index of indigenous health articles in the australian, courier-mail & sydney morning ... ·...

The Media and Indigenous Policy Project

Index of

Indigenous Health Articles

in The Australian, Courier-Mail &

Sydney Morning Herald

1988

Compiled by

Monica Andrew

University of Canberra

The articles in this index from The Australian and the Courier-Mail were collected from

newspaper clipping files held at the Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander Study (AIATSIS) library. The researchers are grateful to AIATSIS for allowing access

to their facilities. Articles from the Sydney Morning Herald were collected from the Factiva

database.

Further information on the methodology for collecting newspaper articles for this project is

available at http://www.canberra.edu.au/faculties/arts-design/research/research-

centres/news-and-media-research-centre/events/the-media-and-indigenous-policy/the-

media-and-indigenous-policy-database

© Monica Andrew, 2013

Andrew, Monica (2013), Index of Indigenous Health Articles in The Australian, Courier-Mail and

Sydney Morning Herald, 1988, Media and Indigenous Policy Project, University of Canberra.

http://www.canberra.edu.au/faculties/arts-design/research/research-centres/news-and-media-

research-centre/events/the-media-and-indigenous-policy/the-media-and-indigenous-policy-

database

Further information about the Media and Indigenous Policy project is available at

http://www.canberra.edu.au/faculties/arts-design/research/research-centres/news-and-media-

research-centre/events/the-media-and-indigenous-policy

The Media and Indigenous Policy project was supported under the Australian Research Council’s

Discovery Projects funding scheme (DP0987457), with additional funding supplied by the Faculty of

Arts and Design, University of Canberra.

http://www.canberra.edu.au/faculties/arts-design/research/research-centres/news-and-media-research-centre/events/the-media-and-indigenous-policy/the-media-and-indigenous-policy-database



http://www.canberra.edu.au/faculties/arts-design/research/research-centres/news-and-media-research-centre/events/the-media-and-indigenous-policy

http://www.canberra.edu.au/faculties/arts-design/research/research-centres/news-and-media-research-centre/events/the-media-and-indigenous-policy

1988

3

January 1988

Title: The year of black protest

Publication: Sydney Morning Herald

Publication date: Monday, 4 January 1988

Writer(s):

News genre: Editorial

Page number: 8

Word length: 554

News Source: Opinion

First spokesperson: Unknown

Second spokesperson:

Synopsis: Discussion of Aboriginal protests during the Bicentenary year.

Keywords: Bicentennial, Land rights, Living conditions

Title: Legionella found in Aborigines' water

Publication: Australian

Publication date: Wednesday, 6 January 1988

Writer(s): Ragg, Mark

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Academic, Publication

First spokesperson: Ian Simpson, senior microbiological technologist, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Perth


Synopsis: A study conducted by the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre of Perth claims that up to one-third of Aborigines in outback Western Australia have been exposed to the bacterium that causes the potentially fatal Legionnaires' Disease.

Keywords: Disease, Living conditions

Title: What the reporters will see


Publication date: Saturday, 9 January 1988

Writer(s):

News genre: News summary/minor piece

Page number: 42

Word length: 206

News Source: Unknown

First spokesperson: unnamed


Synopsis: Discussion of what foreign journalist who visit Australia in 1988 will see and hear when they visit Aboriginal communities.

Keywords: Aboriginal deaths in custody, Bicentennial, Child health, Disease, International, Living conditions

1988

4

Title: Expo violence fear as blacks plan protests

Publication: Courier-Mail


Writer(s): Kent, John

News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length:

News Source: Academic, Medical, Politician

First spokesperson: Mr Les Collins, coordinator, Aboriginal Health Service, Cairns

Second spokesperson: Mr Gunn, Qld Police Minister

Synopsis: Aborigines were expected to converge on Brisbane in April to protest against the Bicentenary at World Expo 88.

Keywords: Living conditions, Violence

Title: Aboriginal life grim and ghastly, says Greer


Publication date: Thursday, 14 January 1988

Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number: 2

Word length: 317

News Source: Non-Aboriginal lay person

First spokesperson: Dr Germaine Greer


Synopsis: Discussion of the living conditions of Aboriginals, witnessed by Germaine Greer during an 8-day stay in communities around Alice Springs.

Keywords: Living conditions

Title: Black diet blamed for child sickness



Writer(s): Margo, Jill

News genre: News

Page number: 2

Word length: 456

News Source: Publication

First spokesperson: Professor Michael Gacey, Co-author of a study in Aboriginal children's nutrition


Synopsis: A study claims that incidence of low birth weight in Aboriginal children is double that of 'white' children.

Keywords: Child health, Disease, Indigenous health standards, Women's health

1988

5

Title: Blacks' rights abused, UN told



Writer(s): Hewett, Tony & Langsam, David

News genre: News

Page number: 1

Word length: 596

News Source: Film/TV/Other media report, Other, Politician, Publication

First spokesperson: John Gayler, Chairman of the ALP's Federal Caucus committee on Aboriginal Affairs

Second spokesperson: Professor Erica Daes, Senior UN Official

Synopsis: Response to a UN report on Aboriginal conditions.

Keywords: Disease, Health funding, Indigenous health standards, International, Land rights, Living conditions

Title: Eye disease rife: Doctor



Writer(s): AAPAUSNEWS


Page number: 2

Word length:


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: A study found that eye diseases, malnutrition and infections were widespread in Aboriginal children in a remote community in north-west Australia.


Title: World focus on Aborigines


Publication date: Tuesday, 19 January 1988

Writer(s):


Page number: 10

Word length: 505


First spokesperson: Justice Marcus Einfeld


Synopsis: Criticises a UN report alleging that Australia's treatment of Aborigines contravened the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Keywords: International, Living conditions

1988

6

Title: Unions to fight for blacks





Page number: 4

Word length:

News Source: Other

First spokesperson: Mr Ernie Boatswain, assistant national secretary, BWIU


Synopsis: A meeting of 14 unions decided to pressure the State and Federal Governments to improve the situation of Aborigines.

Keywords: Indigenous health standards

Title: 1788 Revisited



Writer(s): Watson, Maureen


Page number: 1

Word length: 1439


First spokesperson: Maureen Watson


Synopsis: Compares the treatment of Aboriginal people in 1788 with 1988. Claims that Aboriginal people established their own medical, legal and housing services as well as their own schools, magazines, newspapers and broadcast and TV studios without government assistance.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Federal politics, Health funding, Indigenous politics

Title: Poor Aboriginal housing 'causing health problems'


Publication date: Friday, 22 January 1988

Writer(s): Hudson, Lisa & Maurer, Tracy

News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length:

News Source: Aboriginal leader, Lawyer/Legal representative, Publication

First spokesperson: Yami Lester, chairman, Nganampa Health Council

Second spokesperson: Jim Bradshaw, barrister representing Aboriginal Coordinating Council at the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody

Synopsis: A confidential report on the living standards of Aborigines in central Australia, prepared by Nganampa Health Council and South Australia's Health Commission and Aboriginal Health Organisation, claims their housing is overcrowded and a cause of health problems.

Keywords: Child health, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions

1988

7

Title: Mining will bring death, say elders



Writer(s): Green, Roger

News genre: Feature

Page number: 15

Word length: 1202

News Source: Aboriginal lay person

First spokesperson: Peter Jatbula, Ranger in the Katherine Gorge National Park


Synopsis: Claims that gold mining in Coronation Hill would result the deaths in the local Aboriginal community.

Keywords: Land rights

Title: Blacklash over blacks



Writer(s): Abjorensen, Norman

News genre: News

Page number: 60

Word length: 623

News Source: Film/TV/Other media report

First spokesperson: Professor Erica Daes, United Nations official

Second spokesperson: John Howard, Leader of the Opposition

Synopsis: Summary of news articles, including claim by Professor Erica Daes that Australia violated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in its treatment of Aborigines.

Keywords: Federal politics, Indigenous health standards, International, Living conditions

Title: Aborigines should get priority - Opposition





Page number: 5

Word length:

News Source: Church/welfare body, Politician

First spokesperson: Mr Miles, Federal Opposition Aboriginal affairs spokesman

Second spokesperson: Very Rev. Lance Shilton, Anglican Dean

Synopsis: In a statement on Aboriginal affairs prepared for Australia Day, the Opposition said Government welfare assistance should be allocated equally to all Australians, regardless of race, colour or creed. However, as the most disadvantaged identifiable cultural group in Australia, Aborigines should get priority in the provision of health, housing and employment.


1988

8

Title: Goodwill keeps the yobbos in line



Writer(s): Brown, Malcolm

News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length: 895

News Source: Aboriginal leader, Non-Aboriginal lay person, Police/Court, Politician

First spokesperson: Gary Foley, Aboriginal activist


Synopsis: Discusses emergency services operations in relation to Aboriginal protests and the Tent Embassy.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Bicentennial, Indigenous politics, Police, Race & racism

Title: A more caring nation with undreamt of opportunities ahead



Writer(s):

News genre: Other

Page number: 8

Word length: 1252


First spokesperson: Ninian Stephen, Govenor-General of Australia


Synopsis: Text of the Australia Day address given by the Governor-General; brief mention of Aborigines.


Title: Police hunt attacker after 300 brawl at Redfern hotel



Writer(s): Norington, Brad

News genre: News

Page number: 5

Word length: 461

News Source: Politician

First spokesperson: Peter Sainsbury, Regent hotel manager


Synopsis: Detectives were looking for an Aboriginal woman who allegedly menaced a police woman with her own revolver during a late-night brawl outside Redfern's Regent Hotel on Australia Day.

Keywords: Police, Violence

1988

9

Title: Rock singer wanted for anti-alcohol role



Writer(s): AAPA US News


Page number: 3

Word length:


First spokesperson: Mr Hatton, NT Chief Minister


Synopsis: Rosckstar Tina Turner had been asked by the Northern Territory Government to join its fight against petrol sniffing and alcohol abuse in Aboriginal communities.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs

Title: Regular Shorts



Writer(s):


Page number: 4

Word length: 361


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: Tina Turner has been invited by the NT government to participate in advertisements to battle petrol-sniffing among the Aboriginal population.

Keywords: State politics

Title: Tears still flood the tracks of Toomelah


Publication date: Sunday, 31 January 1988

Writer(s): Lowe, Barry

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Human Rights Commission

First spokesperson: Justic Marcus Einfeld, Chief Justice, Human Rights Commission


Synopsis: Review of Toomelah, six months after Justice Marcus Einfeld's visit.


1988

10

February 1988

Title: Death on the tracks leaves police baffled


Publication date: Monday, 1 February 1988

Writer(s): Cordell, Michael

News genre: News

Page number: 7

Word length: 820

News Source: Aboriginal lay person, Police/Court

First spokesperson: Ms Tanya White


Synopsis: Mark Haines, a 17-year-old Aboriginal man, was found dead between railway tracks. After two weeks of investigation, police were still uncertain whether his death was an accident, a suicide or possibly a murder.

Keywords: Police, Suicide, Violence

Title: Most had a good time at the 200th birthday party



Writer(s): Stephens, Peter

News genre: News

Page number: 7

Word length: 1037

News Source: Other

First spokesperson:


Synopsis: A Saulwick Herald Poll found that Australians were divided on issues such as whether the natural environment had been damaged or improved by white civilisation. However, 73 per cent of people believed white settlement had improved the environment and also believed Aborigines were better off today than 200 years ago.

