Public policy and aboriginal population mobility: insights from the Katherine region,Northern Territory |
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| Authors: | John Taylor |
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| Institution: | Australian National University, North Australia Research Unit , PO Box 41321, Casuarina, NT 0811, Australia |
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| Abstract: | In spite of the potential influence on the mobility and location of Aboriginal population implicit in the formulation and conduct of Aboriginal affairs policy, little attempt has been made to evaluate or monitor the extent of this relationship. In recent years the town of Katherine in the Northern Territory has been the focus of government efforts to encourage and facilitate Aboriginal employment in the construction of the new RAAF Tindal airbase and associated urban development. This paper describes the pattern and character of Aboriginal mobility induced by these efforts and concludes that the effect of government policy has been to stimulate long‐distance migration from other urban areas. Surrounding rural communities have been largely by‐passed and a transfer of rural population in search of jobs has not occurred. |
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