Alan Ramsey 

"We are being guided by people who have probably never even seen a proper blackfella let alone lived with them and understand the problems.

CDEP [Community Development Employment Projects, a federal program introduced in remote Aboriginal communities by the Fraser government in 1977 and abolished by the Howard government last year] has been reinstated and looks safe for at least 12 months. We went to a workshop in Katherine last week to put forward our ideas on CDEP's future. The discussion paper was written by a Canberra boffin who had no idea. 

We explained that solving the indigenous unemployment problem was as easy as educating the kids now so they can get a job, in time, and to stop all outside contractors coming in to work in communities. 

My attitude is that if the blackfellas want something, say a house, then they build it themselves. Government provides the money and tradesmen-trainers but the people do the work. My method gets them off their bums and working, which then develops self-esteem and pride. With these two attributes the sky is the limit. So what does the Government do under the intervention umbrella? 

They bring in outside contractors to do housing maintenance. These people are on contract and are paid $147 per hour for the tradespeople and $252 per hour for the supervisor. In one community nearby the tradesmen were from Melbourne on a fly in/fly out basis - two weeks on site, then back to Melbourne for a week off. The same community has its own qualified painter who works with a group of locals painting houses. The intervention flew in people from Adelaide to do the painting and wouldn't allow the local team to do the work. 

Here in Robinson I insisted our own plumber and carpenters do the work. Thus the [local] Mungoorbada Aboriginal Corporation has been engaged to provide the workers and tradesmen. Last Friday our plumber did a number of jobs in 4½ hours which the contractors had allowed 29 hours to complete. On Saturday he did 9 hours in 45 minutes. They are replacing solid brass garden taps that are only about six months old with new taps and charging $30 for the tap and $52.50 labour to fit it. A new tap cost $6.17 to buy and can be fitted in five minutes. They are even replacing sink breaches that are fitted with stainless-steel seats with standard all-brass breaches. When a stainless seat is fitted the breach lasts forever but the brass will slowly corrode. 

Needless to say I am trying to get a meeting next week in Canberra with the Minister. Even if they stopped the bullshit now, I don't think I could get this mob back on track in the time I have left. 

Must go. Keep in touch. 

How To See $1Billion Go Down The Drain