Australia recently welcomed its very first aboriginal provincial government official in a historic ceremony held on Thursday. Adam Giles, 40 years old, is now Australia’s Aboriginal Northern Territory government head. Prime Minister Julia Gillard headed the ceremony in Canberra. Addressing the Parliament, Prime Minister Gillard reiterates the importance of the event and considers the promotion of Adam Giles as deserving of national recognition.
Hope for the future
Aboriginal Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles represents the indigenous population of Australia—the Aborigines, recognized as the most impoverished ethnic minority in the country. In an interview, he told reporters that he can now be used by parents as example to their children. “You can do it. You can do anything. Look at Giles. If he can do it, you can do it,” pertaining to the pep talk that a parent can give the next possible future government leader from the Aboriginal communities. Giles is now looked up to as a leader amongst his peoples.
A dearth of indigenous presence
Australia’s Federal Parliament is composed of 266 lawmakers and only one is Aborigine. His name is Ken Wyatt. Only three Aborigines have served in the Parliament history. There is awareness amongst the main political parties of Australia on it’s lack of Aboriginal representation in the legislative body. In the last few years, they have increased their efforts in enjoining Aboriginal candidates so that the situation may be improved.
The current Prime Minister herself has been actively involved in increasing the Aboriginal presence in government. With her support, the first woman Aborigine to be elected as senator, Nova Maree Peris, won in the September 14 race. Peris is a field hockey Olympian who won the gold in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. She was also the first Aboriginal woman to win an Olympic gold medal.
Internal coup
On Wednesday Giles was the leader of a coup within the Country Liberal Party, the ruling conservative party, during the time that the former minister Terry Mills was on a business trip. Mills was in Japan when the events occurred. The government of Australia is dominated by the center-left Labor Party.
Impoverished group
Australia has a population of 23 million, of which 600,000 are Aborigines. They are poor, receive inadequate health care, and most are not educated. There is a bigger likelihood for members of the Aboriginal tribes to get imprisoned, and they also have a shorter life expectancy.
In the Northern Territory now headed by Giles, 30% of the population are Aborigines. This is one of two mainland federal territories, which is essentially equivalent to six states. The Northern Territory is mainly a tropical area and borders South Australia, Queensland, and Western Australia. It is found at the central and central northern region of the Australian continent.
The challenge now for Giles is to bring forth the change that would resolve the many issues assailing the northern heartland such as the increasing death toll from suicides (allegedly), removal of children from their parents to homes that are not indigenous, and the discrimination.
Photo Credit: Map of Australia highlighting Northern Territory
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