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Better or Worse for Aboriginal People – last 40 years

6 Feb 2012

Q. And thinking about the last 40 years, do you think Australia’s Aboriginal people are now better off or worse off in terms of the following?

Total better Total worse

/same

A lot better A little better About the same A little worse A lot worse Don’t know
Health 69% 26% 29% 40% 19% 4% 3% 5%
Access to education 77% 19% 42% 35% 14% 3% 2% 5%
Access to jobs 69% 26% 31% 38% 20% 3% 3% 6%
Respect for Aboriginal culture 66% 29% 30% 36% 20% 5% 4% 6%
Control of traditional lands (land rights) 63% 29% 31% 32% 21% 5% 3% 8%
Discrimination against Aboriginal people 56% 37% 23% 33% 28% 5% 4% 6%

A majority believe that Australia’s Aboriginal people are now better off or worse off on all issues measured.

Access to education was most likely to be considered better – 42% think it is a lot better and 35% a little better.

Discrimination against Aboriginal people was the issue least likely to have improved for Aboriginal people – 56% think it is better and 37% worse or the same.

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