New code to stamp out exploitation
of indigenous artists.

Whilst in the U.K. the derogatory term half-caste has almost faded from view in the media, Australia continues to use it. A search of internet news sites will pull up countless stories about Aborigines that include the out-of-date word.

Now a new voluntary code of practice for galleries and retailers of indigenous art in Melbourne and passed by the city's council, is leading the way by attempting to stamp out derogatory language such as Abo and half-caste.

The code addresses the unethical behaviour that has dogged indigenous art since the 1970's.

Written by Sydney lawyer Terri Janke in consultation with the council's Indigenous Arts Advisory Panel, its scope includes authentication, copyright and artist payments.

It requires dealers to develop relationships with indigenous artists that are 'based on trust, respect, mutual understanding and responsibility'.

The code attempts to stamp out exploitation of indigenous artists, such as paying for work with alcohol or drugs, and operating sweatshops.

Careful use of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags and acknowledging country and traditional owners at gallery openings are also required.

No forged or fake indigenous art can be sold on the internet, and names, logos and biographical information from Aboriginal arts centres must remain the property of the owners.

It also encourages Melbourne CBD galleries and retailers to promote southeastern Australian indigenous artists, whose contribution is often overlooked.

Breaching the code could lead to subscribers being stripped of their council status, with the possibility of further action by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Consumer Affairs Victoria.

The council's decision puts pressure on the federal Government, which is expected to announce in the next two weeks its plans for a parliamentary inquiry into the exploitation of Aboriginal artists.

Aborigines continue to suffer in Australia and a senior minister recently recommended installing white administrators in some of Australia's more troubled Aboriginal communities, re-igniting argument about a problem that has divided the country for decades.

Tony Abbott, the health minister, said the 500,000-strong indigenous population was falling so far behind the mainstream community that only a return to the 'paternalistic' government policies of the 1950s would save them.

Mr Abbott's speech was condemned by Aboriginal leaders, welfare workers and the Labour opposition.

They accuse him of wanting to return to the racist policies of the past - when mixed-race aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their parents and indigenous people were denied the right to vote.

Chris Evans, the opposition indigenous affairs spokesman, said: "What we know of 200 years of Australian history is that paternalism didn't work.

'I think Aboriginal people would be very concerned that we're going to have another experiment enacted upon them by the government.'

But the fiercest criticism came from Julia Gillard, Labour's health spokesman.

She said it was not Mr Abbott's place to lecture Aborigines on the state of their health: 'Tony Abbott... should be taking responsibility for the fact that after 10 long years of the [John] Howard government we haven't made any difference to the huge gap in life expectancy between indigenous Australians and other Australians.'

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