Prominent Aboriginal elder Wayne Wharton is making a tilt for the senate in Queensland this election, campaigning on issues such as justice for Aboriginal people, justice reinvestment and an improved aged care system.
Wharton told 91自拍论坛 Weekly: 鈥淭he systems that we鈥檝e had for the last 230 years is broken, they鈥檙e useless.鈥�
These include the legal system which, he says, is based on a 鈥渇eudal system of punishment鈥� instead of rehabilitation, and the two-party system, in which the big parties have become dominated by 鈥渢op-end-of-town corruption鈥�.
Wharton believes the government should reflect the diversity of the people and that he has a lot offer.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about time the rest of Australia said: 鈥楲et鈥檚 get a couple of First Nations people in there鈥� to address First Nations issues.
鈥淗ow we answer the sovereignty question is a big problem that can only be addressed by First Nations people leading the discussion on it.鈥�
Another issue Wharton wants to address is poverty.
鈥淚 want to see a living wage鈥� he told GLW. 鈥淸The Community Development Program in remote Australia] shouldn鈥檛 be there, voluntary work shouldn鈥檛 be there and work for the dole shouldn鈥檛 be there.
鈥淭he social benefits that people take home, whether it鈥檚 Single Parents payment or Newstart, have to be increased. It has got to be more reflective of the cost of living.鈥�
Wharton said natural resources belong to the people, not the government, and that the benefits should come back to the people, especially the poor.
鈥淥ur people were never born into poverty,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e were placed into poverty as a direct policy of colonisation.
鈥淲e shouldn鈥檛 be in poverty. Our people should be living off the royalties given to them by birth.
鈥淐ompensation has to be paid to our people for the desecration of their minerals and their rights.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 have a treaty or reconciliation unless you have economic sustainability for our people.鈥�
Wharton has also raised opposition to the proposed Adani coalmine and supports the legalisation of marijuana.
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