Howard’s shame – a sad day for Redfern

This in spite of the fact that the former Minister, Kevin Andrews, put out a press release on 20 October, 2006 saying that the CEDP program was fantastic ¬– a program which had been working since 1977. Then, all of a sudden on the 6th of November, the CEDP would be axed and Aboriginal employment would be mainstreamed.

The Lord Mayor, Redfern Residents for Reconciliation and the Federal Member for Sydney, as well as others, lobbied the Federal Government intensively. Tanya Plibersek even spoke in the adjournment debate in the House and argued passionately for the retention of Redfern CEDP. Then Redfern CEDP met with Liberal Senator and Chippendale resident Marise Payne, in her parliamentary office in Sydney.

All the good people of Redfern wanted was some flexibility. The argument was that the changes that were proposed may suit some people but were not for all – they were simply asking for flexibility. This is exactly what the Howard Government claims to be supporting in the Industrial Relations area. In Aboriginal employment, there is no way that circumstances will be the same everywhere.

As we go to press the Redfern CEDP people are working out the implications, but the word is that the program will definitely be over in June. Even though they have been encouraged to bid for the new employment program, they have no certainty of getting the funding. They are concerned about how they will pay redundancies to all staff and are waiting for the Commonwealth to advise whether they will fund redundancies.

The Lord Mayor said in one of her weekly email updates: “In inner Sydney, the Redfern Aboriginal Corporation (RAC) has operated CDEP since 1991 with employment support for up to 100 participants at a time. While the RAC assists participants to obtain mainstream employment and provides mentoring services once employed, it also helps those unable to get mainstream employment. I share community concern that removing CDEP from inner Sydney will deny disadvantaged Indigenous Australians access to specialist programs and support.”

The Redfern Community Centre on the Block has used the services of the CEDP participants as security since the opening of the Centre. The Centre’s Manager, Beth Jewell said: “We have had three caretakers from the Redfern Aboriginal Corporation (RAC) since Redfern Community Centre opened in March 2004 and they have been invaluable. The local Aboriginal workers have helped achieve our great success by performing front-of-house duties and working with the community. The caretakers have kept a watch out for the staff, building and families who use the Centre."

Arthur Bundock, one of the participants, told us that he is concerned about whether some of the participants will be able to handle life after the CEDP since they will have to work with Centrelink and it has very strict compliance standards which may mean people could find themselves without any income for months at a time.

One local commented: “In spite of all the evidence the CEDP program in Redfern is doing good things and, up till recently, the Government agreed with this view. Because of purely political ideology, Redfern CEDP is history. It’s a sad day for Redfern!”

Source: South Sydney Herald May 2007 http://www.southsydneyherald.com.au/