Have you ever wondered why the billions of dollars so far spent have not closed the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians?
Are you interested in the effects of the racial distinctions existing in Australia and in the foreshadowed changes in the Australian Constitution?
And do you wonder how the descendants of the oldest living culture on earth could live in a more dignified way than currently?
Journalist and author Jaap Vogel takes you on a journey through outback Australia including Alice Springs, Uluru and Kakadu. Vivid authentic stories are complemented by relevant information which frame and enlighten the different topics approached in this book, relating to the often subhuman conditions in the remote Aboriginal communities. Wake Up Time shows that two factors are in the way of finding permanent solutions: The multi billion dollar Royalties Maze and legal racism.
Jaap Vogel says it’s WAKE UP TIME
Jaap Vogel confronts a strong social issue in central Australia as he talks about his book ‘Wake Up Time’ with Ocean.
Posted by InHouse Publishing on Tuesday, January 5, 2016
| “Your report provides a valuable insight into the operational culture that exists in remote regions across Australia”. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, 16/4/2015 |
Wake up Time is sold out as full colour print edition. Till the follow up edition will be ready, you can download the entire book for free as PDF. Click here
Book description
The stories in Wake Up Time are based on my observations gathered during extensive travels through the outback, in particular during a journey in 2013 to Alice Springs, Uluru, Willowra, Ali Curung and Kakadu.
In addition, I analysed a selection of relevant documents ranging from newspaper articles to official annual reports to complement the observations.
The main question of this book is: why have the billions of dollars spent on Aboriginal issues not closed the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and what should be done about this?
Wake Up Time is the story of a journey through some remote areas of the Northern Territory, as well as an analysis of the confronting, sad, scary and puzzling life of Indigenous Australians in remote communities.
Wake Up Time questions whether two major issues are in the way of finding solutions to the problems in remote communities.
The first is the system of compensations and royalties payments by mining companies. Wake Up Time shows not only that it exists, but also the enormous size of it. Billions of dollars are involved.The federal government, aboriginal organisations and mining corporations play a central role in these payments and in the equitable distribution of the funds. Despite its size, this system has not lead to acceptable outcomes on ground by any measure.
The second is the question of whether the present legal distinction between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is beneficial. This policy appears to be a hangover from the days of the White Australia policy, something still ingrained in legislation that is counterproductive for all Australians. Has our appreciation and support for an ancient and very much alive Indigenous culture led us to an acceptance of inappropriate legal distinctions and exceptions regarding race?
Finally, Wake Up Time questions the implications of these to issues on the proposed changes to the Australian Constitution, to be decided in a referendum due in 2016. [NOTE: this was written in 2016. As we know now, in 2024, this referendum had been postponed till October 2024; the ‘Voice’ proposal was rejected with 60 to 40%].
If the narrative illuminates some of these matters then the title of this book will be justified, indicating that it is indeed time to wake up!
Jaap Vogel
PS 10 year after its publication, none of the main issues raised in Wake Up Time have been resolved. A follow up of Wake Up Time is foreseen for 2024, focusing on discrimination, land rights and the situation in similar countries overseas. Suggestions and tips welcome at jaap@wakeuptime.com.au