'Whenever the Australian public—particularly politicians and bureaucrats—think of Aboriginal affairs and matters relating to Aboriginal people they automatically think of welfare.
'That is a situation of dependency where Aboriginal people are essentially dependent on the majority of society for their needs and wants.
'Sad to say, this is in my opinion, the context in which we Aboriginal people basically view ourselves.
'We are, it seems, and always have been, encompassed in the welfare system since the arrival of Captain Cook.
'This must change, and I will suggest some principles for a total re-organization and redirection of Aboriginal affairs that can project Aboriginal people out of this degrading and self-perpetuating dependency welfare syndrome.'
(Source : University of New England)
