The federal government’s approach to Indigenous rights has been sharply criticised in an annual review, which warns that Australia is at risk of breaching its international obligations.
The Australian Lawyers For Human Rights gave Australia an F-minus score on Indigenous rights in its 2018 Human Rights Report Card.
The review said there was no progress towards reconciliation or the civil, political, social and cultural rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It specifically criticised the government over the lack of progress towards constitutional recognition, a voice to parliament and Closing the Gap targets.
Jo Byrne, co-chair of ALHR's Indigenous rights subcommittee and a Kamilaroi woman, described federal government policies as “as mess”.
“We’ve really come nowhere in ... 200 years,” she told NITV.
“The systemic abuse, the total disregard for Indigenous rights in this country has to stop at some point. When is this going to end? It could go on for another 100 years.”
Ms Byrne argued there has comparatively been more policy progress from local councils and state governments than at a federal level.
”Until Indigenous people are taken seriously by the federal government we’re not going anywhere. It needs to be a collaborative effort,” she said.
“As far as I can see, we haven’t really gotten anywhere.”
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