Keywords: Indigenous health standards, Indigenous history/archeology, Living conditions

Title: The Aborigines have never had it so good, most say



Writer(s): Stephens, Peter

News genre: News

Page number: 1

Word length: 437

News Source: Other

First spokesperson:


Synopsis: According to the findings of a Saulwick Herald Poll, most Australians

1988

11

believe Aborigines are better off now than they were before white settlement. This result comes as a surprise considering the recent publicity given to Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and to the range of serious social problems besetting the Aboriginal population.

Keywords: Bicentennial, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled

Title: All is not


Publication date: Wednesday, 10 February 1988

Writer(s): Mayer, Elaine

News genre: Letter to the editor

Page number: 14

Word length: 158


First spokesperson: Elaine Mayer


Synopsis: Response to a previous article (4 February 1988), claiming it misrepresents the health standards of "all" Australians. Points out that the life expectancy given in the report (72.5 years for men and 78.8 years for women) differs dramatically from the life expectancy for Aborigines, which in 1985 was 48.3 years for males and 57.3 years for females.

Keywords: Indigenous health standards, Living conditions, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled, Medical services - mainstream

Title: Silly question


Publication date: Thursday, 11 February 1988

Writer(s): Kreger, Jack


Page number: 10

Word length: 70


First spokesperson: Jack Kreger


Synopsis: Questions the legitimacy of the Saulwick pollster who posed the question "Are Aborigines better or worse off than they were 200 years ago?"

Keywords: Bicentennial, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled

Title: Immature people?


Publication date: Friday, 12 February 1988

Writer(s): Foulcher, John


Page number: 8

Word length: 76

1988

12


First spokesperson: John Foulcher


Synopsis: Argues that there would little to celebrate in the Bicentennial year, if the Saulwick Poll concerning Aboriginal living conditions were accurate.

Keywords: Bicentennial, Disease, Living conditions, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled

Title: Tina's message to Aborigines: Be a winner


Publication date: Saturday, 13 February 1988

Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number: 1

Word length: 393

News Source: Other, Politician

First spokesperson: Tina Turner, middle-aged US singer and actress


Synopsis: Tina Turner made a series of television commercials telling Australia's Aborigines to be a winner. The message, to be televised in the Northern Territory, states ". . . You know grog can be a bad sickness. And so is petrol sniffing. They can kill your culture and they can kill you. Aboriginal culture is something to be proud of."

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Arts, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions

Title: Poll questioned



Writer(s): Colman, R


Page number: 12

Word length: 97


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: Response to previous article (8 February 1988) on opinion poll which found that most Australians believed Aborigines were better off now than they were before the white settlement. Refers to possible under-representation in the poll sample.

Keywords: Indigenous health standards, Living conditions, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled, Medical services - mainstream

1988

13

Title: Fears that 40pc of blacks may have aids


Publication date: Friday, 19 February 1988

Writer(s): O'Neill, John

News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length: 455

News Source: Aboriginal lay person, Non-Aboriginal lay person

First spokesperson: Mr Jones. Part of the Federal Government's Drug Offensive.


Synopsis: Claims that herorin and AIDS were increasing causes of death for Aboriginal people around Sydney, particularly the Redfern area.

Keywords: Aboriginal deaths in custody, Alcohol & drugs, Disease, Federal department of health, Health funding, Hospitals, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled, Suicide

Title: Asthma Overdose


Publication date: Tuesday, 23 February 1988

Writer(s):


Page number: 7

Word length: 442


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: An overdose of asthma tablets left one girl in a critical conditions and other seriously ill at a Warawa Aboriginal College near Melbourne.

Keywords: Child health, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled, Schools

Title: Aboriginal health jobs threatened



Writer(s): Hammond, Philip.

News genre: News

Page number: 10

Word length: 300


First spokesperson: Mrs Harvey, Queensland Health Minister

Second spokesperson: Spokesperson for Mr Hand, Federal Aboriginal Affairs Minister

Synopsis: Funding problems for Queensland’s Aboriginal Health Program were threatening the jobs of up to 50 health workers state-wide. Reports claim that, while individual Aboriginal-run services concentrated on treating existing ailments, they did not specialise in long-term, preventive health initiatives.

Keywords: Federal politics, Health funding, State politics

1988

14

Title: Bright future



Writer(s): De Re, Caterina


Page number: 12

Word length: 177


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: Argues that extermination of Aborinals would be in line with the socio-economic and national priorities of Australia.

Keywords: Indigenous health standards, Race & racism, Stolen generations

Title: Health department to go west


Publication date: Saturday, 27 February 1988

Writer(s): Aubin, Tracey & O'Neill, John

News genre: News

Page number: 6

Word length: 424


First spokesperson: Mr Anderson, NSW Minsister for Health

Second spokesperson: Mr Collins, opposition spokesman on health

Synopsis: The NSW Department of Health was moving from the city to Parramatta. Notes that the government anounced a $2 million program of intiatives designed to imporve the health of Aborigines in NSW.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Health funding, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled, State department of health, State politics

March 1988

Title: Police shoot black man in hotel siege


Publication date: Wednesday, 2 March 1988

Writer(s): Button, Doug, Kennedy, Nick & Maher, Sid

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Non-Aboriginal lay person, Police/Court

First spokesperson: Inspector Warren Smithers, homicide squad

Second spokesperson: Shane, regular female customer, Castle Hotel

Synopsis: A policeman shot an Aboriginal protester in the head at a South Brisbane Hotel.

1988

15


Title: State to resist loss of health workers


Publication date: Saturday, 12 March 1988

Writer(s): Hammond, P

News genre: News

Page number: 17

Word length: 300


First spokesperson: Mrs Harvey, Queensland Health Minister.


Synopsis: The Health Minister, Mrs Harvey, claimed the State Health Department was desperate not to lose the expertise of Aboriginal health workers based in Queensland. Mrs Harvey attacked the Federal Government for its “Total misunderstanding of the long-term preventative health aims of the Aboriginal Health Program.”

Keywords: Federal politics, Health funding, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled, Medical services - mainstream, State politics

Title: Report calls for new rights for Aborigines


Publication date: Thursday, 17 March 1988

Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length: 373


First spokesperson: The Anti-Slavery Society

Second spokesperson: Aborigines Today Land And Justice

Synopsis: A report released by the world's oldest human rights organisation claimed that the plight of Aborigines had changed little in the past 150 years.

Keywords: Bicentennial, Federal politics, Indigenous politics, Land rights, Living conditions

Title: Man cleared of aiding Aboriginal suicide


Publication date: Friday, 18 March 1988

Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number: 5

Word length: 320

News Source: Police/Court

First spokesperson:


Synopsis: A WA Supreme Court jury acquitted a Kalgoorlie man of aiding the suicde

1988

16

of an Aboriginal.

Keywords: Aboriginal deaths in custody, Suicide

Title: Aborigines poisoned by manganese dust -safety officer


Publication date: Thursday, 24 March 1988


News genre: News

Page number: 23

Word length: 300

News Source: Other

First spokesperson: Dr Yossi Berger, Victorian Trades Hall Council occupational health and safety officer.


Synopsis: A study at the Gemco mine on Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory found dangerous levels of manganese dust. The open cut mine had already resulted in 15 aborigines being poisoned. Dr Yossi Berger who completed an inspection of the mine said that he believed more local Aborigines and possibly workers at the Gemco mine could be affected.


Title: Aborigines more likely to avoid alcohol, study finds




News genre: News

Page number: 32

Word length: 200

News Source: Conference/Meeting

First spokesperson: Dr Carol Watson, research officer at the Nothern Territory Drug and Alcohol Bureau.


Synopsis: A study by the Northern Territory Drug and Alcohol Bureau found Aborigines were about five times more likely than other Australians to abstain from drinking alcohol. Dr Carol Watson told a World Health Organisation drugs conference in Sydney the study dispelled the common myth all Aborigines were big drinkers. Notes that two-thirds of Aboriginal drinkers drank to dangerous levels under the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines.


Title: Aborigines less likely to drink, study finds



Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length: 471

1988

17

News Source: Academic, Church/welfare body, Conference/Meeting/Speech

First spokesperson: Dr Carol Watson, research officer N.T Drug and Alcohol Bureau

Second spokesperson: Mr Frank Brennan, Australian Catholic bishops' adviser on Aboriginal affairs

Synopsis: A study by the Northern Territory Drug and Alcohol Bureau found that Aborigines were about five times more likely than other Australians to abstain from alcohol.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Indigenous health standards

April 1988

Title: One man beat the torrent


Publication date: Friday, 1 April 1988


News genre: News

Page number: 1

Word length: 466


First spokesperson: Frankie O'Cleary, an Aboriginal


Synopsis: Discusses the impact of flooding on a group of Aborigines: 4 were missing and one was reported dead.


Title: The day floods hit the red centre



Writer(s): Norington, Brad

News genre: News

Page number: 1

Word length: 658

News Source: Non-Aboriginal lay person, Police/Court

First spokesperson:


Synopsis: A group of Aborigines living by a riverbank were swept away by floods, presumed drowned.

Keywords: Living conditions, Police

Title: Aboriginal suicides 'rare'


Publication date: Monday, 4 April 1988

Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Academic

1988

18

First spokesperson: Dr Harry Eastwell, researcher, University of Queensland


Synopsis: A study found that white Australians were over four times more likely to commit suicide than Aborigines living a traditional lifestyle.

Keywords: Suicide

Title: Poor lose as the health gap widens


Publication date: Wednesday, 6 April 1988

Writer(s): Pirrie, Michael

News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length: 978


First spokesperson: Report commissioned by the Commonwealth and the States


Synopsis: Discusses the major findings of a report on the health of Australians; mentions poor Aboriginal health.

Keywords: Disease, Indigenous health standards, Women's health

Title: Stingray kills swim champion



Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number: 4

Word length: 375


First spokesperson: George Zahmel, uncle of Jeff Zahmel


Synopsis: A 12-year-old boy from Milikapiti Aboriginal settlement was killed by a sting-ray barb.

Keywords: Child health

Title: Black women plead for their birthright




News genre: News

Page number: 15

Word length: 300

News Source: Conference/Meeting, Politician

First spokesperson: Ms Helen Liddle, Indigenous protestor

Second spokesperson: Dr Blewett, Federal Health minister

Synopsis: Five Aboriginal women filed onto the stage after a speech by the Federal

1988

19

Health Minster, Dr Blewett, at the World Health Organisation conference, to protest against the lack of government funding for a central Australian birthing centre.

Keywords: Child health, Health funding, Hospitals, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled, Women's health

Title: 'Extinction' threat to Aborigines


Publication date: Saturday, 9 April 1988

Writer(s): Clark, Pilita

News genre: News

Page number: 7

Word length: 238


First spokesperson: Report from Federal Health Department


Synopsis: A report from the Federal Health Department claimed that unless Aboriginal alcohol consumption was checked it could contribute to the extinction of the race.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Federal department of health

Title: Howard sees new ear under Liberals


Publication date: Monday, 11 April 1988

Writer(s): Steketee, Mike

News genre: News

Page number: 7

Word length: 545

News Source: Conference/Meeting/Speech, Politician

First spokesperson: John Howard, leader of the opposition


Synopsis: Outlines Liberal's priority objectives, including eliminating impediments to full equality of opportunity for Aboriginals. Points out that states had prime responsibility for heath, education and housing for Aborigines.

