Prominent academic, social commentator and activist Eva Cox, who is currently with Sydney's University of Technology (UTS), concluded on Monday that there are no signs indicating that the Coalition government's future Indigenous policy development will not embrace the evidence of what is effective.
Ms Cox's Conversation article arrived after a busy year for Indigenous research information. Following the release of the Closing the Gap report in February, the Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage (OID) report was released in mid-November, the Social Justice and Native Title report at the end of November, and the Productivity Commission's 2014 Indigenous expenditure report was covered in the Guardian on Friday.
Mr Abbott announced in February that "We are all passionate to close the gap", followed by a historic September week spent living in tents with his ministerial entourage at the annual Garma festival in remote Australia—he was the first prime minister to help patrol the streets of the Nhulunbuy township and the nearby Yirrkala community for intoxicated adults and wandering kids. The camping trip represented the fulfilment of a pre-election promise, but it also formed a key part of Mr Abbott's 2014 commitment to Indigenous issues.
However, the Social Justice and Native Title report, tabled in parliament on November 27 by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda, contained Mr Gooda's following statement: "contrary to the prime minister's statement when leader of the opposition, we are now witnessing one of the largest scale 'upheavals' of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs". The OID report released days prior to Mr Gooda's document showed that the mortality rate had significantly improved, but mental health, suicide and incarceration were even greater problems.
Ms Cox's foremost point is that the Abbott government—which has good intentions, according to Mr Gooda—has failed to listen to its own advisers, "let alone those who are targeted and affected." In Ms Cox's mind, Indigenous affairs has seen "continued failures and limited successes" since the Abbott government assumed office, and she outlined the "clear" evidence on Monday:
"... success requires collaboration, sharing power, understanding cultural differences, plus avoiding sclerotic bureaucratic and political cultures."
Ms Cox is not alone in her perspective. On the day after Ms Cox's comment piece was published, Macquarie University Senior Lecturer Alison Holland highlighted the "cheap" and "sorry" business of Indigenous affairs under Prime Minister Tony Abbott.