2020 summit, still got tunnel vision

Indigenous delegates express frustration with 2020 summit
By Adam Gartrell

CANBERRA, April 21, 2008: Several Australian 2020 delegates examining Indigenous issues have expressed frustration with the weekend's summit, with some complaining ideas were watered down.

Increased formal recognition of Aboriginal people - possibly in the form of a treaty - was a top priority for many delegates.

The need for a new representative body and a new watchdog to oversee the government's approach to Indigenous issues also proved popular.

Delegates also pushed for better partnerships between Indigenous people and business, wider use of boarding schools for Indigenous students, and the establishment of a future fund for Indigenous children.

Indigenous leader Patrick Dodson called for a change to the assimilationist ethos which continued to underpin Aboriginal affairs, urging the need for a "new national dialogue".

But other delegates such as West Australian Indigenous artist Brenda Croft took exception to such terms.

"It just sounds really namby pamby to me, what does it mean?" she told her fellow delegates.

"I think there's a level of frustration that we're not getting to a ... point where we can come up with anything concrete," she said of the summit.

A number of delegates also expressed dissatisfaction with a document meant to sum up the group's ideas, and urged changes and additions.

Former Australian of the Year Fiona Stanley said the document had "watered down" delegate's ideas and failed to capture the passion in the room.

"This is just wishy-washy," she said, generating applause throughout the room.

Prof Stanley later helped Minister for Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin make changes to the document.

Queensland Indigenous leader Noel Pearson did not turn up to the summit yesterday, after criticising Saturday's sessions for failing to generate new ideas.

Mr Dodson called Mr Pearson's assessment "a bit harsh", but said he feared the ideas generated at the summit may be eaten up by the same political machine which repeatedly failed to act on reports into Indigenous disadvantage.

"(Ideas) will be put back into the same framework, and it will be responded to on a convenience basis, rather than on a reformist agenda," Mr Dodson said.

Bono is God

A SHORT STORY ABOUT "FUCKING MACHINES"

Fucking Machines
‘Fucking machines!’ Tony whispers spitefully at the top of his voice.
‘Fucking machines!’ he repeats to himself quietly.
The passengers listen intently as he kicks the ticket machine. ‘Gimme Back my fucking money… You... piss neck.’
He stands in front of it, looking for ways to retrieve his ticket.

‘Excuse me mate. I’m in a hurry.’ I say.
‘Tony.’
‘Excuse me’ I say.
‘Tony.’
‘Tony. Your name’s Tony.’
‘Tony.’ He repeats with a nod.
‘Hi Tony, why don’t you move to the side and let me try and get your ticket.’

I give the poor tacker a little shove and he takes his frail body back a step to the left, looking over my shoulder as I step in front of the machine. It’s really unnerving having this guy breathing down my neck but the poor wog's a bit demented.

The machine appears normal. I spend a few moments pushing some buttons, it appears to work just fine. No money in the change-return.
‘How much did you put in mate?’
No answer. I turn to look him in the face, so close I could feel his breath.
‘Fucking machine took my money.’ He repeats with great velocity as we both take half a step back, butting me right up against this ticket machine. He got quite a scare because his gaze went inwards and he walked away.
‘Fucking machines.’

‘What a fruit loop’ I mutter to the near by passengers.

I dial in my destination, put in the right change and the ticket pokes from its slot. No problems what’s so ever. Then from out of nowhere Tony’s hand snatches my ticket waves it in the air and he begins singing. ‘My ticket, my ticket’.

‘That’s not your ticket mate.' ' I paid for that ticket’. I say, quite patiently considering this nut case was half my size and I could snap him like a twig.
‘Come on Tony... give it back.’
‘It’s my ticket. I paid for it.’
‘Give it back.. Tony.’
‘My ticket, its my ticket.’
Angrily I hollered at him ‘Give it back or I’ll fucking well deck you’.
The poor sod broke into tears and began wincing. The whole tram was fixated on us. For three dollars and ten cents it wasn’t worth the head fuck.
‘Just keep the fucking ticket mate.’ I say.

I punched in the destination, put in my money, and no ticket pokes out. Just at that moment I hear some one yell ‘Tickets please.”

‘Fucking Machines!’

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