Keywords: Federal politics, Health funding, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions, State department of health

Title: Jail hell without end for a tormented Black


Publication date: Saturday, 16 April 1988

Writer(s): Hewett, Tony


Page number: 13

Word length: 1583

News Source: Aboriginal lay person, Bureaucrat, Medical, Police/Court

First spokesperson: John Jefferson Bray, South Australia's Chief Justice

1988

20

Second spokesperson: Chris Charles, Andrew Kiltie's solicitor

Synopsis: Discusses treatment of Andrew Kiltie, an Aboriginal man described as having a behaviour disorder, in Yatala maximum security prison in South Australia.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Prisons, Suicide, Violence

Title: Politics can make us unwell



Writer(s): Shaw, Norman


Page number: 19

Word length: 1139

News Source: Conference/Meeting/Speech, Medical, Politician

First spokesperson: Norman Shaw


Synopsis: Outlines comments made at WHO conference on Healthy Public Policy in Adelaide, with particular focus on disparities between 'rich and poor and blacks and whites' in Australia. Brief mention of specific diseases affecting Aboriginals.

Keywords: Disease, Indigenous health standards

Title: Black health is 'Under Threat'


Publication date: Thursday, 21 April 1988

Writer(s): Kent, J


Page number: 4

Word length: 100




Synopsis: The Health Minister, Mrs Harvey, said the Aboriginal Health Program was under threat from Federal Government cutbacks.

Keywords: Health funding, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled, Medical services - mainstream

Title: Health services bad: Union


Publication date: Tuesday, 26 April 1988

Writer(s): Freudenberg, John

News genre: News

Page number: 23

Word length: 200

News Source: Other

First spokesperson: Mr Denis Jones, Queensland Nurses Union Secretary.

1988

21


Synopsis: Mr Denis Jones, Queensland Nurses Union, said that health services on some north Queensland Aboriginal communities were appalling, leading to a high turnover of nurses working in remote communities.

Keywords: Health funding, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled

May 1988

Title: Black win restrictions on Kava


Publication date: Tuesday, 10 May 1988



Page number: 14

Word length: 100


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: Legislation would be introduced to restrict the sale of kava, following calls by Aborigines in Western Australia for a curb on kava drinking.


Title: Service for blacks 'abject'


Publication date: Wednesday, 11 May 1988

Writer(s): Hammond, Philip

News genre: News

Page number: 11

Word length: 300

News Source: Medical, Politician

First spokesperson: Denis Hones, Queensland Nurses Union secretary

Second spokesperson: Mrs Harvey, Queensland Health Minister

Synopsis: Mr Denis Jones, Queensland Nurses Union, claimed that the level of public-health standards in the Doomadgee Aboriginal Community were appalling. He mentioned the high rate of chronic ear infections among young children, and women who had IUDs for up to 15 years without medical check-ups.

Keywords: Child health, Health funding, Hospitals, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled, Medical services - mainstream, Women's health

Title: Govt denies community blacks are neglected


Publication date: Thursday, 12 May 1988

Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number:

1988

22

Word length:

News Source: Bureaucrat, Medical

First spokesperson: Unnamed spokesman, Northern Development, Community Services and Ethnic Affairs

Second spokesperson: Denis Jones, secretary, Nurses union

Synopsis: A spokesman for Northern Development, Community Services and Ethnic Affairs claimed that the Queensland Nurses Union had made some "wild, unfounded accusations" about health conditions at Doomadgee. Nurses union secretary Mr Denis Jones alleged that Aboriginal women at the Doomadgee community had been fitted for more than a decade with intra-uterine devices without having had medical check-ups.

Keywords: Child health, Indigenous health standards, Women's health

Title: Obsession with guilt pointless: Hasluck


Publication date: Thursday, 12 May 1988

Writer(s): Kingston, Margo

News genre: News

Page number: 13

Word length: 341

News Source: Conference/Meeting/Speech, Politician

First spokesperson: Sir Paul Hasluck former Governer General


Synopsis: Sir Paul Hasluck, former Governer General, lamented the shift of outlook from pride in our history and development and hope for better Aboriginal welfare, to breastbeating about past wrongs and mistakes.

Keywords: Bicentennial, Federal politics, Health funding, Indigenous health standards, Indigenous politics, Living conditions, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled

Title: Aboriginal health 'a calamity'


Publication date: Friday, 13 May 1988

Writer(s): Curtin, Jennie

News genre: News

Page number: 6

Word length: 188

News Source: Conference/Meeting/Speech, Medical

First spokesperson: Dr Niel Thomson, Acting secretary of the Australian Institute of Health


Synopsis: Figures from the Australian Institute of Health show that the life expectancy of Aborigines in some areas was worse than in India, and the rate of premature deaths was up to four times higher than for other Australians.

Keywords: Child health, Disease, Health funding, Hospitals, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled, Women's health

1988

23

Title: Over-policing worsens Aboriginal problem, suppressed study says


Publication date: Monday, 16 May 1988

Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number: 8

Word length: 345


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: Claims that the higher rate of Aboriginal crime was explained by the higher commission of offences by blacks, and the higher level of intervention by police and other State agencies into their lives.

Keywords: Living conditions, Police, Prisons, Race & racism, State politics

Title: Govt quashes black crime report


Publication date: Monday, 16 May 1988

Writer(s): Williams, Graham

News genre: News

Page number: 8

Word length: 482

News Source: Bureaucrat, Politician

First spokesperson: Mr Chris Cunneen, former senior of NSW Bureau of Crime Statistis and Research

Second spokesperson: Dr Tom Robb, Deputy Director of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistis and Research

Synopsis: The State Government suppressed a bulletin on Aborigines and criminal justice that puts the high rate of Aboriginal crime within the context of poverty, alienation and over-policing.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Living conditions, Police, Prisons, Race & racism, State politics, Violence

Title: Reserves compared to Nazi camps




News genre: News

Page number: 2

Word length: 295


First spokesperson: Ms Heather Goodall, Macquarie University lecturer


Synopsis: A Macquarie University lecturer likened the Aboriginal reserves of the 1930s and 40s to Nazi concentration camps.

1988

24

Keywords: Disease, Indigenous health standards, Indigenous history/archeology, Living conditions, Stolen generations

Title: Aboriginal housing 'breeds disease'



Writer(s): Hudson, Lisa

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: A report on the health of 2000 Aborigines in Central Australia has revealed that overcrowded housing and unsanitary living conditions are causing high levels of disease.

Keywords: Indigenous health standards, Living conditions

Title: Black health "world's worst"



Writer(s): AAPGROUP

News genre: News

Page number: 31

Word length: 250


First spokesperson: Health Targets and Implementation (Health for all) Committee


Synopsis: The Health Targets and Implementation Committee released a report to health ministers showing that White Australians had the world's third longest life expectancy, but Aboriginal health appeared to be worse than that of any other population group.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Disease, Indigenous health standards, International, Living conditions

Title: Bureaucracy hinders battle against prejudice


Publication date: Friday, 27 May 1988

Writer(s): White, Peter

News genre: Invited column

Page number: 19

Word length: 917


First spokesperson: Dr Paolo Totaro, Chairman of the Ethnic Affairs Commission.


Synopsis: The NSW Anti-Discrimination Board admitted that it had achieved little

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through either the state or federal racial discrimination laws, particularly health and employment opportunities for minorities.

Keywords: Child health, Living conditions, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled, Race & racism

Title: A wonder drug or danger to health?



Writer(s): Walker, Susannah

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:


First spokesperson: Dr John McEwen, head, drug evaluation support branch, Federal Department of Community Services and Health

Second spokesperson: Margaret Culbong, chairwoman, National Aboriginal and Islanders Health Organisation

Synopsis: Concerns about Depo-Provera use as a contraceptive.

Keywords: Women's health

June 1988

Title: Some maternal deaths 'avoidable'


Publication date: Thursday, 2 June 1988



Page number: 12

Word length: 200


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: A National Health and Medical Research Council report found that maternal death rate continued to fall in Australia. Briefly mentions that Aboriginals and immigrants faced an increased risk of maternal death.

Keywords: Child health, Women's health

Title: Researchers to consult aborigines





Page number: 20

Word length: 100

News Source: Medical

First spokesperson: Professor Richard Lovell, chairman, ethics committee, National Health and

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26

Medical Research Council


Synopsis: New ethical guidelines covering research into Aboriginal health were to be established to ensure researchers were sensitive to Aborigines’ wishes and culture. Professor Richard Lovell, the chairman of the National Health and Medical Research Council’s ethics committee, said initial consultations with Aborigines had shown dissatisfaction with some research techniques.


Title: Children flown in for tests


Publication date: Friday, 3 June 1988

Writer(s): Woods, J


Page number: 4

Word length: 100


First spokesperson: Dr Greg Lawrence, senior research fellow, Queensland Institute of Medical Research


Synopsis: Aboriginal children from the Woorabinda community, 200km west of Rockhampton, were flown to Brisbane as part of a three-year nutrition study. The study focused on Aboriginal children who were smaller than other Australian children of the same age to see if supplementing their diets would be beneficial to their nutrition.


Title: Initiations 'an AIDS risk to Aborigines'


Publication date: Sunday, 5 June 1988

Writer(s): Maurer, Tracy

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:


First spokesperson: Gracelyn Smallwood, federal government adviser on communicable diseases in the Aboriginal community


Synopsis: The modernisation of Aboriginal initiation practices, using knives and razor blades to form scars, is putting Australia's black communities in danger of an AIDS epidemic.

Keywords: Disease, Health funding, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled

1988

27

Title: Discredit to Aborigines



Writer(s): Perkins, Charles


Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Aboriginal leader

First spokesperson: Charles Perkins, Secretary, Department of Aboriginal Affairs


Synopsis: Response to an article on the risk of AIDS to Aborigines. Details funding to Aboriginal AIDS education projects in 1987-88.

Keywords: Disease, Health funding

Title: Body flown home



Writer(s):


Page number: 5

Word length: 256


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: The body of an Aboriginal woman would be flown home to north Queensland for a traditional burial. The woman died of a heart attack and her body remained in St George Hospital until the transport costs were covered by St Vincent de Paul, Radio Redfern, Radio Skidrow and the Bureau of Aboriginal Affairs.

Keywords: Hospitals

Title: Riot study faults Aboriginal funds use


Publication date: Monday, 13 June 1988


News genre: News

Page number: 2

Word length: 379


First spokesperson: Irene Moss, Race Discimination Commissioner


Synopsis: The Race Discrimination Commission accused local authorities of claiming grants for Aborigines and then failing to provide them with water, sewers and roads.

Keywords: Allegations of Indigenous corruption, Federal politics, Indigenous politics, Living conditions

1988

28

Title: Aboriginal pact: It's on



Writer(s): Milne, Glenn

News genre: News

Page number: 1

Word length: 756


First spokesperson: Bob Hawke, PM


Synopsis: Hawke announced early 1990 as the target date for the signing of a treaty with Aboriginal people. Mentions alignment with international covenants on economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights and the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination, rights to life, liberty, security of person, food, clothing, housing, medical care, education and employment opportunities.

