Australia neglects Aboriginal crisis for asylum seekers

Tony Abbott‘s indigenous affairs spokesman Nigel Scullion has attacked both sides of politics for an obsession with “boats” over indigenous Australians, arguing the bigger crisis was with closing the gap.

In comments that criticise the current focus on border security, the Northern Territory senator said he thought this issue should have a higher priority.

Senator Scullion said closing the gap on health and poverty for Aborigines should replace the national political debate over asylum-seekers.

“I’m a person who aspires to become indigenous affairs minister and I think this is more important than boats,” he said.

“If we made it a more important issue, it would help us close the gap.

“If we had as much space given to this as border control, it would help change the situation.

“I would hope that during the election we could focus on a broader range of issues, the plight of first Australians being the first one.

“Why isn’t this a first-order issue? On the first day Kevin Rudd prioritised the boats, why wasn’t this on the list? There is a fixation on this by both parties, and I think it’s become an absolutely singular issue.”

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