Canberra fails First Australians, says Pearson

Noel Pearson says the federal government has failed to address its “dysfunctional” relationship with indigenous Australians.

Indigenous leader Noel Pearson says the federal government has failed to address the “dysfunctional” relationship it has with First Australians and has called for progress on a dual agenda of ­empowering communities and constitutional recognition.

The Cape York leader said indigenous leadership was strong and had the support of corporate Australia to pursue social and economic advancement, but govern-ment was falling short.

“The government piece is still not right,” he said, citing inaction over the Pemulwuy project in Redfern as an example of government failure.

“It is a testament to the way in which our relationship with government is still dysfunctional and not producing results for people on the ground.

“This country will never be truly lifted up until its most dis­advantaged people are off the floor and participating in the privileges of being Australian.’’

Mr Pearson was speaking at the 15th anniversary of the Jawun ­indigenous development program which works to support more than 80 organisations across the nation.

It was first established in Cape York in 2001 as Indigenous Enterprise Partnerships with a mandate to help end passive welfare and move towards empowering indigenous people to take responsibility for their own lives.

Mr Pearson also warned against “short-changing” indigenous Australians over constitutional recognition.

“The question of recognition will not be answered by some miserable preamble,” he said.

Mr Pearson’s remarks last night come after he argued his proposal for a new indigenous body enshrined in the Constitution to advise on government legislation