indigenous communities into health policy.
Last week Prime Minister John Howard announced that the commission would be abolished. 揥e believe very strongly that the experiment in separate representation—elected representation—for indigenous people has been a failure . . . We will appoint a group of distinguished indigenous people to advise the government on a purely advisory basis in relation to aboriginal affairs,?Mr Howard said.
Mr Howard also announced that the government would 搈ainstream?Aboriginal programmes into current government departments. While direct decision making over health funding was removed from the commission and taken into mainstream government in 1995, the organisation continued to advise on health policy. The decision to abolish the commission substantially reduces the ability of Aboriginal organisations to advocate coordinated approaches across portfolio areas.
Mike Lynskey, chief executive of the Fred Hollows Foundation, a healthcare charity that works extensively with Aboriginal communities, views the decision as a setback for improving the health of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. 揙ne of the clear things we know is that if people feel good about themselves and in control of their affairs then their health will improve,?he said.
Canada, the United States, and New Zealand have narrowed the life expectancy gap between indigenous and non-indigenous people to between four and 10 years. However, the life expectancy gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians is 20 years and widening. 揌ealth standards have improved for North American Indians where they have been given responsibility so they can work out their problems with some dignity and respect,?Mr Lynsky said.
Australia also performs worse than less developed countries. United Nations and Australian government data show that the percentage of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders reaching the age of 65 is much lower than in the general populations of Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The commission抯 acting chairman, Lionel Quartermaine, cites the deterioration of Aboriginal health since budget powers were removed as evidence against the mainstreaming of health policy advice and employment programmes. 揑 mean, we抳e still got health issues in this country on third world par . . . has failed in the past, it will fail in the future,?he said.
Mr Lynsky agreed: 揑f important changes are left sitting in the bureaucracy without some pressure driving it then it is very difficult for anything to happen. When government talks about mainstreaming things, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people feel like they are being left out in the cold.?/p>(Canberra, Bob Burton)