The re-elected Labor Party launched its second term with a thumping win. A record breaking 93 seats in the House of Representatives out of a possible 151 seats. The Prime Minister's victory speech was notable for its acknowledgement of country and reference to "A culture that has known and cared for this great continent for 65,000 years".
It was heartening to hear our Prime Minister's resolve to promote the values of fairness, equality, respect for one another, and opportunity for all; "Courage in adversity and kindness to those in need".
He referenced Australians as strong and fair, resilient and generous and emphasised how we now have the opportunity to build a society in this mould, together. At last, the promise of true moral and ethical, democratic leadership in Australian government.
"Every Australian must have the opportunity to be their best" he said.
This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. During the campaign, the Minister, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, said she is ambitious for Indigenous Australians and that is wonderful to hear.
Who are Aboriginal people? The diversity is immense - and includes more than 120,000 people living below the poverty line. A generous assessment is around 30 per cent of our households. Poverty traps people in a cycle of powerlessness, through low income, poor nutrition and housing, as well as barriers to participation in society, lifelong learning, sport and recreation.
At the same time, we have incredible Indigenous highflyers in media, the arts, business, government, universities. The diversity explains why a one-size fits all approach does not produce results. And why major initiatives designed to bring us into the nation state, also seem to divide us from other Australians.
It is safe to say that, given our history, every Aboriginal person has poverty in their background. Not only lifting ourselves up by our bootstraps, we also got a break somewhere, somehow, in the land of "the fair go".
For those below the poverty line, there are days without food, milk and nappies, clothing, access to washing facilities, medical and dental services, employment training, jobs and transport. Days of deep despair.
Aboriginal Australians are not alone in this. 13.4 per cent of the population, that is 3.3 million Australians, including 761,000 children were living below the poverty line in 2022.
Meanwhile, many Australian youth living with grinding poverty are acting out, or acting up. The only solution offered is to incarcerate them - does no-one understand the impact of poverty? We need to look to innovative models such as impact investment in families who may be searching for a way out of the ghetto.
A generous state can achieve a great deal. Finland's bold experiment of a guaranteed universal basic income, giving the poor more flexibility and autonomy, showed how valuing their citizens led to an increase in paid work and importantly, ambition and wellbeing.
The UK government's prioritisation of the needs of poverty-stricken individuals in all government activities aims to address marginalisation and improve living standards in regional areas struggling with poverty.
It takes so much more than being told you are a citizen and equal to all others, to understand that you are valued. Being valued means the nation seeks to invest in your future. The welcome rhetoric of a newly elected government now needs to be backed up by research-based and targetted action.
We have a way to go in Australia, to embrace all our people and ensure their futures, to build a more cohesive society. There is some hope for this new government. Can they now resolve to take up the challenge to obliterate poverty?
Dr Victoria Grieves Williams is Warraimaay from the midnorth coast of NSW and an historian.
