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GenOne: Everyone’s a winner, baby

Joe Hildebrand

by Joe Hildebrand

27 Jan 06:00am

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Filed under: Aboriginal, Andrew Forrester, Australia Day, Close The Gap, Ferry, Generation One

30 comments

When the good ship Generation One stormed home to victory on Sydney Harbour in the Australia Day Ferrython it was a quietly dignified affair.

Dakota, 9, and Zoe, 4, on the GenOne ferry. Pic: Adam Taylor

A bunch of Aboriginal boys to my left banged on the hull and cheered uncontrollably, I gave the black power salute while wearing a T-shirt on my head and to my right the former Upper House President Meredith Burgmann gave the second place-getters the finger.

And just to add to the solemn gravitas the whole boat was fitted out to look like a giant purple whale.

The atmosphere was inclusive but irreverent, warm but cheeky and – as soon as sport became involved – strictly business.

The whole thing was emblematic of what Australia Day can be when you take away the airhorns, flag-capes and endless chanting of “Oi! Oi! Oi!”

Indeed there was scarcely a flag to be seen but I felt more Australian on that boat than peas in fried rice.

The GenOne boat, the Sydney ferry formerly known as Alexander, was of course named for Andrew Forrest’s audacious bid to end Indigenous disadvantage in a single generation.

From what this sunstroked reporter can gather, the beauty of the concept is fivefold.

Firstly, it is positive and forward-looking. It sets to one side our troubled past and instead simply seeks to fix the problem now – an unquestionably righteous goal no matter what colour your armband.

The second and somewhat ingenious part of Twiggy’s idea is that, with its focus on employment and the socially and economically uplifting role that a steady job can have, Generation One appeals directly to the Protestant work ethic that middle Australia values so much. It is effectively selling to WASPs their own philosophy. Again, how could they argue against it?

The third and most ambitious element is that it sets a deadline – one generation – to wipe out Indigenous disadvantage. It is almost certain that such a gargantuan task will take far longer than that but the ambitiousness of the target gives a sense of urgency and energy to a problem politicians usually try to manage rather than solve.

The fourth is that it is deliberately inclusive. The language is not one of Aboriginal rights but one of disparity, disunity. It speaks not about favouring one group over another – nor even about advancing Indigenous Australians in isolation – but about closing the gap between white and black Australia, bringing the two groups together.

At the same time it subtly reminds those who may wish to believe the problem isn’t theirs that it is in fact their comparative advantage in life that is the problem. It is not just that Aborigines are so poorly off, but that we are so much better off by comparison.

And the fifth pillar is that it is about Indigenous Australians doing it for themselves, improving not just their living standards but their self-respect through work and education. Being given opportunities and then left to prove themselves. There can be no accusations of passive handouts or paternalism; this is, above anything else, a question of pride.

So when the boat chugged home under the Harbour Bridge and left not just the other ferries in its wake but also cheering cruise ships, $300-an-hour water taxis and the aquatic playthings of the wealthy, there was a surprisingly genuine feeling of excitement. Amid all the laid-back silliness and fun there was a powerful thrill.

And why not? On a level playing field, before tens of thousands of people on our national day, a group of Indigenous Australians had proven they could cut it with the best of them. Not because they were Indigenous, nor despite it, but because they were given a fair go.

And in a way it kind of evened the scoreboard a little bit. A bunch of boats had sailed into Sydney Harbour on January 26 and this time the blackfellas won.

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30 comments

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    • Adam Diver says:

      07:26am | 27/01/11

      I agree with the sentiments and the four pillars but I have a big issue with this particular line

      “It is in fact their compartive advantage in life that is the problem. It is not just that Aborigines are so poorly off, but that we are so much better off by comparison.”

      This type of thinking leads to one logical conclusion, in stead of bringing one group up to speed, it is much easier to slow down the top group down. Equality can be achieved two ways, hopefully GenOne is aiming towards the first one.

      Reply

    • Laura says:

      12:16pm | 27/01/11

      “This type of thinking leads to one logical conclusion, in stead of bringing one group up to speed, it is much easier to slow down the top group down”

      Really? Taking things from people to make our living conditions all the same lower level is easier than giving to people less fortunate?

      Care to elaborate?

    • The Badger says:

      12:40pm | 27/01/11

      This is Adam’s idea of building the clever country.

    • Adam Diver says:

      12:40pm | 27/01/11

      Yes it is Laura. Whats your point?

      If it was easier to do the reverse we wouldn’t need a program like GenOne would we?

