Jane Robbins

Australian social policy has embraced what have loosely been termed " Third Way " initiatives over the last few years. The Howard government has announced a tripartate " Social Coalition " of government, business and community sectors as its chosen model for addressing social disadvantage and exclusion. " Mutual obligation " , " social entrepreneurialsm " , " partnerships " and " capacity building " are concepts which have become familiar in the rhetoric of social reform. A broad political and popular consensus appears to have developed which is comfortable with the direction of change. Indigenous programs have also been drawn into this trend. The highly publicised comments of Cape York leader Noel Pearson have lent support to the view that passive welfare and economic dependency have been a pernicious influence on Indigenous communities. The perceived solution is to set in place a framework of measures that will give communities the responsibility for their own salvation, largely through reform of institutions of governance and the facilitation of economic partnerships. This paper will address this debate, giving particular consideration to the impact of these ideas on remote and isolated indigenous communities. 3 Introduction For some years Noel Pearson has been challenging the " left " to reconsider its position on welfare in general and on Aboriginal policy in particular (Pearson 2000a; 2000b; 2000c; 2001a; 2001b; 2002a). His particular concern is the reluctance of those who hold what he calls " sloppy leftist and progressive ideas " (2001b:) to confront the inadequacy of their traditional responses to the appalling social conditions which currently exist in many Aboriginal communities. While refraining from an unqualified endorsement of the current Coalition government's policies, Pearson gives it credit for taking steps in the right direction, especially on the issue of welfare reform (2002c). He has also acknowledged some common ground with the " Third Way " politics espoused by Blair, Clinton and, in Australia, ALP MP Mark Latham, although he declines the label for his own ideas (2002a).