By Nigel D'Souza
While parliamentarians of all persuasions flirt with various
work-for-dole schemes, one section of the population has been
living with it for 15 years. Aborigines in many remote
communities and even some urban communities have ``voluntarily''
accepted what, in everything but name, is working for the dole.
The Community Development Employment Program, first established
as a pilot project in 1976, by 1988-89 included 130 communities
with a total of 21,299 participants. The scheme is based on
creating work by pooling unemployment and other social security
benefits due to workers in those communities, with additional
costs provided by the Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander
Commission (ATSIC).
The 1988-89 annual report of the now defunct Department of
Aboriginal Affairs spoke in glowing terms of the CDEP, claiming:
``the scheme is proving to be an effective mechanism for reducing
reliance on welfare payments by providing permanent part-time
employment opportunities. It also provides on-the-job training
and the means of achieving skills and expertise towards ventures
which can generate better incomes and greater incentive for
participants. It generates activity in areas where in the past
there has been limited scope for personal and community
development.''
However, a recent report by the North Australian Development Unit
of the Department of Social Security (DSS), has revealed a
seamier side to this program. For the first time, the government
asked Aboriginal people what they thought about it. The survey
took in 43 northern Australian communities, 25 of them on CDEP.
Responses in these 25 communities included: ``you work for your
dole money''; ``you get paid the unemployment benefit money for
doing some work in the community''; ``you get paid small money
like that UB money for doing a few hours of work each day''.
Aboriginal people in these communities said the pay was so small
as to restrict people's lifestyle and trap them in poverty. The
work was menial, repetitive and boring, and offered no
opportunity for advancement. The system was open to manipulation
by powerful family groups.
The survey also found that CDEP was badly designed and did not
fit the cultural norms and practices of the communities. Because
it operated outside the labour market, it didn't prepare workers
for job competition.
Despite these problems and the fact that Aboriginal people in
these communities rely on DSS and CDEP payments as a major source
of income, it appears there is no alternative for the near
future. ATSIC is planning to promote the CDEP as a major source
of income support for remote communities.
Meanwhile, Aboriginal people in 90% of the surveyed communities
said they wanted ``real jobs, real training and real wages''.
Nigel D'Souza works in Aboriginal welfare.
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Reprinted from Green Left, weekly progressive newspaper. May
be reproduced with acknowledgment but without charge by
movement publications and organisations.