Keywords: Federal politics, Land rights, Treaty

Title: Things are looking up at Toomelah



Writer(s): Jamieson, Anne

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Human Rights Commission, Local government, Publication

First spokesperson: Michael O'Riley, clerk, Moree Plains Shire Council


Synopsis: The 500 Aboriginal residents of Toomelah village on the NSW-Queensland border can look forward to better living conditions following the release of a report by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.


Title: Government dashes $11M black housing plan


Publication date: Tuesday, 14 June 1988


News genre: News

Page number: 7

Word length: 458

News Source: Aboriginal Land Council

First spokesperson: Mick Duncan, chairman for the Toomelah Land Council


Synopsis: Claims Greiner Government shocked the black community by halting a program to rehouse 1000 Aborigines living in overcrowded, Third World-type slums in NSW.

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Keywords: Federal politics, Living conditions, State politics, Treaty

Title: Buck-passing left Toomelah with no water, roads or sewerage


Publication date: Wednesday, 15 June 1988


News genre: News

Page number: 1

Word length: 952


First spokesperson: Excerpts from report by Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission


Synopsis: The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission found that Federal government mismanagement was the direct cause of Third World living conditions at the Toomelah Aboriginal Mission.

Keywords: Federal politics, Indigenous communication policy & funding, Indigenous education standards, Indigenous politics, Living conditions, Schools

Title: More Toomelahs 'will be exposed'




News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Human Rights Commission, Publication

First spokesperson: Justice Einfeld, president, Human Rights Commission


Synopsis: The Human Rights Commission issued a strong warning to the Australian Government that it would systematically expose the appalling conditions of Aboriginal communities throughout the country during the remainder of the Bicentenary.


Title: Doomed by buck-passing





Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Human Rights Commission, Publication

First spokesperson: Justice Einfeld, president, Human Rights Commission


Synopsis: In his report on Toomelah, the Human Rights Commission president, Justice Einfeld, has admitted that much of the problem is doomed to be

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left unsolved. He pinpoints health as perhaps the most alarming aspect of a many-faceted problem.

Keywords: Disease, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions

Title: Actions louder than words: locals



Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Aboriginal lay person, Human Rights Commission, Publication

First spokesperson: Mrs Julie Whitton, community member, Toomelah

Second spokesperson: Mrs Ada Jarrett, community member, Toomelah

Synopsis: The Aborigines of Toomelah welcomed the findings of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission report but remained unconvinced that "white man's" words would translate into action.


Title: Poor fellow, my Toomelah



Writer(s):


Page number: 18

Word length: 520


First spokesperson: Justice John Wooten


Synopsis: Discusses findings of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's report on the living conditions at the Toomelah Aboriginal Mission.

Keywords: Federal politics, Indigenous politics, Living conditions

Title: Greiner sees Black 'test case'



Writer(s): Aubin, Tracey & Dunn, Ross

News genre: News

Page number: 2

Word length: 529

News Source: Church/welfare body, Politician

First spokesperson: Premiere Greiner


Synopsis: The NSW premier said that reports of third world living conditions in black communities were a 'very clear test case' for abolishing Aboriginal land

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31

rights policies in NSW.

Keywords: Land rights, Living conditions

Title: Race probe: Qld stalling alleged



Writer(s): Walker, Jamie

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Human Rights Commission, Politician, Publication

First spokesperson: Mr Justice Einfeld, president, Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission

Second spokesperson: Mr Littleproud, Queensland Education Minister

Synopsis: Mr Justice Einfeld, president of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission, claimed that the Queensland Education Department had instructed teachers not to cooperate with the Toomelah racism inquiry. The Human Rights Commission report found that more than 20 per cent of children at the Toomelah settlement were suffering from recurrent chest infections and almost 50 per cent had chronic ear disease as a result of overcrowding, lack of water and poor sewage disposal.

Keywords: Child health, Living conditions

Title: Perkins praises report critical of his department




News genre: News

Page number: 2

Word length: 441

News Source: Aboriginal Land Council, Bureaucrat, Human Rights Commission, Politician

First spokesperson: Charles Perkins, Secretary of the Federal Department of Aboriginal Affairs


Synopsis: The secretary of the Federal Department of Aboriginal Affairs acknowledged that his department was partly responsible for the appalling living conditions at Toomelah.

Keywords: Federal politics, Living conditions

Title: Toomelah not a land rights problem, say Aborigines



Writer(s): Hewett, Tony & Roberts, Greg

News genre: News

Page number: 2

Word length: 355

News Source: Aboriginal Land Council, Bureaucrat

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First spokesperson: Tiga Bayles, NSW Aboriginal Lad Council chairman


Synopsis: The NSW Aboriginal Land Council claimed that Premier Greiner used the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission report about living conditions in Toomelah to 'gain political mileage' to mislead the public about land rights.

Keywords: Indigenous health standards, Land rights, Living conditions

Title: Racism: Can Australia deal with it?



Writer(s): Steketee, Mike

News genre: Feature

Page number: 11

Word length: 1619


First spokesperson: John Howard Opposition Leader

Second spokesperson: Claims that Howard's position that the Aboriginal treaty was an empty gesture and more focus needed to be placed on Aboriginal employment, education, housing and health.

Keywords: Federal politics, Indigenous communication policy & funding, Race & racism, Treaty

Title: Land rights act inadequate, but it's something to build on



Writer(s): Donald, Bruce


Page number: 17

Word length: 1227


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: Argues that the Land Rights Act was inadequate. Briefly mentions living conditions in Toomelah.

Keywords: Federal politics, Land rights, Race & racism, State politics

Title: Top End quandary on kava control



Writer(s): Grutzner, Anna

News genre: News

Word length:


First spokesperson: Professor John Mathews, director, Menzies School of Health Research,

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33

Darwin


Synopsis: Concern about kava drinking in Arnhem Land communities.


Title: Toomelah: It ill behoves the leader



Writer(s): Coles, P


Page number: 10

Word length: 255


First spokesperson: P. Coles, author of letter


Synopsis: Response to Mr Greiner's statement about Toomelah being 'proof of the failure of land rights policies in the State'.

Keywords: Land rights, Living conditions, Race & racism, State politics

Title: Hard slog for envoy of Maralinga blacks


Publication date: Saturday, 25 June 1988

Writer(s): Langsam, David

News genre: Feature

Page number: 11

Word length: 1316


First spokesperson: Joan Wingfield, student at Canberra's Institute of Aboriginal Studies, representative of Kokotha People's Committee, the treaty '88 Committee for Aboriginal Deaths in Police Custody


Synopsis: Profile of Joan Wingfield, a student at Canberra's Institute of Aboriginal Studies, who had 'stumped' across Western Europe to promote the Australian Aboriginal treaty and denounce uranium mining. Briefly mentions her concerns about Aboriginal children growing up to be alcoholics, or addicted to drugs or petrol sniffing.

Keywords: Aboriginal deaths in custody, Alcohol & drugs, Disease, Federal politics, International, Land rights, Treaty

Title: Toomelah - A long term and close view



Writer(s): Buchhorn, R J


Page number: 12

Word length: 190

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First spokesperson: R.J. Buchhorn, member of the public


Synopsis: Response to Greiner's statement about living conditions in Toomelah.

Keywords: Indigenous politics, Living conditions, State politics

Title: Self Condemnation?



Writer(s): Mathews, H V


Page number: 12

Word length: 215


First spokesperson: H.V. Matthews


Synopsis: Response to Einfeld's criticism of the Government's handling of Toomelah mission.

Keywords: Living conditions, State politics

Title: Targeted need



Writer(s): Isaacs, Elizabeth


Page number: 12

Word length: 157


First spokesperson: Elizabeth Issacs


Synopsis: Response to allegations that the NSW Government and Great Lakes Shire Council neglected to provide water and sewerage systems to Toomelah.


Title: Black aid campaign funds limited: Worker


Publication date: Wednesday, 29 June 1988


News genre: News

Page number: 12

Word length: 200


First spokesperson: Sister Gracelyn Smallwood, Nurse and community adviser, World Health Organisation


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35

Synopsis: The nursing sister behind the AIDS awareness campaign for Aborigines spent two and a half years living on a supporting mothers benefit. Sister Gracelyn Smallwood said this was the only way to get things done with only $2000 allocated to the project. Sr Smallwood worked on raising awareness in Aboriginal and Islander communities and, while millions of dollars were being spent on AIDS awareness, she complained that little of it reached community “grassroots” levels.

Keywords: Disease, Health funding, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled

July 1988

Title: No appeal for Islander


Publication date: Saturday, 2 July 1988

Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number: 7

Word length: 157


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: A Palm Island Aboriginal, who claimed he had a right to discipline his girlfriend with a knife but accidentally slit her throat, has been refused leave to appeal against a murder conviction.

Keywords: Courts, Indigenous history/archeology, Violence, Women's health

Title: Why child abuse laws are failing


Publication date: Saturday, 9 July 1988

Writer(s): Horin, Adele

News genre: News

Page number: 11

Word length: 1092

News Source: Academic, Church/welfare body, Politician, Publication

First spokesperson: Jan Carter, Brotherhood of St Laurence director of social policy and research.

Second spokesperson: Professor Tony Vinson, school of social work, University of New South Wales

Synopsis: A new report on child abuse briefly mentioned Aboriginal child mortality rates.

Keywords: Child health, Living conditions, Women's health

Title: The taps are now turned on in 'third world' Toomelah


Publication date: Friday, 15 July 1988


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36

News genre: News

Page number: 4

Word length: 450

News Source: Aboriginal lay person, Politician

First spokesperson: Mr Carr, NSW opposition leader


Synopsis: NSW opposition leader Mr Carr described Toomelah as a "national disgrace" after visiting the Aboriginal settlement's flooded streets, and seeing the dilapidated condition of houses bursting at the seems.

Keywords: Child health, Disease, Federal politics, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions, Women's health

Title: A great centre for those on brink


Publication date: Monday, 18 July 1988

Writer(s): Wahquist, Asa

News genre: News

Page number: 11

Word length: 436

News Source: Conference/Meeting/Speech

First spokesperson: Mrs Coral Dunlop, administrator, drop-in centre, Wilcannia

Second spokesperson: Mrs Suzanne Hall

Synopsis: Overview of workshop on dealing with child abuse.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Indigenous politics, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled, State politics, Violence, Women's health

Title: Speakers gagged at nurses' seminar


Publication date: Monday, 18 July 1988


News genre: News

Page number: 16

Word length: 400


First spokesperson: Mr Comben, State Opposition health spokesman

Second spokesperson: Mr Sherlock, the Liberal health spokesman

Synopsis: Two Health Department employees were told that they were not allowed to speak at the Queensland Nurses Union seminar after they had travelled there at their own expense. Brief mention of tour of the Weipa South Aboriginal Community by Mr Comben, Queensland Opposition Health spokesman.


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37

Title: Fatal virus found in Aborigines


Publication date: Tuesday, 19 July 1988

Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:


First spokesperson: Dr John May, senior lecturer in microbiology, La Trobe University, Melbourne


Synopsis: A potentially fatal virus, previously unknown in Australia, which causes leukaemia, has been found in Aborigines from remote areas of Western and central Australia.

