The name is absent

Clearly, there is a boundary from without operating to locate
Aborigines in a ’world’ which presupposes a structural pluralism
which, in practice, is not countenanced by the policies of the
dominant group.                                                         *

The problem inherent in the conceptualisation of policies
of sclf-managcmcnt∕sclf-determination for a minority group by

if such a conceptualisation is accepted

by the minority group and put into practice, efforts at real

self-determination (in this case including the cultivation of
Aboriginal identity) lay themselves open to being labelled by
the dominant groups as attempts to establish a ’race within a
race ’.

The policy of self-determination∕self-management cannot
become real so long as attempts to achieve this end are characterised
in this way.

Government policy approves self-direction; the reality,
however, is that efforts aimed at bringing this about produce
a situation where the dominant group is no longer dominant, a
situation that is resisted at all costs.

The ’solution’ to the Aboriginal ’problem’ may be categorised
within a social pathology model that further damages Aboriginal
efforts towards regaining a measure of autonomy over their lives.
This model may be ’explained’ in the following way:

The problem is too difficult for white people.
Let Aboriginal people take responsibility for their
problem. If/when Aboriginal people fail, it will
be seen as their failure to take responsibility.
If they succeed, they will also fail, for they
will create a 'race within a race' which cannot
be tolerated.

The Commission of Inquiry into Poverty Report^ A Study of Aboriginal
'Poverty in Two Country Towns (1975), supported the view that a
social pathology model is being created.

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