But causing and sustaining many of these problems is the loss of dignity and specifically the loss of self reliance by individuals and their communities. And the promotion of this last virtue is a key goal of this Government. We are gaining new understanding of the links between economic and social engagement. The McClure Report ranks paid employment as a major source of self esteem. Without it, people become disengaged from or fail to develop employment, family and community networks.
Material poverty is compounded by poverty of purpose.
And as the report makes clear this often leads to physical and psychological ill health to life opportunities being reduced both for parents and their children. Indigenous leaders are saying the same thing. Evelyn Scott regards welfare dependency as almost totally destroying Aboriginal culture . Peter Yu asserts that communities are being crushed with the weight of the welfare economy . And Noel Pearson argues persuasively that the scale and nature of indigenous problems changed dramatically after passive welfare become the economic foundation of their communities .