    • S(r)ambo says:

      02:35pm | 13/01/12

      Its about not restricting Aboriginal peoples chances, which is the case, if Aboriginals ever actually had the chance to determine their own future im sure thier would be minimal social issues, some may say bull but the fact is they dont make any important decissions for them self so we will never know, the flip side is a for hundreds of years now they are controlled by our government abd all cutrent day issues are imposed by the goverment, the buck stops with government, our government has failed at every thing they try, how does anyone advance when a group of failures control all the important aspects of thier lives, anyway if the ingrained racism isnt combated by education it doest matter how sucessful they are, they will still cop crap from un educated bogans trying to justify genocide

    • Ima Goodguy says:

      08:46am | 27/01/11

      This is all a feel good exercise for Andrew Forrest timed to enhance his reputation when he was doing battle over the resources rent tax.

      He wants business to come up with 50,000 jobs for specifically for aboriginals. Apparently close to 26,000 jobs have been committed.
      The difference between a company committing a job and an aboriginal having a job are two different things.
      During an episode of Q & A less than 3 months ago, Senator Rachel Siewert had this to say
      “Most of it is around acknowledgement of placements, rather than the jobs. When I asked in estimates about how many jobs have actually been created beyond 26 weeks, only 252 have. Now, that’s good. That’s good that at least that many jobs have been created, but that’s nowhere near the 50,000”
      Joe, it’s wonderful that you had a free feel good ride on the Genone, but perhaps you could have given us something a little more in depth about which companies have “committed” how many jobs and which companies have actually “delivered” real jobs for aboriginals.

      Reply

    • Anon says:

      05:40pm | 27/01/11

      Andrew Forrest and his wife have been extraordinarily generous to charities in the past, as well. We’re talking tens of millions of dollars. His philanthropy isn’t anything new, it’s just that with this project he’s doing it more publicly.

    • Robert Smissen, rural SA, God's own country says:

      08:03pm | 27/01/11

      Imagoodguy, YEAH RIGHT! ! ! ! The scheme isn’t perfect but compared to what Ghoulia & co have done, it is absolutely MEGA, not to mention Twiggy is stumping up his own cash. So easy for some neer do well sitting on his butt & critisizing, it’s another to get out do something. I \f you ask Aboriginal Oz you’ll find Twiggy is a good bloke.

    • Sarah says:

      06:05pm | 02/03/11

      i would wanna hope that he is putting money into this country when he is mining on Indigenous Land and claiming all the benifits.

    • Kika says:

      11:28am | 27/01/11

      So little has really been done in the past, I just think any action done now is great. The thing you need to care about is ensuring that equality does not equate to complete assimilation.

      Reply

    • Trude Dunn says:

      11:52am | 27/01/11

      “A bunch of boats had sailed into Sydney Harbour on January 26 and this time the blackfellas won.” Well done kids!!!!!

      Reply

    • Martin G says:

      12:46pm | 27/01/11

      That’s all well and good but warm fuzzy feelings and media stunts aren’t going to solve anything. A good initiative, perhaps, but forgive me if am highly sceptical of a successful outcome.

      “And in a way it kind of evened the scoreboard a little bit. A bunch of boats had sailed into Sydney Harbour on January 26 and this time the blackfellas won.”

      Come on, Joe. I know you are better than lines like this. I am sure this was meant to be a light-hearted ending but it is symbolic of an ‘us against them’ mentality that will not bring this country together.

      Reply

    • ezzie says:

      10:02pm | 27/01/11

      I agree. If you’re truly sincere (which I don’t believe you at all) you’d be floating on a boat with no peas in fried rice

    • Joseph says:

      12:58pm | 27/01/11

      Just like all other feel good white ‘initiatives’ of the last 200 years, this will be looked back upon as racist paternalism. You need to remember that the ‘stolen generations’ thing was about progressives trying to ‘help’ the indigenous youth have ‘equality of outcomes’. Do you actually realise that there have been THOUSANDS of efforts by whitey to help Aborigines? None have worked, none ever will. And they just resent you more for it in the end for trying to be Mr or Mrs White Champion of teh brown peoplez.

      It is not the duty of white people to shape the lives of non white people. Most historical incidents of ‘racism’ are the result of misguided white guilt. If you feel your ancestors took some of their tribal land, then compensate them and be done with it. Either that or go back to Europe. Be like the Japanese with their indigenous Ainu people. Shutup, be discreet and leave them alone.

      They don’t need ‘the gap closed’. They need to be self governing and in control of their own destiny. Stop applying western standards to a non western people.

      Once white people realise that their charity is a form of racism, then the cycle of paternalism will stop. The best thing that could have been done since Europeans landed was just to leave the Aborigines alone. Let them live in their own culture/s. Let them have their own land, own flag and own government. White people, whether they be left wingers or right wingers, with their nauseous propensity to ‘help the poor brown people’  need to let go of their saviour complex.

