Dr LIM - 1998-02-17
I have noted with interest the minister's observations about health services to native Americans following his return from a study trip in December. I would like to know more about what he found. Can the minister indicate what he means by 'self-help' by Aboriginal people, and does he agree with the member for Arafura that there should be more partnerships in Aboriginal health?
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wanguri will allow the minister to provide his answer without being subject to continual interjection. That is a last warning.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, during the course of these sittings, I intend to present a report on that trip and the lessons we can draw from it. Suffice it to say at this stage that it was extremely interesting visiting reservations in Billings, Montana, and the Navaho reservation in New Mexico, and also to have briefings at the headquarters of the Indian Health Service. I have made some comments with regard to self-help among Aboriginal people which was one of the major lessons that I learned from that trip. I was particularly disappointed when the member for Arafura immediately issued a press release stating that the concept of self-help was, in fact, code for blaming the victims. It is this culture of continually calling oneself a victim that is, I believe, part of the core of our problem. It is the sort of thinking that leads to people saying: 'I am sick - it is your problem. I am uneducated - it is your problem'. One of the things that I observed on that trip was the widespread attitude among native American people that, if I am sick, it is my problem and, if I am uneducated, it is my problem.
Mr Bailey: If you offered the same level of services ...
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Mr BURKE: We intend to do something about it. I shall ...
Mr Bailey: ... in Darwin as you do in bush communities, you would have a right ...
Mr BURKE: I have said that on many occasions and I shall continue to say it. I said it at Port Keats the last time I was there and it was generally agreed with. Do not run that line with me.
What is particularly interesting is the attitude of the member for Arafura, not only on this issue, but on other issues. I received a letter from the member for Arafura dated 28 January. The date struck me as interesting because that was the day that the state of emergency was declared in Katherine. The member for Arafura did not ask for a briefing about the Katherine situation. He wrote me a fairly curt letter, complaining about the fact that he had not received briefings on health. He knows full well that I set up a briefing for him before Christmas and that he failed to attend. His letter went on to say:
This lack of action is obstructing me carrying out my shadow ministerial responsibilities. If an appropriate
response is not received by close of business Friday 30 January 1998, I will take the matter up with the Chief
Minister.
I table that letter, Madam Speaker.
The Chief Minister is a pretty tough boss. Frankly, I have been worried sick that I will be matted by the Chief Minister with regard to this letter because I have not set up a briefing for the member for Arafura - not a briefing on Katherine, but a briefing from senior officials from Territory Health Services on general health portfolio matters. I have been worrying that the Chief Minister will tell me to recall those senior officers from Katherine and get them back to Darwin. 'Bugger Katherine! The member for Arafura wants a briefing. You have been slack in not briefing him. Forget Daly River, forget Beswick, forget Katherine. Get your people back and ensure that the member for Arafura is briefed'. Thankfully, to this stage, I have not been matted. I can only hope that that will not occur.
The point at issue is that opposition members say consistently that they cannot do their job unless we brief them. We take the attitude that we will brief them, provided they turn up to be briefed. However, we do not take the attitude that we should do their job for them. Frankly, the magnificent 7 opposite make an incredibly good job of pretending they do things when, in fact, they do nothing. None is more adept at it than the member for Arafura.
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Mr Bailey interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wanguri will allow the minister to provide his answer without being subject to continual interjection. That is a last warning.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, during the course of these sittings, I intend to present a report on that trip and the lessons we can draw from it. Suffice it to say at this stage that it was extremely interesting visiting reservations in Billings, Montana, and the Navaho reservation in New Mexico, and also to have briefings at the headquarters of the Indian Health Service. I have made some comments with regard to self-help among Aboriginal people which was one of the major lessons that I learned from that trip. I was particularly disappointed when the member for Arafura immediately issued a press release stating that the concept of self-help was, in fact, code for blaming the victims. It is this culture of continually calling oneself a victim that is, I believe, part of the core of our problem. It is the sort of thinking that leads to people saying: 'I am sick - it is your problem. I am uneducated - it is your problem'. One of the things that I observed on that trip was the widespread attitude among native American people that, if I am sick, it is my problem and, if I am uneducated, it is my problem.
Mr Bailey: If you offered the same level of services ...
Page 11
Mr BURKE: We intend to do something about it. I shall ...
Mr Bailey: ... in Darwin as you do in bush communities, you would have a right ...
Mr BURKE: I have said that on many occasions and I shall continue to say it. I said it at Port Keats the last time I was there and it was generally agreed with. Do not run that line with me.
What is particularly interesting is the attitude of the member for Arafura, not only on this issue, but on other issues. I received a letter from the member for Arafura dated 28 January. The date struck me as interesting because that was the day that the state of emergency was declared in Katherine. The member for Arafura did not ask for a briefing about the Katherine situation. He wrote me a fairly curt letter, complaining about the fact that he had not received briefings on health. He knows full well that I set up a briefing for him before Christmas and that he failed to attend. His letter went on to say:
This lack of action is obstructing me carrying out my shadow ministerial responsibilities. If an appropriate
response is not received by close of business Friday 30 January 1998, I will take the matter up with the Chief
Minister.
I table that letter, Madam Speaker.
The Chief Minister is a pretty tough boss. Frankly, I have been worried sick that I will be matted by the Chief Minister with regard to this letter because I have not set up a briefing for the member for Arafura - not a briefing on Katherine, but a briefing from senior officials from Territory Health Services on general health portfolio matters. I have been worrying that the Chief Minister will tell me to recall those senior officers from Katherine and get them back to Darwin. 'Bugger Katherine! The member for Arafura wants a briefing. You have been slack in not briefing him. Forget Daly River, forget Beswick, forget Katherine. Get your people back and ensure that the member for Arafura is briefed'. Thankfully, to this stage, I have not been matted. I can only hope that that will not occur.
The point at issue is that opposition members say consistently that they cannot do their job unless we brief them. We take the attitude that we will brief them, provided they turn up to be briefed. However, we do not take the attitude that we should do their job for them. Frankly, the magnificent 7 opposite make an incredibly good job of pretending they do things when, in fact, they do nothing. None is more adept at it than the member for Arafura.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016