Keywords: Disease

Title: Alcoholism 'hits displaced peoples'


Publication date: Thursday, 21 July 1988

Writer(s): Murray, R

News genre: News

Page number: 2

Word length: 300

News Source: Bureaucrat

First spokesperson: Mr Cliff Fua, Health Department's Aboriginal alcoholims program director, and recipient of the Churchill Fellowship.


Synopsis: Mr Cliff Fua has returned from an American study tour, where he found that North American Indians and New Zealand Maoris, suffered from alcoholism similarly to Australian Aborigines. Mr Fua, the Health Department’s Aboriginal alcoholism program director, said that methods used among North American Indians were the same as those used in Queensland, but they received more government funding.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled

Title: Govt seeks to attract more foster parents


Publication date: Wednesday, 27 July 1988

Writer(s): Clark, Philip

News genre: News

Page number: 4

Word length: 524


First spokesperson: Mrs Chadwick, The Minister for Family and Community


Synopsis: The NSW government embarked on an advertising campaign to attract

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38

new foster parents. Briefly mentions the desire to place Aborignal children with black families.


Title: Child prostitution: Chadwick acts


Publication date: Thursday, 28 July 1988

Writer(s): Clark, Philip

News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length: 553


First spokesperson: Mrs Chadwick, Minister fro Family and Community Services.


Synopsis: Discusses child prostitution; mentions that an Aboriginal boy aged 13 was picked up at a known child prostitution hot spot.

Keywords: Child health, Living conditions, Police, Violence

Title: Drug dealers peddling heroin to blacks


Publication date: Friday, 29 July 1988

Writer(s): AAPGROUP


Page number: 2

Word length: 100


First spokesperson: Bob Taylor, director of the Orana health region.


Synopsis: The NSW health department claimed that drug dealers are peddling cheap heroin in a New South Wales Aboriginal Reserve. Cases of AIDS had resulted from shared needles.


August 1988

Title: An indictment of Aboriginal policy


Publication date: Friday, 5 August 1988

Writer(s): Daes, Ericas

News genre: Feature

Page number: 4

Word length: 524


First spokesperson: Professor Erica Daes


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39

Synopsis: Claims that Australia was in violation of international human rights obligations.

Keywords: Child health, Indigenous communication policy & funding, Indigenous education standards, Indigenous health standards, Indigenous media, International, Living conditions, Police, Race & racism, Treaty, Women's health

Title: Aborigines: Australia's shame, says UN




News genre: News

Page number: 1

Word length: 633


First spokesperson: Professor Daes Chairwoman of the UN's Working Group on Indigenous Populations.


Synopsis: The United Nations found that Aborigines lived in "poverty, misery and extreme frustration", while being denied self-determination and the social status enjoyed by most Australians.

Keywords: Child health, Federal department of health, Federal politics, Health funding, International, Living conditions, Women's health

Title: More funds for blacks, says Hawke


Publication date: Saturday, 6 August 1988

Writer(s): Pekol, Suzanne

News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length: 400

News Source: Politician, Publication

First spokesperson: Mr Hawke, Prime Minister


Synopsis: The Prime Minister, Mr Hawke, promised a significant increase in Aboriginal funding in the Budget. This follows the release of a United Nations report which found Aborigines were living in “poverty, misery, and extreme frustration.”

Keywords: Federal politics, Health funding, International, Living conditions

Title: UN report 'commends' Aboriginal initiatives




News genre: News

Page number: 2

1988

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Word length: 436

News Source: Aboriginal leader, Politician, Publication

First spokesperson: Mr Hand, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs

Second spokesperson: Professor Erica Daes, Chairwoman of the United Nations' Working Group on Indigenous Populations

Synopsis: The Government defended itself against criticism from the United Nations, which reported that Aborigines live in "poverty, misery and extreme frustration".

Keywords: Apology, Land rights, Living conditions, Race & racism, Treaty

Title: Booze books anger blacks


Publication date: Monday, 8 August 1988


News genre: Feature

Page number: 3

Word length: 600

News Source: Aboriginal lay person, Aboriginal leader, Non-Aboriginal lay person

First spokesperson: Ron Jones, Indigenous man who has his bank book 'on account'

Second spokesperson: Dermot Tiernan, Publican.

Synopsis: Discusses the practice of taking bank cards or books from customers buying alcohol on credit. The practice was continuing in Cherbourg even after publicans agreed to stop the practice.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Child health, Living conditions

Title: Sober success, in black and white


Publication date: Tuesday, 9 August 1988

Writer(s): Maher, Sid

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Other

First spokesperson: Charlie Ah Wing, manager, KASH, the Kalkadoon Aboriginal Sobriety House, Mount Isa


Synopsis: Profile of Charlie Ah Wing, a Chinese Aborigine, and KASH, the Kalkadoon Aboriginal Sobriety House.


Title: Govt will build $1 Mil hospital at Doomadgee


Publication date: Wednesday, 10 August 1988


News genre: News

Page number: 13

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Word length: 200

News Source: Other, Politician


Second spokesperson: Mr Denis Jones, Queensland Nurses Union secretary.

Synopsis: The State Health Department would take over medical services at Doomadgee and spend $1 million on a new hospital. A previous article (in May 2012) reported on the appalling level of public health standards, with 20 per cent of the population having secondary syphilis, and women having intra-uterine devices for more than a decade without medical checks.

Keywords: Health funding, Hospitals, State department of health

Title: Comben plans human rights move over health of blacks.


Publication date: Thursday, 11 August 1988

Writer(s): Morley, P


Page number: 14

Word length: 100


First spokesperson: Mr Comben, Queensland Opposition health spokesman


Synopsis: The state opposition health spokesman, Mr Comben, would take Aboriginal health care complains to the Human Rights Commission. During a visit to remote Aboriginal and Islander communities on Cape York and in the Torres Strait, Mr Comben found what he described as “Third World standards”.

Keywords: International, Living conditions

Title: True death rate



Writer(s): O'Connell, Mary


Page number: 32

Word length: 78


First spokesperson: Mary O'Connell, writer.


Synopsis: Response to a previous article ("Aborigines: Australia's shame, says UN"), which stated that the Aboriginal infants death rate was two to four time higher than non-Aboriginals.


1988

42

Title: Police plea for action after WA Riot



Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number: 10

Word length: 305

News Source: Police/Court, Politician

First spokesperson: Chief Superintendent Ron Kjellgren

Second spokesperson: Mr Taylor, WA Police Minister

Synopsis: Western Australian police said that welfare agencies should be doing more to combat the social problems of Aborigines.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Health funding, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions, Police, Riot

Title: At a glance



Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number: 1

Word length: 533


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: The latest Budget provided about $49 million from 1988 to 1990 for improvements to housing and services for Aborigines.

Keywords: Federal politics, Health funding, Living conditions

Title: Big increase in the spending on Aborigines



Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number: 5

Word length: 435




Synopsis: Commonwealth spending on Aborigines would jump 23.6 per cent in 1988, with the announcement of a comprehensive new package of health, housing, education and employment initiatives.

Keywords: Child health, Disease, Education funding, Health funding, Hospitals, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled, Women's health

1988

43

Title: Five targets for program



Writer(s):


Page number: 56

Word length: 100


First spokesperson: Dr Blewett, Health Minister


Synopsis: State and Federal governments would enlist industry, charities and other non-government organisations in a “national program for better health” targeted at people with the greatest health needs, including women, low-income earners, Aborigines and people of non-English speaking backgrounds.

Keywords: Health funding, Medical services - mainstream

Title: $126m bid to bring Aborigines out of ‘third world’ conditions.



Writer(s): Hammond, Philip & Orr, John

News genre: News

Page number: 55

Word length: 500


First spokesperson: Mr Hand, Aboriginal Affairs Minister


Synopsis: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders would receive $126 million over the next two years to improve their health, housing, education and employment. The Priority Communities development strategy aimed to provide impoverished communities with basic services over the following two years.

Keywords: Health funding, Hospitals, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions

Title: Whites buying the bush foods Aborigines should eat


Publication date: Thursday, 25 August 1988

Writer(s): Curtin, Jennie & Beale, Bob

News genre: News

Page number: 2

Word length: 678

News Source: Business, Other, Publication

First spokesperson: Dr Kerin O'Dea, Melbourne University researcher.


Synopsis: Argues that the reasons for poor Aboriginal health, particularly diabetes, can be blamed largely on the switch European foods.

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Keywords: Disease, Hospitals, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled

Title: AIDS education





Page number: 23

Word length: 100


First spokesperson: Bernadette Hudson, Northern Territory health education co-ordinator


Synopsis: Claims that Aborigines had a chance to show the world how to prevent AIDS spreading through the community, as AIDS had not so far surfaced as a problem.

Keywords: Disease

Title: NT liquor laws 'fail Aborigines'


Publication date: Sunday, 28 August 1988

Writer(s): Morrison, James

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:


First spokesperson: Justice Michael Maurice, Northern Territory Supreme Court


Synopsis: A Northern Territory Supreme Court judge criticised the Territory's Liquor Act, describing its protection of Aborigines from the problems of alcohol as inadequate.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Violence

Title: Why alcohol is killing Aurukun


Publication date: Sunday, 28 August 1988


News genre: Feature

Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Aboriginal lay person, Academic

First spokesperson: Mrs Geraldine Kawangka, Aurukun community member

Second spokesperson: David Martin, anthropologist, Australian National University

Synopsis: Profile of drinking problem in Aurukun.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Living conditions

1988

45

Title: New laws will speed up riot prosecution


Publication date: Monday, 29 August 1988

Writer(s): Garcia, Luis M.

News genre: News

Page number: 1

Word length: 526

News Source: Lawyer/Legal representative, Politician

First spokesperson: Mr Dowd, Attonery-General

Second spokesperson: Mr Paul Coe, spokesman, Aboriginal Legal Service

Synopsis: The State Government would rush through new laws to deal with rioters more quickly in the wake of recent clashes between Aboriginal and police at Redfern.

Keywords: Police, Race & racism, Riot, Violence

Title: RAAF, army deny bashings claims



Writer(s): Roberts, Greg

News genre: News

Page number: 4

Word length: 488

News Source: Aboriginal leader, Lawyer/Legal representative, Police/Court

First spokesperson: Army and RAAF spokesmen

Second spokesperson: Father Don Barter, chairman of the Townsville Welfare Council.

Synopsis: Army and RAAF spokesmen in Townsville denied allegations that defence force personnel were responsible for a spate of bashings. An Aboriginal Legal Service spokesman said bashings of Aborigines had been a regular occurrence until recently.

Keywords: Race & racism, Violence

Title: Forces deny bashing in Townsville




News genre: News

Page number: 9

Word length: 432

News Source: Aboriginal leader, Lawyer/Legal representative, Other

First spokesperson: Army and RAAF Spokesmen

Second spokesperson: Fr Don Barter, chairman, Townsville Welfare Council

Synopsis: Army and RAAF spokesmen in Townsville denied allegations that defence force personnel were responsible for a spate of bashings in the North Queensland city.


1988

46

September 1988

Title: Big death risk for Aboriginal babies


Publication date: Thursday, 1 September 1988


News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length: 358


First spokesperson: Dr Aileen Plant, Lecturer University of Sydney


Synopsis: A scientific conference in Brisbane heard that Aboriginal babies were five times more likely to die before they reach their first birthday than white Australian babies.