      The brown people are not the white man’s burden. They don’t need your help and they don’t need to be integrated. There are moral issues many times worse that most of you indulge in on a daily basis. Ruining the environment. Partaking in the pure torturous horror of the factory farmed meat industry with animals with IQs the same as 5 year old children. These are real tangible issues of actual large scale death and destruction that you’re directly responsible for. If aliens landed and surveyed the situation of suffering on the planet, and saw where your moral priorities were….‘closing the gap’ whilst all of this goes on every day. I mean, seriously. Wake up to yourselves.

      Reply

    • Anon says:

      05:48pm | 27/01/11

      You sound like you care more for the well-being of “animals with IQs the same as for five year old children” than for five year old children themselves.  At least, for *Aboriginal* five year old children.

      Aboriginal children are Australian children. They have the right to have the same dreams and goals as any other Australian child, and to be given every opportunity to get there.  Giving up, as you seem to want to do, should not be an option.

    • Joe Hildebrand says:

      01:01pm | 27/01/11

      I usually don’t like to interfere but just to clarify an important point: The argument is not to drag the better off down - the article makes that completely clear. The argument is that people who are better off can hardly say “It’s got nothing to do with me”. We are not a poverty-stricken country where everyone is struggling. We are an extremely wealthy country where there remains extreme poverty among one very specific group. That sort of massive schism within a supposedly united nation is something that all of us have a responsibility to address - especially on a day when we’re supposed to be celebrating that country and patting ourselves on the back.

      Over and out…

      Reply

    • Adam Diver says:

      01:54pm | 27/01/11

      What responsibility do the better off have where they can not say its got nothing to do with me? If they were actively discriminating and persecuting perhaps you have a point, but your obligation or responsibility is simply your opinion and nothing more.

      And further to that point what do you mean by your ambigous use of “address”? More money, government agencies, localised charities, employment agencies, reconciliation, land rights, job quotas, free housing, subsidised existence, interventions, because we have addressed this issue, many times before and have achieved very little.

      We as a nation have “addressed” this issue, and continue to try, the results have been poor at best (but at lest we try, right….right???) so spare the guilt trip on individual responsibility. Perhaps the disadavantaged have a similar responsibility to improve thier own lives.

    • Bilby says:

      03:09pm | 27/01/11

      Joe - There remains extreme poverty amongst *some members* of a very specific group. You are quick to group all aboriginal peoples together, but that’s not valid at all. I’ve seen a quite bit of our country, which includes many DIFFERENT tribes and cultures. I’ve sat in a park in the Kimberleys with a thousand black fellas and shared a drink and a yarn with absolutely no concern for my personal safety. I’ve also hidden from a drunken mob in Timber Creek that were not terribly impressed with the colour of my skin. If you had too, you’d know that some tribes are helping themselves, and they certainly don’t waste any sympathy on the ones that don’t. Personal integrity is not something that can be imposed from outside and as such, the schism is not necessarily our problem. Your middle class guilt is clouding your judgement.

    • Bilby says:

      01:06pm | 27/01/11

      “On a level playing field, before tens of thousands of people on our national day, a group of Indigenous Australians had proven they could cut it with the best of them.”

      I think this sentence is more telling than the entire article. Please tell me that the ferry driver and their crew were aboriginal, or what you’re saying is that a bunch of black kids were on the ferry that won. They were passengers. They didn’t actually contribute anything and yet you laud them for it. Does this seem a little pathetic to anyone else?

      Reply

    • iansand says:

      01:40pm | 27/01/11

      The Ferry Boat Race is rigged, pre-arranged, organised in advance, choreographed and generally faked.  Ever since a ferry almost sank in the course of the “race” about 20 years ago.

    • Rich says:

      01:27pm | 27/01/11

      I am your stereo-typical white Aussie male. However, I tell you one thing - I am damn proud of our countries Aboriginal heritage and I support whoever and whatever they are doing to keep it growing strong.

      Good piece Joe, great work by Andrew Forrest and most importantly - three Ozzy “Oi’s” to the kids on the boat yesterday.

      Reply

    • Dan says:

      03:24pm | 27/01/11

      Good on you Rich, I’m glad I agree with one of the comments!

    • john tracey says:

      04:50pm | 27/01/11

      White Settlement 1788 to 2011 has been a total failure from day one.
      Australia’s best days were before January 26 1788.
      give Australia back to the aborigines.
      give everything to the aborigines.

      Reply

    • The Cricket says:

      05:21pm | 27/01/11

      I hope you’re joking, John.
      As far as I’m aware, the Aborigines hadn’t even managed to invent a hut. They were basically stone-age people. Egyptians and Europeans managed were mining and forging metals thousands of years ahead of them.

