Queen urges Australia to do more for Aborigines

CANBERRA - The Queen has praised Australia for its international leadership, but urged the country to do more at home to alleviate poverty and to help disadvantaged Aborigines.

At a state dinner at Australia's Parliament House last night, the Queen said Australia had stepped forward as an international source of strength and leadership in the fight for democracy and against global terror.

The Queen, on her 15th visit to Australia to open the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, used her speech to touch on Australia's economic prosperity and the need to combat racism.

"By virtue of hard work and a competitive spirit, Australia is enjoying an era of unprecedented prosperity. Yet the need to ensure that this prosperity touches the lives of all Australians is as powerful as ever," she said.

Australia had thrived on diversity, she said, adding that Australia recognised the need for communities to transcend race, religion and culture, although more was need to help Aborigines.

"For many indigenous Australians, there remains much to be done. But I believe the unique contribution of indigenous Australia to the nation is better understood now than ever before," she said.

A report by charity group Oxfam, released on Sunday, said Australia lagged comparable developed nations such as Canada and New Zealand with the health of its indigenous people.

It found aborigines were likely to die 20 years younger than non-aboriginal Australians, with one in three indigenous men expected to die before the age of 55.

Australia's 458,500 Aborigines account for about 2.3 per cent of the 20 million population. Many live in remote communities with little access to jobs, good housing, health and education services.

About 200 Aborigines have taken advantage of the Commonwealth Games to highlight their plight, erecting a big "Stolenwealth Games" sign at a protest camp in central Melbourne.

The camp is about 600 metres from Government House, where the Queen will stay after opening the Games on Wednesday night.

Camp organisers say the queen must tackle the issue of compensation for aboriginal people.

- REUTERS