Voice to Parliament gains support in outback community of Wyndham
In remote communities across Australia debate is raging about whether the proposed voice to parliament will improve the lives of indigenous people. In WA’s northernmost town, residents say the economy is stagnant and poverty, alcohol and drug abuse are big problems. But leaders say they're looking to a future beyond what they call government handouts. They hope their voice will make the town more sustainable and a thriving place for the next generation.
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00:00 A once bustling hub, now a shadow of its frontier past.
00:07 Wyndham is a dying town, and literally my people are dying too as well.
00:17 Indigenous people make up half the population. The scars of the stolen generation and segregation
00:23 run deep. These traditional owners are looking forward to the referendum. For them, it's
00:29 all about being heard.
00:31 Now the big problem here in Wyndham is jobs, work, there's hardly anything.
00:38 Government funded activities help steer young people away from trouble.
00:43 It keeps them off the streets, you know they've got a place to go after school, they've got
00:48 a place to go at night.
00:50 An indigenous organisation runs the programs, but it wants more emphasis on job creation.
00:58 This workshop provides a much needed service and employs young people who are struggling
01:03 to find work.
01:04 I like what I'm doing, it's always the case, you always want a job that you love doing.
01:09 The CEO wants to wean his organisation off government funding to become a sustainable
01:14 job creating operation. He hopes the voice helps tailor policies and programs with that
01:21 goal in mind.
01:22 My board has made it very clear, they do not want handouts, they want these boys and girls,
01:27 ladies and gentlemen in this town, to earn their keep.
01:30 Views here on the voice are varied. Some say it has to lead to positive outcomes. Others
01:36 are cynical, believing the government still won't listen. But many agree something has
01:41 to change with indigenous policies and programs if the community is to survive and thrive
01:47 into the future.
01:48 There are signs of positive change. Presidents say crime is dropping due to good relations
01:53 with police.
01:56 And say these successes give them hope that this town can become a sustainable and thriving
02:01 place for the next generation.
02:02 [BLANK_AUDIO]