    • Sarah says:

      06:13pm | 02/03/11

      WOW, and yet another Red Neck decides to join the convesation. Aboriginal people were FINE before White people came, they lived healthy long lives, they had traditions and ceremonies. They Didnt need so called Huts, they made do with what they had in their particular area. Its only us White people that keep assuming that they want huts/houses or that they should have had them. We had all the necessary materials as some would say in England, yet we had sooo many convicts we had to ship em out here.

      One thing you forgot to mention is that they may not have had all those things but they have and still do have decent courtesy and respect for others, something you simply do not have.

    • Thommo says:

      05:03pm | 27/01/11

      I think the Aboriginal Population are coming to the realisation that even if the white man never arrived 250+ years ago, teh couldn’t live in a bubble forever, and out of all the people that could have come here, they did alright. Sure we made mistakes and we still are. But really what needs to happen - and I think everyone knows this - the Aborigines taht choose to live a traditional outback lifestyle, should just eb left alone completely. Whatever problems they have out tere are there’s. Our meddling just doesn’t seem to help at all. And we should welcome with open arms any that choose to integrate into modern Western Urban Civilization - I say western , because Sydney, Melboure, Brisbane etc could just as well be Stockholm, Dallas, Toronto etc. Anywhere in the world that a native population exists there will be an issue with traditional lifestyles versus modern consumption lifestyles. The two just can’t mix in any way shape of form, and so as such should be segregated. Flame away.

      Reply

    • Anon says:

      06:02pm | 27/01/11

      For consenting adults, that’s fine, but what about (I know, it’s cliched) the children?  For example, what if a “traditional” Aboriginal toddler had cancer, or lost an arm in an accident, or rolled into a fire and needed specialist burns treatment, or needed a kidney transplant, etc?  Would we say “no” and condemn that child to misery and quite possibly death, just because they were born into the wrong caste of people?

      What if an Aboriginal child had the dream of being PM, or CEO of BP, or an airplane pilot someday?  If his or her parents decided to “go traditional,” that would mean an end to that Australian child’s dreams, because he or she would never go to school, never learn English, etc.

      I can’t imagine a childhood where I wasn’t encouraged to dream big dreams - it’s what motivated so much of my early life, the chance to “get out” and “be somebody”.  I can’t imagine that Aboriginal children are intrinsically any different in that regard.

      Nothing we’ve tried so far has worked. We can either keep trying new things till we find something that DOES work (Thanks, Twiggy!) or we can give up. I don’t think we’ve tried nearly enough different things yet to give up - at least not in good conscience.

    • Stephy says:

      07:08pm | 27/01/11

      Anon, your sentiments are dangerously close to those that created the “Stolen Generation”. It’s not the so called priveliged whites to choose what the children should grow up to be. It’s the parents. If the parents want to go traditional and raise their children that way, that;s their choice, and not for us to “strongly recommend” (in other words, force) them to change their minds. All we can do is present the benefits of what we can offer and let the parents - aided by the opinions of their children - make the decision.

      This also goes for “what if a child injures him/herself?”. It’s not for us to snatch the child out of the parents arms and treat the child how we feel they need to be treated, it’s the parents job to seek medical attention for their child. We, of course, should not be predispositioned to say “No” to medical treatment. But we can’t force them to do something they wouldn’t want to do.

      And why limit your sentiments just to the Aborigines? There are other cultures out there that the parents cannot offer the same luxuries to their children that we can. Should we go to Africa, or South America, and take the children that wouldn’t have a priveliged lifestyle? Do we bring them back here and raise them to “be all they can be”? How far does your ideaology extend?

    • Anon says:

      08:45pm | 27/01/11

      “And why limit your sentiments just to the Aborigines? There are other cultures out there ...”

      Because Aborigines are my countrymen - they are my fellow Australians.  Africans and South Americans are not.  It is up to their fellow Africans and fellow South Americans to help them.

      As a proud Australian I support measures to see ALL Australians have a chance to live up to their potential.  The thought of consigning innocent Aboriginal children with unknown potential to a lifetime of illiteracy, poor health and poverty at their parents’ whim, while we would call this “abuse” if a non-Aboriginal Australian did it, makes me both sad and angry.

      I’m just not willing to write off an entire race as beyond hope, yet.

    • Hardlydavidson says:

      10:07pm | 27/01/11

      Indeed there was scarcely a flag to be seen but I felt more Australian on that boat than peas in fried rice.

      Yeah, but I wish peas were never taken out of fried rice. Sounds familiar?

      Reply
 
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