indigenous people in australia: the consequences of exclusion

In a somewhat flippant remark, Australia’s out-going Governor General Michael Jeffery, tried to limit the indigenous people still feeling the consequences of exclusion to 100.000. Jeff McMullen responds very plainly via the Op-Ed pages of the Age: 

“If you walk in the shoes of an Aborigine or Torres Strait Islander, you know that whether you live in the city, regional Australia or a remote community your life expectancy is 17 years less than the rest of Australians. Your health, housing, education and employment opportunities are also far worse. Your social stress and the racism and discrimination you endure occur in most parts of Australia. You belong to an underclass of disadvantage that allows escape only by the most extraordinary or fortunate minority, who against so many odds are able to fight for and achieve that elusive equality.”