White solution to black problem spells failure

Letter to the editor - published in SMH 09/08/2011


The Strategic Review of Indigenous Expenditure confirms there is very little to show for the $3.5 billion a year spent on indigenous programs (''Billions spent but Aborigines little better off, says report'', August 8).


This is a travesty for both the intended recipients of the programs and for the taxpayer.


It's time for governments to admit they don't know what will work when it comes to improving the lot of indigenous Australians and start to use randomised trials of selected social policies to test what works and what does not.


Until this happens very little will change but much will continue to be wasted.

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