Prisoners of the undeclared Frontier Wars were usually kept alive and healthy so they were useful as labourers for the troopers and settlers. The practice of kidnapping and forced labour (slavery) of First Nations people was known as ‘Blackbirding’ and was a profitable business for some early settlers.
Australia is closely following the USA in its private prison policies, and the mainstream media continues to fuel an effort to lock up more of its disadvantaged citizens, especially First Nations people. Already, we are aware of the pressures put on the police to meet charge targets for misdemeanors. Here is a glimpse at where we are heading.
Fueled by racist right-wing politicians and the economic interests of some of the largest corporations on the planet, the prison-industrial complex looks set to continue expanding well into the future.
When we talk about Aboriginal health, we often talk as if the problem is "Being Aboriginal" - but in reality, "Being Aboriginal" is a marker for having experienced racism, discrimination, colonisation and genocide.
