Long to see PM over a new deal
Lincoln Wright - The Herald Sun
29 July 2007
ESSENDON great Michael Long has backed the Federal Government's intervention in remote communities, while calling for a new deal for Aborigines.
Long has revealed plans for a summit of indigenous leaders to claim ownership of the crisis in Aboriginal health and education.
He also wants to speak to Prime Minister John Howard about the new direction.
"It is not about Liberal and Labor, this is about getting it right," Long said.
He said Mr Howard's decision to use the army and teams of doctors to end child sexual abuse and alcoholism in Aboriginal communities was "very important".
"But there still needs to be a coordinated approach, not just by the Government, but by indigenous parties and other groups across Australia," he said.
"I haven't spoken to him (Mr Howard) about this. But I'll have to chat to him, to look at the next stage, so that we all work together on this."
Long said indigenous people also needed to come together and discuss things.
"You have to drive it, to make change, to get it right," he said.
"I want to talk to a couple of stakeholders, maybe (hold) a national summit with representatives from across Australia -- people of enormous knowledge -- to develop an action plan."
Long runs the AFL's indigenous program and fought racism in football during his career between 1989 and 2001.
In 2004, he famously set out to walk to Canberra from Melbourne to tell Mr Howard what he thought was happening to Aborigines.
Long said the summit would look at basic issues and develop a long-term approach.
"We just can't have the planning day to day, we have to look ahead five or 10 years," he said.
"It needs a body to drive it. . . or we're not going to get anywhere."
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