Keywords: Child health, Disease, Indigenous health standards, Women's health

Title: AIDS joins alcohol on Palm Island


Publication date: Friday, 2 September 1988

Writer(s): Miller, Calvin

News genre: Feature

Page number: 7

Word length: 400


First spokesperson: Ricky Clay, Palm Island Council chairman


Synopsis: Five residents on Palm Island had been found AIDS positive after being tested by the Queensland Department of Health. However, alcohol was regarded as the longer-term tragedy of the island, and island leaders were worried about drunkenness leading to indiscriminate sex.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Disease, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions

Title: More premature babies surviving


Publication date: Monday, 5 September 1988

Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number: 5

Word length: 209


First spokesperson: Dr Beverley Hewitt

Second spokesperson: Dr John Newnham

Synopsis: Medical research showed that ruptured membranes and hypertension played a major part in the premature birth of many underweight babies. The hospital also found a significant rise in the number of Aboriginal

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women and first-time mothers giving birth to underweight babies.

Keywords: Child health, Hospitals, Women's health

Title: Services to blacks face chop in NSW


Publication date: Tuesday, 6 September 1988

Writer(s): AAPGROUP

News genre: News

Page number: 5

Word length: 300


First spokesperson: Mr Greiner, NSW Premier


Synopsis: A Government discussion paper touted the possibility of closing all Aboriginal Affairs arrangements in NSW, after a study found that although $1.2 billion had been ploughed into Aboriginal programs in NSW in the previous decade, the gap in living standards between Aboriginal and White people had widened during the same period.

Keywords: Health funding, Living conditions, State politics

Title: Expert plans end to black drink trouble




News genre: News

Page number: 14

Word length: 300


First spokesperson: Mr Cliff Fau, alcohol and drug dependency service, Queensland Health Department & recipient of the Churchill scholarship study tour.


Synopsis: Mr Cliff Fau, Queensland Health Department alcohol and drug dependency service, claimed that a community approach to the Aboriginal drinking problem could turn communities to 100 per cent sobriety.


Title: When an Aboriginal grows old




News genre: News

Page number: 2

Word length: 649


First spokesperson: Mr Garry Scott, Consultant NSW Home Care Service and Aboriginal man

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Second spokesperson: Dr Bobby Sykes, PhD

Synopsis: Discusses ageing issues for Aborigines.

Keywords: Federal politics, Health funding, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled

Title: A favourable dialysis diagnosis



Writer(s): Hudson, Lisa

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:


First spokesperson: Dr David Pugsley, renal unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital


Synopsis: Under a remote care program co-ordinated by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital's Renal Unit, haemodialysis treatment can be performed in some of the most isolated parts of South Australia.

Keywords: Disease, Hospitals

Title: A race of sociopaths or is it the system?



Writer(s): Williams, graham

News genre: Feature

Page number: 19

Word length: 1215

News Source: Aboriginal lay person, Academic, Conference/Meeting/Speech, Medical

First spokesperson: Marjorie (not her real name) Aboriginal mother

Second spokesperson: Dr Heather Goodall, lecturer in Aboriginal history at Macquarie University

Synopsis: Discusses the forcible removal of Aboriginal children from their families.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Prisons, Stolen generations, Violence

Title: Promise of Mabo lost in paradise



Writer(s): Priest, Marcus

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Aboriginal lay person, Aboriginal leader

First spokesperson: Sam Wallau, Mer council of elders

Second spokesperson: Nicey Sambo, brother of Eddie Mabo

Synopsis: A group, backed by Murray Island elders, declared an interim national government and said it would break away from the rest of Australia.

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Mentions living conditions on the island.


Title: Pardon refused



Writer(s):


Page number: 8

Word length: 353


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: A petition from convicted murderer Kelvin Condren for a pardon was turned down by the Queensland Governor, Sir Walker Campbell. Condren, a Queensland Aboriginal, had served almost five years of a life sentence for the murder of Patricia Rose Carlton at Mt Isa in 1983.

Keywords: Courts, Violence

Title: Five bodies found in the outback


Publication date: Wednesday, 28 September 1988

Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number: 5

Word length: 139


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: Five bodies were discovered at an Aboriginal outstation south-east of Oenpelli in western Arnhem Land.


Title: Killer wipes out top artist and family



Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number: 1

Word length:


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: A renowned artist and his family were among six Aborigines murdered in a shotgun massacre in the Northern Territory's remote Top End.

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Keywords: Violence

Title: Family fled massacre in the outback




News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length: 565


First spokesperson: Mr Bell, pilot

Second spokesperson: Detective Cheif Inspector Graeme Charlwood, NT police

Synopsis: NT police would interview members of an Aboriginal family who fled into the scrub in Arnhem Land after at least five people, all members of one famly, were massacred at an Aboriginal outstation.


Title: Shopping spree may have led to massacre



Writer(s): Morrison, James

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:


First spokesperson: Unnamed relatives of family killed in massacre


Synopsis: An ill-fated spending spree during which Cecelia Murrumurru failed to buy cigarettes - or batteries for her family's radio - may have triggered the massacre of six Aborigines near a remote Arnhem Land outstation.

Keywords: Violence

Title: NT police seek killer of six



Writer(s): Zadel, Sonya

News genre: News

Page number: 6

Word length: 236


First spokesperson: Detective Superintedent Terry O'Brien


Synopsis: Darwin police and Aboriginal trackers were searching remote Arnhem Land outstations for a 22-year-old man wanted for questioning over the shotgun killings of six Aborigines.

1988

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October 1988

Title: New hope for frail Blacks


Publication date: Saturday, 1 October 1988

Writer(s): Curtin, Jennie

News genre: News

Page number: 2

Word length: 243

News Source: Other

First spokesperson: Richard Staples, Minister for Housing and Aged Care


Synopsis: Discusses issues faced by elderly Aborigines in north-west NSW and options for aged care.

Keywords: Living conditions, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled

Title: Libs back Aboriginal food vouchers plan




News genre: News

Page number: 4

Word length: 455


First spokesperson: Chris Miles, The Opposition spokesman on Aboriginal Affairs


Synopsis: The Federal Opposition would support State Governments wanting to use food vouchers to partly replace dole payments to Aborigines, if it won the next election.

Keywords: Federal politics, Indigenous politics, Living conditions

Title: It's a new Liberal face for feminism



Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number: 15

Word length: 650

News Source: Other

First spokesperson: Renata Kaldoe, head of the Greiner Government's Women Advisory Council


Synopsis: Renata Kaldor was appointed as head of the Greiner Government's Women's Advisory Council. Mentions that the council would focus on

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'doubly disadvantaged' women such as Aboriginal women.

Keywords: State politics, Women's health

Title: Man killed in croc attack


Publication date: Monday, 3 October 1988

Writer(s):


Page number:

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First spokesperson: Sergeant Neville Pulford


Synopsis: The body of a man badly mutilated in a crocodile attack was found on the banks of the remote Cato River in the far north of Arnhem Land.


Title: Armed police hunt Aboriginal man in the stone country




News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length: 573


First spokesperson: Anonymous sources, residents of outstation


Synopsis: At least 10 policemen with armalite rifles were searching for an Aboriginal man in connection with the killing of six Aborigines in western Arnhem Land.

Keywords: Violence

Title: Thomas Williams, Aboriginal leader


Publication date: Tuesday, 4 October 1988

Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number: 22

Word length: 167

News Source: Other

First spokesperson:


Synopsis: Thomas Williams, a key figure in Aboriginal affairs, died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 66.

Keywords: Disease

1988

53

Title: NT search for mother of wanted Aboriginal


Publication date: Wednesday, 5 October 1988


News genre: News

Page number: 6

Word length: 334


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: The mother of an Aboriginal man wanted for questioning about the death of six of his relatives was believed to have left her people to be alone in a remote and ruggest stretch of country in Arnhem Land.

Keywords: Courts, Disease, Police, Prisons, Violence

Title: Territory killings: Man, 25, charged


Publication date: Thursday, 6 October 1988


News genre: News

Page number: 1

Word length: 445

News Source: Aboriginal lay person, Non-Aboriginal lay person, Police/Court

First spokesperson: Chief Inspector David Moore


Synopsis: An Aboriginal man was charged with murder over the deaths of six of his relatives in the Mulgawa Outstation massacre.

Keywords: Courts, Police, Prisons, Violence

Title: Jailed Aboriginal's plight taken to the UN



Writer(s): Hogarth, Murray

News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length: 624

News Source: Aboriginal leader, Lawyer/Legal representative, Non-Aboriginal lay person, Politician

First spokesperson: Ms Josie Crawshaw, NT Aboriginal rights campaigner

Second spokesperson: Paul Clauson, Queensland Attorney-General

Synopsis: The plight of a jailed Queensland Aboriginal, Kelvin Condren, described by one supporter as a 'living death in custody', was to be taken before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

Keywords: Courts, Prisons, Race & racism, Violence

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Title: GP faces his hardest task



Writer(s): Callander, Diana

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:


First spokesperson: Dr Gary Erikson, GP


Synopsis: Profile of Dr Gary Erikson, who spent 6 months working at the Wiluna medical service, catering to the mostly Aboriginal population.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Disease

Title: Police bashed us, say aged churchgoers




News genre: News

Page number: 1

Word length:

News Source: Aboriginal lay person, Lawyer/Legal representative, Medical, Police/Court

First spokesperson: Daniel Coleman, Indigenous man

Second spokesperson: Mrs Florence Williams, Indigenous woman

Synopsis: Alleged baton attacks on two respected Aboriginal community identities have heightened concern over reported police violence at Kuranda, 34km west of Cairns.


Title: Police miss baton protest


Publication date: Friday, 14 October 1988

Writer(s):


Page number:

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First spokesperson: Daniel Coleman, Indigenous man

Second spokesperson: Mrs Florence Williams, Indigenous woman

Synopsis: Police accused of having baton-bashed two Aboriginal elders were told to avoid a stormy public meeting over the alleged attacks.


Title: Bonalbo hospital is to remain open

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Writer(s): Garcia, Luis M.


Page number: 6

Word length: 257


First spokesperson: Mr Collins, Minister for health


Synopsis: The State Government decided not to close Bonalbo Hospital following pressure from local residents and powerful sections of the National Party.

Keywords: Hospitals, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled, Medical services - mainstream, State department of health

Title: Black women "risk side-effects'



Writer(s): Gubby, R

News genre: News

Page number: 2

Word length: 200

News Source: Aboriginal leader, Bureaucrat

First spokesperson: Mrs Robyrta Felton, president, Yuenmanda Community Women's Association

Second spokesperson: Health Department spokesperson

Synopsis: The Yuenmanda Community Women’s Association president, Mrs Robyrta Felton, claimed that Aboriginal women in the Gulf of Carpentaria were still being issued with a contraceptive drug linked with a range of serious side effects.

Keywords: Federal department of health, Living conditions, Women's health

Title: Racist slur sparked gang death, jury told



Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number: 20

Word length:


First spokesperson: Charles Bagley, prosecutor


Synopsis: A Supreme Court jury was told that an Aboriginal youth was stabbed to death during a teenage gang fight sparked by someone shouting "look at the coon".


