Rebecca Loomes 800154579 ‘Tudor: Catherine O'Donnell Assignment 2- Reconciliation in relation to social justice and the common good. Reconciliation in Australia encourages the coming together of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians, The damage caused in the past due to mistreatment from the Australian Government to Aboriginal Australians, is slowly strengthening the partnerships to reconcile for past actions. The gap created is slowly mending as the relationship between Australians needs to be based on understanding and respect for one another (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation). The past actions of Australia involving the removal of children from their parents, forcing disconnection from their land and culture and deaths of many Indigenous people are all elements of the cause for the deep gap between Australians. In order to reconcile, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people need to be given the same rights and choices as well as have improved quality of life that is not determined by their racial background (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation). Reconciliation also involves the history of Australia and commitment to building a better future for all Australians. Reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is an issue as the ‘common good is maintained by the wider community and provides benefits to the lives of others (Massaro, 2000). By trying to close the gap between Australians, reconciliation provides an improvement to those whose lives were significantly affected by mistreatment and inequity of the Government. It requires the responsibility of all citizens of Australia to work together to peruse a fair society (Herr, 1991). Miller (2003) believes that social justice incorporates ideas of equal distribution of benefits throughout society providing equal opportunities. However this was not the case for Indigenous Australifns. In the past Indigenous Australians have lacked equal human rights and therefore the Australian Government took away the ability for Indigenous Australians to achieve social justice or the common good. The Australian Government has a major impact in developing new relationships with the Aboriginal population as mistreatment and inequity were directed from the Government. In the past the Government has impacted on the lives of Indigenous Australians forcing them to suffer. The bringing them home report findings found that the children taken away were denied common rights, were victimised usually by a carer and lacked the simple human rights (Australian Human rights Commiss(6n). These are all rights that Indigenous childrenRebecca Loomes 800154579 ‘Tudor: Catherine O'Donnell should have received as all other Australian children did. To try and close the gap the Australian Government has taken many steps to provide a better future and relationships between Australians. It was not until 1992 where Prime Mini ‘er Paul Keating spoke about Reconciliation in his Redfern Address provoking his audience to understand the issues of the past and helping the audience to understand the impacts of the acts of the Government (National Archives of Australia, 2012). Kevin Rudd's 2007 apology speech he took responsibility for the actions of parliament and the initiation to close the gap between Australians was placed a significant ability on Australians to be able to reconcile (Rudd, 2007)This is significant in terms of reconcilement as this issue negatively affected many Indigenous Australians. The Government is a key influential body in decisions made on the public; the Government is slowly achieving the social justice by providing Indigenous Australians with equal opportunities in education, employment and health opportunities It was not until the 1967 Referendum where Indigenous people were included as Australians because of the parliamentary motion to change the constitutions (Tit Hational Archives of Australia, 2013).” Indigenous Australians were also included in the census and were given the right to vote, the same as all Australas) They will eventually be able to achieve the common good as they are trying to benefit the entire country including all Australians. The Government should make modifications in their existing laws in order to advocate for Indigenous people who don’t have the ability of Hower to stand up for themselves and their community. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were impacted upon because of the choices made by the Government. The issue for Indigenous people of reconciliation can often refer to that of human rights, discrimination and marginalisation from basic needs such as education and employment. Timmy “Djawa” Burarrwanga expresses the need for all Australians to work together, to provide a better country for Australians (Bush TV, 2012). Aboriginal Australians have strong connections to the land and their culture. However, the health over the years of Indigenous Australians has improved. As reconciliation has occurred the health of Indigenous Australians is slowly improving they are still not as healthy as non- Aboriginal Australians (Australian Indigenous.Health Info net, 2013). This allows Australians to achieve social justice as equity between Australians is slowly changing as health conditions have improved significantly for Indigenous Australians and because they areRebecca Loomes 00154579 Tudor: Catherine O'Donnell trying to achieve equal right to help to close the gap. Mick Dobson's speech focus is around that of education and the needs to support all Australian children in their education as it can improve the outcome for job opportunities, health and our own concepts of ourselves. He also believes that this is influential for reconciliation to occur between Australians along with social understanding, trust and respect (Mick Dobson, 2009). The ability to achieve the ‘common good works in partnership with non-Indigenous and Indigenous Australians to benefit the majority of society including equal benefits for educating children. The Business council of Australia economically provides support to the economic development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. They are a very committed organisation to achieving employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians. The Business council of Australia works in partnership with other organisations enabling them to support expansion and to build their business capacity (Business council of Australia, 2013). They impact on the lives of the Indigenous community providing them with more job opportunities to improve their lifestyle. This is also an act of common good as the business council of Australia is providing support for the Indigenous community which is beneficial to those who require it. They also show elements of social justice as they treat Indigenous a ‘Australians in fair and correct manner. The Business Council of Australia takes pride in acknowledging Indigenous ownership of the land. They are in full support of reconciliation and strongly believe that true reconciliation occurs only when Australians have all accepted the past history of our country and acknowledging the traditional owners of the land. They continue to believe that by closing the gap will allow society to work better as one and to improve life outcomes for all Australians (Business Council of Australia, 2013). The Business Council of Australia advocate for Aboriginal Australians as they are standing up for them, trying to make a change between the distant separations of Australians due to the past actions of the Government. This is being done by trying to create change by acknowledging Aboriginal land and providing support. / 4 The principle of human flourishing, dignity of the human person is affected in regards to reconciliation, If Australians were