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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/23/five-questions-to-daniel-james-on-the-budget-and-indigenous-health

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Five questions to Daniel James: on the budget and Indigenous health Five questions to Daniel James: on the budget and Indigenous health
(3 months later)
Each week, a new guest hosts the @IndigenousX twitter account to discuss topics of interest as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. In partnership with IndigenousX, we’re inviting its weekly host to tell us about who they are, what issues they’re passionate about, and what they have in store for us during their upcoming week.Each week, a new guest hosts the @IndigenousX twitter account to discuss topics of interest as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. In partnership with IndigenousX, we’re inviting its weekly host to tell us about who they are, what issues they’re passionate about, and what they have in store for us during their upcoming week.
Tell us about yourselfTell us about yourself
My name is My name is Daniel James, I am a Yorta Yorta man residing in marvellous Melbourne. I am web developer, social media manager, podcaster and a advocate for my people and the unprivileged generally. We live in a great country, but one that is under threat through growing inequality, isolationism and the undermining of our democracy by the remnants of a failed class system.
Daniel James, I am a Yorta Yorta man residing in marvellous Melbourne. I am web developer, social media manager, I recently and needlessly lost my father Billy to lung cancer. It could have been prevented if he like many others had heeded the public health warnings of Quit, the Cancer Council and the multitude of campaigns to try to give up an addiction more powerful than heroin. 65 is too young to lose someone of his calibre. If you are a smoker please do your best to give up if not for yourself then for your family and loved ones. There is plenty of help available.
podcaster and a advocate for my people and the unprivileged generally. We live What do you plan to focus on during your week as host of @IndigenousX?
in a great country, but one that is under threat through growing inequality, The federal budget has left so many in a spin so I will continue to explore the issues that impact on Aboriginal Australians and try to be as inclusive as possible of people on both sides of the political spectrum. I will also highlight the great work being undertaken by those who work tirelessly to improve outcomes for what remains the most disadvantaged group of Australians in a society. I hope to have a laugh too.
isolationism and the undermining of our democracy by the remnants of a failed class system. What issues are you most passionate about and why?
I recently Given my recent personal experience I have a renewed passion for improving health outcomes for our people. We have lost too many great people too young to be complacent for a moment. There needs to a greater push to improve health systems and to highlight personal responsibility in the decisions we make that affect our health and the health of those around us.
and needlessly lost my father Billy to lung cancer. It could have been I’m also an ardent supporter of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders that have an entrepreneurial spirit and improve outcomes for their community by simply being the best they can be.
prevented if he like many others had heeded the public health warnings of Quit, Who are your role models, and why?
the Cancer Council and the multitude of campaigns to try to give up an There are too many to mention but obviously, my dad Billy was my moral, social and political compass. He had the double whammy of being both Aboriginal and a Vietnam veteran. He served his country with distinction and loved his family without compromise.
addiction more powerful than heroin. 65 is too young to lose someone of his Politically, my hero is Paul Keating. His reaction to the High Court’s Mabo decision in the face of fierce opposition shows that to be considered a great leader sometimes all you have to do is merely the right thing. Keating did that with the Native Title Act of 1993 and in doing so dragged the country out of a culture of denial in relation to its first peoples.
calibre. If you are a smoker please do your best to give up if not for yourself What are your hopes for the future?
then for your family and loved ones. There is plenty of help available. I look forward to the day when we forget there were ever gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians across the whole gamut of social indicators. I also look forward to Richmond winning a premiership, but I’m resigned to the fact that this may never happen.
What do you plan to focus on
during your week as host of @IndigenousX?
The federal budget has left so
many in a spin so I will continue to explore the issues that impact on
Aboriginal Australians and try to be as inclusive as possible of people on both
sides of the political spectrum. I will also highlight the great work being
undertaken by those who work tirelessly to improve outcomes for what remains
the most disadvantaged group of Australians in a society. I hope to have a
laugh too.
What issues are you most
passionate about and why?
Given my recent personal
experience I have a renewed passion for improving health outcomes for our
people. We have lost too many great people too young to be complacent for a
moment. There needs to a greater push to improve health systems and to
highlight personal responsibility in the decisions we make that affect our
health and the health of those around us.
I’m also an ardent supporter of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders that have an entrepreneurial spirit and
improve outcomes for their community by simply being the best they can be.
Who are your role models, and
why?
There
are too many to mention but obviously, my dad Billy was my moral, social and
political compass. He had the double whammy of being both Aboriginal and a
Vietnam veteran. He served his country with distinction and loved his family
without compromise.
Politically,
my hero is Paul Keating. His reaction to the High Court’s Mabo decision in the
face of fierce opposition shows that to be considered a great leader sometimes
all you have to do is merely the right thing. Keating did that with the Native
Title Act of 1993 and in doing so dragged the country out of a culture of
denial in relation to its first peoples.
What are your hopes for the
future?
I
look forward to the day when we forget there were ever gaps between Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal Australians across the whole gamut of social indicators. I also
look forward to Richmond winning a premiership, but I’m resigned to the fact
that this may never happen.