Title: Youth suicide 'a major problem'

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Writer(s): Hughes, Peter

News genre: News

Page number: 2

Word length: 384


First spokesperson: Professor Robert Kosky, foundation Professor of Child Psychiatry at the University of Adelaide


Synopsis: Claims that suicide by people in the 13 to 24 age group was a major public health problem. Suicidal behaviour among Aboriginal youths in the Kimberley region was rising and was consistent with suicide rates of Aborigines in custody.

Keywords: Indigenous health standards, Race & racism, Suicide

Title: Manganese madness


Publication date: Sunday, 23 October 1988

Writer(s): Bremner, Ben

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Academic, Medical

First spokesperson: Professor John Cawte, school of clinical psychiatry, Prince Henry Hospital, Sydney

Second spokesperson: Dr Mark Florence, head, centre for advanced analytical chemistry, CSIRO

Synopsis: Aborigines living on top of the world's richest manganese deposit, on Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria, are suffering from a rare neurological disorder - poisoned by the manganese that has earned Australia hundreds of millions export dollars.


Title: Mother's anger still burns after death of son



Writer(s): Fitzpatrick, Kevin

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:


First spokesperson: Mrs Loretta Patterson, mother of Aboriginal youth fatally stabbed in a fight in Goodan

Second spokesperson: Mrs Kay Karl, mother of Aboriginal youth involved in fight in Goodan

Synopsis: The mother of an Aboriginal youth fatally stabbed in a fight at Goodan was angry that the man accused of his stabbing was found not guilty.

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Keywords: Violence

November 1988

Title: Land claim call to save Prince Henry


Publication date: Thursday, 3 November 1988

Writer(s): Zadel, Sonya

News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length: 293


First spokesperson: Professor John Cawte, Prince Henry director of intercultural health


Synopsis: Professor John Clawte said that the State Government's decision to sell the Prince Henry Hospital could be stopped by a land rights claim by the local Aboriginal community.

Keywords: Hospitals, Indigenous health standards, Land rights, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled, State department of health

Title: Young blacks


Publication date: Tuesday, 8 November 1988

Writer(s): Jaun, Stephen

News genre: News

Page number: 19

Word length: 1174


First spokesperson: Dr Aileen Plant, Public health researcher with Sydney University.


Synopsis: Research by Dr Aileen Plant points to Aboriginal babies being five times more likely to die before they reach their first birthday.

Keywords: Child health, Disease, Health funding, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled

Title: For Aborigines, the bush is one big chemist's shop



Writer(s): Stapleton, John

News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length: 253


First spokesperson: Andy Barr, Northern Territory Health Department pharmacist


Synopsis: Andy Barr, a pharmacist with the Northern Territory Health Department,

1988

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released a book, Traditional Bush Medicines, outlining what he had learnt from Aboriginal people's use of native plants to make medicines. He also found that traditional Aboriginal medicines were useless against European diseases.

Keywords: Indigenous health standards, Living conditions, State department of health

Title: Where you live can make you sick


Publication date: Friday, 11 November 1988

Writer(s): Visontay, Michael

News genre: Feature

Page number: 21

Word length: 1419


First spokesperson: Professor Peter Curson, a medical geographer


Synopsis: A study by Professor Peter Curson, a medical geographer, has found that Aborigines had higher death rates in a number of areas.

Keywords: Child health, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled

Title: Black infant deaths twice overall rate




News genre: News

Page number: 10

Word length: 200


First spokesperson: State Health Department.


Synopsis: State Health Department figures showed that the Queensland Aboriginal infant mortality rate remained more than double the rate for the overall population. The infant death rate for the 14 Aboriginal communities was 24.9 death per 100 live birth, while Statistics Bureau information showed Queensland’s overall mortality rate in 1987 was 9.3 deaths per 1000 live births.


Title: Kava bans no help


Publication date: Saturday, 12 November 1988

Writer(s):


Page number: 11

Word length: 32

1988

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First spokesperson:


Synopsis: A Sydney conference has heard that government attempts to ban kava, a traditional Fijian brew, would not solve the kava drinking problems among Australian Aborigines.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, International, State department of health

Title: Govt may face bill for police attack



Writer(s): Aubin, Tracey

News genre: News

Page number: 11

Word length: 479

News Source: Police/Court, Politician

First spokesperson: Mr Gunn, Spokesman for the Minister for Police.

Second spokesperson: Sergeant Ted Kenny, Vice-president of the Police Union

Synopsis: Taxpayer money could be used by a Queensland police department to pay for $25,000 worth of damages imposed on three police officers who kicked, punched and urinated on an Aboriginal.

Keywords: Legal aid, Police, Violence

Title: Water crisis may force evacuation




News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length: 300


First spokesperson: Doomadgee Aboriginal Community Council


Synopsis: The 1200 residents of Doomadgee faced evacuation because of a water-supply crisis. Residents were allowed only 4 half-hours of water a day and feared a threat to health from clogged toilets.


Title: Vanishing water on sacred site


Publication date: Wednesday, 16 November 1988


News genre: News

Page number: 13

Word length: 300

1988

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News Source: Aboriginal lay person, Publication

First spokesperson: Clive Cairns, Doomadgee Aboriginal Council Council member

Second spokesperson: David Douglas, Doomadgee Council shire clerk

Synopsis: The Doomadgee Aboriginal Community Council said 1200 residents at the township were on strict water rations because the pumping station drawing supplies from the Nicholson River had broken down. Doomadgee Aboriginal Community Council member Clive Cairns said a health crisis created by the water shortage could force an evacuation.


Title: Say that again?



Writer(s):


Page number: 30

Word length: 102


First spokesperson: ABS report.


Synopsis: The Australian Bureau of Statistics released a paper, Aboriginal Child Survival, comparing Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal mothers. It found that virtually all of the difference between the incidence of child loss in the two populations was due to the higher number of children borne by Aboriginal mothers at young ages.


Title: Aboriginal infant deaths are double national rate




News genre: News

Page number: 13

Word length: 238


First spokesperson: Australian Bureau of Statistic report on Aboriginal Child Survival.


Synopsis: A paper released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics claimed that Aboriginal mortality was a "vastly disproportionate" component of all child deaths.


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Title: Black infant deaths 'twice the average'



Writer(s): Quinn, Sue

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:


First spokesperson: Dr Alan Gray, National Centre for Development Studies, Australian National University


Synopsis: A key report on Aboriginal child survival found that Aboriginal infants died at more than twice the average rate in Australia.


Title: Land rights bid to save hospital



Writer(s): Lumby, Catharine

News genre: News

Page number: 1

Word length: 675


First spokesperson: Mr Cyril Cooley, Secretary of the Lands Council.


Synopsis: The La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council claimed a hospital site under the Land Rights Act. The State Government was planning to sell the land and relocate the hospital. The Council said they want to save the hospital for the whole community, not just the Aboriginal people.

Keywords: Hospitals, Indigenous health standards, Land rights, State department of health

Title: Aborigine claims police cell assault



Writer(s):


Page number:

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News Source: Lawyer/Legal representative, Police/Court

First spokesperson: Robert Fitzgerald, defence counsel

Second spokesperson: Sergeant Lyle Dorn

Synopsis: Bourke Local Court has been told that one of 16 Aboriginal men charged over a racial disturbance last year in Brewarrina, in north-west NSW, was assaulted in a police cell.


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Title: Federal policy needed: study


Publication date: Sunday, 20 November 1988

Writer(s): Towers, M

News genre: News

Page number: 31

Word length:


First spokesperson: Dr Peter Eisen, Melbourne psychiatrist


Synopsis: A national investigation into mental health uncovered a system which was badly coordinated, struggling to cope with increasing numbers of patients, inefficient and too expensive. Brief mention of Aboriginal issues.

Keywords: Health funding

Title: Poisoning denied



Writer(s):


Page number: 14

Word length: 229

News Source: Business

First spokesperson: Professor John Mathews

Second spokesperson: Professor George Singer

Synopsis: BHP claimed health experts had found no evidence that mining operations at Groote Eylandt resulted in increased cases of manganese poisoning.


Title: BHP: No manganese poisoning at mine



Writer(s):


Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Academic, Business, Publication

First spokesperson:


Synopsis: BHP has claimed that health experts had found no evidence its Groote Eylandt mining operations had caused manganese poisoning among some workers.


1988

63

Title: Scientists clear manganese: BHP




News genre: News

Page number: 23

Word length: 200

News Source: Other, Publication

First spokesperson: Dr Robert Hart

Second spokesperson: Mr John Parkin, Union health officer

Synopsis: BHP said that health experts found no evidence of manganese poisoning from Groote Eylandt mining operations. Brief mention that a union health officer, Mr John Parkin, said that a BHP-Northern Territory Government study last year found indications of brain damage among local Aborigines, but could not prove manganese was the cause.


Title: Health risk as Doomadgee's water dries up




News genre: News

Page number: 5

Word length: 300

News Source: Aboriginal leader, Medical, Politician

First spokesperson: Unnamed doctor

Second spokesperson: Cr Clive Cairns, deputy chairman, Doomadgee Community Council

Synopsis: Medical authorities warned of an impending public health emergency in the drought-stricken north Queensland community of Doomadgee, where the water supply was restricted to six hours a day. The town’s government medical officer said that an evacuation of the 1200 residents might be necessary if the dwindling water supply was not replenished soon.


Title: Poison finding attacked




News genre: News

Page number: 47

Word length: 200

News Source: Business, Other

First spokesperson: Dr Robert Art, occupation and environmental health director, BHP

Second spokesperson: Dr Yossi Berger, occupational health and safety research officer, ACTU

Synopsis: Unions accused BHP of attempting to pre-empt the findings of a study to be carried out into the effects of manganese on Groote Eylandt workers.

1988

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Brief mention that the manganese may have been harmful to Aboriginal residents and mine employees.


Title: Brewarrina first on priority plan




News genre: News

Page number: 8

Word length: 181


First spokesperson: Mr Hand, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.


Synopsis: The Federal and NSW governments announced that they would spend a total of $4 million over the next two years to improve living conditions of Aborigines in the western NSW town of Brewarrina. Services such as housing, sewerage and water were top of the list of improvements.

Keywords: Federal department of health, Federal politics, Indigenous health standards, Living conditions, State politics

Title: Aussies get glowing bill of health; but not Blacks



Writer(s): Quinn, Sue

News genre: News

Page number: 21

Word length: 200


First spokesperson: Australian Institute of Health


Synopsis: An Australian institute of Health report said that Australians were healthier than ever and living longer, with female life expectancy increasing from 51 to 79 during the century to 1986 and males from 46 to 73. Brief mention that Aborigines were the least healthy group in Australia, with death rates ranging from two to four times the national average.

Keywords: Indigenous health standards, Living conditions

Title: BHP mine blamed for rare disease



Writer(s): Bremner, Ben


Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Academic, Medical, Publication

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First spokesperson: Dr Mark Florence, Centre for Advanced Analytical Chemistry, CSIRO

Second spokesperson: Professor John Cawte, School of Psychiatry, University of NSW

Synopsis: Two leading scientists rejected a statement by BHP that its manganese mining operations on Groote Eylandt were not contributing to a rare neurological disorder among the local Aboriginal population.


Title: Maralinga workers sue govt over alleged negligence



Writer(s): Chamberlin, Paul

News genre: News

Page number: 7

Word length: 247


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: Briefly mentions the McClelland Royal Commission of 1985 that found that up to 15,000 Aboriginals, graziers, construction workers and Commonwealth employees exposed to radiation might be eligible for compensation.