not working together to build new relationships and encouraging equity, we would not be allowing Australians to flourish. This principle dosent) e eSRebecca Loomes 00154579 ‘Tudor: Catherine O'Donnell diminishes by age or ethnicity and therefore all Australians should are entitled to it. If Australians such as the Government were not going to allow for equity and connections to be made, this principle of human flourishing would not be achieved. This would cause a distant separation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. ‘The process to close the gap between non-indigenous and Indigenous Australians requires the respect, collaboration and working together to ensure that we can all live in a peaceful context. This affects the promotion of peace principlé of human flourishing. As in society if we cannot succeed in maintaining and promoting peace the continuation of reconciliation will not be able to successfully be completed. This also enables the common good to be able to flourish more readily in the environment: Participation) a principle of human flourishing describes the right and duty of all of us to participate culturally in society. it can also be unable to participate. Aboriginal people still unfair in terms of exclusion if a person participate in many cultural rituals and ceremonies and if Australians don’t allow their cultural participation, this principle of human flourishing isn’t successful. This would be possible if the Government was to take away ceremonial land used by Aboriginal people forcing them to be unable to participate in their cultural ceremonies. In Australia we have many resources that Australians have the right to share and have access to. These must be equally shared in order for all citizens in Australia to flourish. Australia has kilometres of shared land that is there for the use of everyone. Many Indigenous Australians can use this for ceremonial use. This principle of human flourishing, the universal purpose of goods if not treated properly Indigenous people will not be given the right to flourish as they wouldn't have access to the land for their cultural use. | In Australia everybody has a responsibility to serve the common good and community. There are many programs in place to assist Aboriginals in their community where they are making the appropriate contributions to their lives in order to serve the common good These principles of human flourishing benefit the majority of people. In order to reconcile these programs help to improve the health, education and employment opportunities of Aboriginal people and therefore Australian’s are helping to benefit their quality of life. The relationships built in communities can help the common good by working together. In the community Citizens can work together to benefit those who need it. If Australia lacks the common good as a society we wouldn’t allow all Australians to benefit as there would be 4Rebecca Loomes 00154579 Tudor: Catherine O’Donnell major differences between children’s education and the ability of Aboriginal people to be employed. Thus the common good wouldn't achieve the Australians to flourish and would be affected if benefits to the lives of Indigenous Australians were not reached. The inequity portrayed in the past for opportunities for Aboriginal people to have access to good schooling and then employment opportunities have been increasing. Therefore Indigenous people lack financial support for their families. This principle of human flourishing the preferential option for the poor can cause marginalisation fue society. The cansequence of the lack of education for Indigenous people can cause their situations to not get any better as their children will not be well educated and will struggle for employment in their future, The principle of subsidiarily’can’also benefit reconciliation to promote human flourishing. In a community it gives other citizens a chance to put forward their own ideas to the local Government. This enables the input of Indigenous Australians to contribute to what the Indigenous community needs in order to flourish. This principle subsidiarily can benefit the entire community to improve their health, wellbeing and influences impacting their li In order to best serve the common good, the stake holders have to work together to bring all the small things that they promote in order to help the process of reconciliation. Thi: lengthy process and requires time and effort from all Australians. The common good requires the lives of the Indigenous communities to benefit and | believe that reconciliation a is highly possible if we as.nation accept and acknowledge the past mistakes and create fair and equal rights for all Australians. The stakeholders have a major influence in the outcome of this issue as they are already working to reconcile with Indigenous Australians. Reconciliation depends on the ability of equal rights as they are improving but they are still not the same as all Australians. The Government has the most influence over the country’s ability to reconcile as they caused the issues for Indigenous Australians in the past and therefore has the most to reconnect with the Indigenous community. Kevin Rudd's apology speech | believe made a huge difference towards rekindling a partnership between all Australians. Thus the best solution to the common good would be Teereate equal health, education, employment and equal right opportunities to Indigenous Australians as the process of Reconciliation is slow. Therefore in the long run these benefits provided enhance the lives of Aboriginal people enabling them to flourish. Y 5Rebecca Loomes 00154579 Tudor: Catherine O'Donnell References National Archives of Australia. (2013). The 1967 Referendum — Fact sheet 150. Retrieved from htto://www.naa.gov.au/collection/fact-sheets/fs150.aspx Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR).Reconciliation. Retrieved from http://antar.org.au/campaigns/reconciliation Australian Indigenous health Info net. (2013). Summary of Australian Indigenous Health. Retrieved from http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/health-facts/summar Australian Human rights commission. Bringing them home report (1997).Retrieved from https://www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/bringing-them-home-report-1997 Business Council of Australia. (2013)./ndigenous Engagement. Retrieved from http://www.bca.com.au/Content/101704.aspx Business council of Australia. (2013). Statement of support for act of recognition. Retrieved from hhttp://www.bea.com.au/Content/102093.aspx Bush TV media. (2012, May 27). Timmy “Djawa” Burarrwanga talks to bush TV about reconciliation [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=KyRKIWKvxCQR&feature=youtu.be Herr, Theodor & Charles, Rodger. (1991). Catholic social Teaching: A textbook of Christian insights. Great Britain: New City. | Massaro, Thomas. (2000). Living Justice: Catholic Social Teaching in action. Retrieved from http://dlibrary.acu,edu.au.ezproxy2.acu.edu.au/ereserve/copyright/documents/Massaro14 292.pdf Dobson, Mick. (2009). How well do we know each other? Retrieved from http://ncis.anu.edu.au/ lib/doc/reconciliation_lecture/2009 mick dodson transcript, pat Miller, David. (2003). In political philosophy: A very short introduction. Oxford: England. National Archives of Australia. (2012, April 20). Prime Minister Paul Keating - Launch of International Year of the World's Indigenous Peoples, 1993. [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www. youtube.com/watch’Rebecca Loomes . 800154579 Tudor: Catherine O'Donnell Rudd, K. (2007). Apology to Australia’s Indigenous peoples. Retrieved from http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlinfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=1d%3A%22cham ber%2Fhansardr%2F2008-02-13%2F0003%22 | | | | | | |