ABORIGINAL COMMISSIONER BILL JONAS HOLD HIS REPORT DURING MEDIA CONFERENCE IN SYDNEY, 2001-03-29 (photo)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Commissioner Bill Jonas holds a copy of his report during a media conference in Sydney March 29, 2001. Jonas said that Australia is failing in its attempts at reconciliation with disadvantaged Aborigines, and that no real progress will be made until the government apologises for past wrongs. The conservative government's "practical reconciliation" approach is failing Australia's Aborigines, who make up 300,000 of the 19 million population but who suffer disproportionately high levels of incarceration, unemployment and health and social dysfunction. DG/CC