Keywords: Disease, Federal department of health, Living conditions

Title: Aborigines 'deeply committed' to the family



Writer(s): Thorpe, Deryn

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: A detailed study of Australian family life by the West Australian Government, the Australian Institute of Family Studies and the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows Aborigines, compared with whites, face three times the rate of child death, double the number of still births and are twice as likely to be from one-parent homes.

Keywords: Child health, Indigenous health standards

Title: Murder charges



Writer(s):


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Page number: 4

Word length: 45


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: A Queensland truck driver was charged with murdering two Aboriginal men. Police said that the victims were killed by shotgun blasts.

Keywords: Living conditions, Race & racism, Violence

December 1988

Title: Doomadgee dry in 16 days - MP


Publication date: Friday, 2 December 1988

Writer(s):


Page number:

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First spokesperson: Mr Beard, Liberal member for Mount Isa

Second spokesperson: Mr Katter, Community Services Minister

Synopsis: The Liberal member for Mount Isa, Mr Beard, said that the water supply for the Aboriginal community of Doomadgee would last only 16 days.


Title: Govt grant aids water supply


Publication date: Saturday, 3 December 1988

Writer(s):


Page number:

Word length:


First spokesperson: Mr Hand, Aboriginal Affairs Minister

Second spokesperson: Spokesman for Mr Katter, Community Services Minister

Synopsis: The Federal Government gave the Aboriginal community of Doomadgee an emergency grant of $560,000 to alleviate its water supply crisis.


Title: Hand is accused on health funding




News genre: News

Page number: 3

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Word length: 580


First spokesperson: Mr Hand, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.


Synopsis: Departmental documents showed that the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Hand, approved $180,000 in funding for the National Aboriginal and Islander Health Organistation, despite undertakings he gave to Parliament on the issue.

Keywords: Allegations of Indigenous corruption, Federal politics, Health funding, Indigenous politics

Title: Beer at centre of NT Riot


Publication date: Monday, 5 December 1988

Writer(s): Cooke, Karen

News genre: News

Page number: 5

Word length: 261


First spokesperson: Chief Inspector David Moore of the Northern Territory.


Synopsis: A riot erupted in Port Keats, a small town 300 kilometres south-west of Darwin, and 300 cartons of beer were taken from the Port Keats social club.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Riot, Violence

Title: Audit boosts heat on Hand


Publication date: Tuesday, 6 December 1988


News genre: News

Page number: 1

Word length: 400


First spokesperson: Mr Howard, Opposition Leader

Second spokesperson: Mr Don McDonald, acting assistant secretary

Synopsis: An independent audit into a key Aboriginal health body revealed a high level of financial maladministration and inadequate accounting records. The report showed embarrassing details of non-accountability for spending by the organisation between 1984 and 1986. The damaging audit came as Mr Hand was under fire for allegedly deciding to resume Government funding to the organisation.

Keywords: Allegations of Indigenous corruption, Federal politics, Health funding, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled

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Title: Doomadgee drying up but residents plan to stay



Writer(s): Ross, David

News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Aboriginal leader, Medical, Politician

First spokesperson: Clarence Walden, vice-chairman, Doomadgee Aboriginal Council

Second spokesperson: Unnamed hospital staff member

Synopsis: Discusses Doomadgee's dwindling water supply.


Title: Hand accused of misleading house




News genre: News

Page number: 11

Word length: 300


First spokesperson: Mr Howard, Opposition Leader


Synopsis: The opposition claimed that Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Mr Hand, mislead Parliament over funding for an Aboriginal health organisation.


Title: Minister to tough it out


Publication date: Wednesday, 7 December 1988

Writer(s): Grutzner, Anna


Page number:

Word length:




Synopsis: The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Hand, has vowed to tough it out under Opposition pressure to resign for allegedly misleading Parliament over funding to the National Aboriginal and Islander Health Organisation.

Keywords: Federal politics, Health funding, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled

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Title: Hand holds firm in the face of row on black fund




News genre: News

Page number: 2

Word length: 300


First spokesperson: Senator Chaney, Opposition Senatre Leader.


Synopsis: The Opposition claimed that Mr Hand had known about the damning audit of the National Aboriginal and Islander Health Organisation before 8 September. The audit criticised the financial mismanagement and accounting records of the body between 1984 and 1986. Its Government funds were stopped in 1986.


Title: Call to tighten law on child abuse


Publication date: Thursday, 8 December 1988

Writer(s): Garcia, Luis M

News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length: 596


First spokesperson: Mrs Chadwick, NSW Minister for Family and Community Services.


Synopsis: A State Government report recommended that teachers, social workers, police officers, and even pharmacists should be forced by law to report cases of child abuse or neglect. The report also recommended special services for Aboriginal families, who were heavily over-represented in notifications of child abuse.


Title: Hand could have been more precise, admits Hawke.




News genre: News

Page number: 2

Word length: 500


First spokesperson: Mr Hawke, Prime Minister

Second spokesperson: Senator Button, Government Senate Leader.

Synopsis: The Prime Minister, Mr Hawke, admitted that the Aboriginal Affairs

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Minister, Mr Hand, could have been more precise in his statements to Parliament. However, he stood firm behind his Minister in the face of continuing Opposition calls for Mr Hand’s resignation. The saga centres around Mr Hand’s comments to parliament that he decided not to resume funding to a health organisation, while a senior departmental officer said later that the Minister had told him to agree to fund the body. Brief mention that Mr Hand also knew of the damning audit report on the health organisation.

Keywords: Federal department of health, Federal politics, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled

Title: Misleading Parliament



Writer(s):


Page number:

Word length:


First spokesperson:


Synopsis: Criticism of Mr Hand, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, with reference to an audit report critical of the National Aboriginal and Islander Health Organisation.

Keywords: Federal politics, Health funding, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled

Title: AIDS on reserves 'the worst'


Publication date: Sunday, 11 December 1988


News genre: News

Page number:

Word length:


First spokesperson: Gracelyn Smallwood, AIDS expert


Synopsis: An internationally acclaimed expert on AIDS, Ms Gracelyn Smallwood, is to resign from a key Federal Government advisory panel in disgust over the funding of "city blacks" in preference to those on reserves.

Keywords: Disease, Health funding

Title: Petrol sniffing 'deadly habit'



Writer(s):

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Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Medical, Publication

First spokesperson: Dr Jim Baker, member, Western Australian Government working party


Synopsis: Petrol sniffing causes more deaths among Aborigines than lung cancer among smokers.


Title: Einfeld outburst over cash for blacks



Writer(s):

News genre: News

Page number: 2

Word length: 305

News Source: Human Rights Commission, Politician



Synopsis: Justice Marcus Einfeld, president of the Human Rights Commission, remarked that he was yet to meet an Aboriginal who has benefited from the $700 million annually poured into Aboriginal Affairs.

Keywords: Allegations of Indigenous corruption, Federal politics, Indigenous politics, Living conditions

Title: AIDS team on the road



Writer(s):


Page number: 17

Word length: 100


First spokesperson: Dr Blewett, Health Minister


Synopsis: Teams of politicians and AIDS experts would travel the nation in a bid to gauge public knowledge and opinion of the disease. The Health Minister, Dr Blewett, said six groups would each examine a specific AIDS-related issue: intravenous drug use; AIDS and Aborigines; education and prevention; testing; treatment, services and care; discrimination and legal issues.

Keywords: Disease

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72

Title: Fewer blacks detained for drinking



Writer(s): Moore, Matthew

News genre: News

Page number: 1

Word length: 553


First spokesperson: Dr Don Weatherburn, director of the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research


Synopsis: According to the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, the number of intoxicated Aborigines taken to police stations in NSW had fallen sharply, although alcohol abuse among Aborigines remains extremely high. The statistics showed a 22.2 per cent drop in 1987 over previous years.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Police, Violence

Title: AIDS panels for Aborigines



Writer(s):


Page number:

Word length:


First spokesperson: Dr Blewett, Federal Minister for Community Services and Health


Synopsis: The Federal Minister for Community Services and Health announced that six working panels would travel around Australia to consult with the community on AIDS.

Keywords: Disease

Title: More education needed on AIDS



Writer(s): Del Popolo, N.


Page number:

Word length:

News Source: Church/welfare body

First spokesperson: N. Del Popolo, Director, Family Care, Catholic Education Office, Cairns


Synopsis: An appeal for funding to employ community development officers, one Aboriginal and one white, to work in Far North Queensland on education of the communities and other groups and on counselling and support for families where AIDS was present.

1988

73

Keywords: Child health, Disease

Title: Takeaway alcohol: Blacks seek ban




News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length: 438


First spokesperson: Justice Asche, Cheif Justice of the Northern Territory Supreme Court.


Synopsis: Members of three Central Australian Aboriginal communities made an application to the Supreme Court for an injunction to stop a licensed proprietor form selling takeaway alcohol.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Courts, Violence

Title: Drunk detention reflect policing policies



Writer(s): Cunneen, Chris


Page number: 10

Word length: 345

News Source: Other

First spokesperson: Chris Cunneen, Campaign for Criminal Justice


Synopsis: Discusses the latest figures for detention under the Intoxicated Persons Act. Notes that 19 per cent of people detained by police in 1987 were Aboriginal.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Police, Violence

Title: Blacks' take-away alcohol stays




News genre: News

Page number: 4

Word length: 218


First spokesperson: Chief Justice Asche.

Second spokesperson: Mr Colin McDonald

Synopsis: The Supreme Court of Northern Territory rejected a claim from Central Australian Aborigines, saying that the groups failed to prove that the unrestricted sale of alcohol was a direct cause of disruption and violence in

1988

74

Aboriginal communities.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Courts, Living conditions, Violence

Title: Black detentions: Things are improving



Writer(s): Weatherburn, Dr Don


Page number: 10

Word length: 448

News Source: Other

First spokesperson: Dr Don Weatherburn, Director of the Bureau of Crime Statistics.


Synopsis: Response to the Intoxicated Persons Act, stating that the detention of Aboriginal persons under the Intoxicated Persons Act had fallen by nearly 72 per cent.

Keywords: Alcohol & drugs, Police, Prisons

Title: NT cattlemen halt Aboriginal bid for 'a little bit of country'




News genre: News

Page number: 3

Word length: 607

News Source: Aboriginal Land Council, Aboriginal leader, Human Rights Commission, Other, Police/Court



Synopsis: The Human Rights Commission was compiling a report on the living conditions at an Aboriginal community on Brunette Downs cattle stations in the Northern Territory following claims that Aborigines were forced to live in squalor.

Keywords: Courts, Disease, Hospitals, Living conditions, Medical services - Indigenous community controlled, Race & racism

Title: North has Christmas drink - of water



Writer(s): Whittaker, Paul

News genre: News

Page number: 2

Word length: 500

News Source: Aboriginal lay person, Bureaucrat

First spokesperson: Nurse at the Doomadgee Hospital


1988

75

Synopsis: Rain in the remote town of Doomadgee ended the threat of evacuation of the community. The town residents had been on strict water restrictions for six months, with the water only turned on for a few hours a day.


index of indigenous health articles in the australian, courier-mail & sydney morning ... ·...

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