Amnesty Head Criticises Conditions for Australia’s Indigenous
10 October 2011 at 10:55 am
Conditions in remote Aboriginal communities are among the worst in the world according to the international head of Amnesty International.
Secretary-general Salil Shetty went to communities such as Utopia north-east of Alice Springs and expressed dismay at housing and health of the locals.
"I've been to many places in bad shape in Africa, Asia and Latin America, but what makes it stark here is when you remind yourself you're actually in one of the richest countries in the world," he told the ABC.
"I can't believe I'm actually in one the richest countries in the world and you have people, Aboriginal communities here who are living in conditions which are really almost inhumane," he said.
He was shocked to see 15 people living in a two-bedroom house.
He is planning to meet with Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Jenny Macklin, this week to discuss poverty of Australia’s indigenous people.
In the NT News Indigenous Affairs Department defended their record of building new houses in remote communities saying – that as of June 30 this year, 324 new houses had been completed and that 191 houses were underway with a total of 1592 houses rebuilt or refurbished.
