‘Amnesty slams ‘shocking’ Indigenous conditions’ (ABC News, 10 October 2011)

‘Amnesty slams ‘shocking’ Indigenous conditions’ (ABC News, 10 October 2011)

Key Excerpt:

(Amnesty International) Secretary-general Salil Shetty on Saturday toured remote towns in the Northern Territory, including Utopian communities north-east of Alice Springs.

He described the plight of locals as “devastating”, saying people there are living in inhumane conditions that are almost third-world.

“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 said.

“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.

A two-bedroom house he saw had 15 people living in it; others had no toilets or showers. Some had been without electricity and water for months.

Mr Shetty says the Federal Government is contravening its human rights obligations.

He says the community has been stripped of funds that provide basic services, including running water, electricity, and hygiene services.