Noel Pearson

Noel Pearson argues that the failure to deliver meaningful improvements for Indigenous Australians has become a civilisational as well as moral failure. Reflecting on the rejection of the Indigenous Voice referendum, he says reform must continue, particularly because Indigenous communities face disproportionate incarceration, child removals, family violence and substance-related harm. He criticises successive Labor and conservative governments for ineffective services, tough-on-crime policies and ties to alcohol and gambling industries. Pearson proposes revisiting the 1978 Fraser-Viner model so remote Indigenous communities would have a direct administrative and funding relationship with the Commonwealth, while states retain responsibility for most other functions. He concludes that structural reform of federal arrangements is necessary to support employment, education and community-led efforts to close the gap.