THE Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs has said Aboriginal issues would be
given high priority in an Abbott government during a pre-election tour of Swan
Hill this week.
Along with Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie,
Northern Territory Country Liberal Senator Nigel Scullion was invited by
Nationals candidate Andrew Broad to tour the electorate.
Spending a few days
in the region, the pair spoke with Indigenous groups and Swan Hill District
Health.
They also examined the award-winning Indigenous programs running at
Swan Hill Primary School and Swan Hill College.
Mr Scullion said the
similarities between Swan Hill and his home territory were few, but the “sense
of disconnection” for the Indigenous community was nation-wide.
“They’re not
hurting because they’re Aboriginal, it’s because they’re poor… in demographics
of poor, far too many are Aboriginal.
“It’s about education, but it’s also
about providing opportunity.
For more of this story, see Wednesday’s Guardian (July 31).
