Social exclusion and remote Indigenous communities: is the 'third way' the right way?
Jane Robbins
School of Political & International Studies, Flinders University
Contact Email:   Jane.Robbinsflinders.edu.au

Australian social policy has embraced what have loosely been termed “Third Way” initiatives over the last few years. The Howard government has announced a tripartate “Social Coalition” of government, business and community sectors as its chosen model for addressing social disadvantage and exclusion. “Mutual obligation”, “social entrepreneurialsm” , “partnerships” and “capacity building” are concepts which have become familiar in the rhetoric of social reform . A broad political and popular consensus appears to have developed which is comfortable with the direction of change.

Indigenous programs have also been drawn into this trend. The highly publicised comments of Cape York leader Noel Pearson have lent support to the view that passive welfare and economic dependency have been a pernicious influence on Indigenous communities. The perceived solution is to set in place a framework of measures which will give communities the responsibility for their own salvation, largely through reform of institutions of governance and the facilitation of economic partnerships.

This paper will address this debate, giving particular consideration to the impact of these ideas on remote and isolated Indigenous communities.

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Copyright © 2003 Social Policy Research Centre.