Is Welfare Reform a policy of assimilation?
In the past, distinct Indigenous traditional and post-traditional culture was partly preserved by relative isolation and separation. The modern era of Cape York’s Indigenous history is characterised by full universal citizenship rights, emerging recognition of specific Indigenous rights, improved communications and globalisation. Arguably, it is a lack of new policies for these modern circumstances that drives the crisis of Indigenous culture and identity in Cape York. The default direction of Indigenous communities in recent years may be described as assimilation to a dysfunctional underclass existence. Welfare Reform is part of a broader agenda for Cape York that intends to fill this policy vacuum and give Indigenous people genuine choice to preserve their culture in the modern world. Only from a position of strength can Indigenous people choose to maintain their distinct identities; only prosperous and educated people have real choice. This is why Welfare Reform aims for integration
