Visible and invisible : aboriginal people in the economy of northern Australia

Abstract

Discussions about economic development in northern Australia tend to ignore the role of Aboriginal people. When issues affecting Aboriginal people are raised in public debate, it is generally within a welfare policy context. There is little recognition that Aboriginal people are engaged in a wide range of commercial activities, and their economic contribution to many local and regional economies is systematically ignored. In this respect, Aborigines are ‘invisible people’. The economy of northern Australia is highly dependent on government spending and transfers of taxation revenue from other parts of Australia. The fact that a large proportion of the population of northern Australia is comprised of Aboriginal people affects the size of these transfers. However, aboriginal people are routinely blamed for wasting ‘taxpayers’ dollars’ and for undermining economic development. In this respect, aborigines are highly ‘visible people’. This book examines some of these issues, and suggests that Aboriginal people can be seen as the stable, long-term base of development in northern Australia. The High Court’s decision in the Mabo case has guaranteed that the interests and rights of Aboriginal people will receive a great deal more prominence than they have in the past. Some of the ways that this might occur in northern Australia are discussed in this book. Show more