Premier fears native eye health scheme

Press, 20 April 1982, Page 8

Premier fears native eye health scheme

NZPA Brisbane The Queensland Premier (Mr Joh Bjelke-Petersen) fears that activists may again use a proposed Aboriginal health scheme for political indoctrination instead of innoculation. Mr Bjelke-Petersen, who recently told, the state Parliament that the -Aboriginal land rights campaign was a Communist plotj said the health schetfie to treat the eye disease trachoma — had been used for political propaganda 1 in 1977. “We are naturally concerned : anout Aboriginal

health and we want to assist ... but in the past the scheme was used for political purposes to indoctinate people at the various settlements,” Mr Bjelke-Petersen said. “We will wait and see who is on the health team and how it is organised, but I certainly have no objection to the proposal — provided it •is a medical and not a political exercise.” In November, 1977, a team of eye specialists who had been treating Queensland Aboriginals for trachoma deferred the programmee

because of pressure from the Premier. Mr Bjelke-Petersen said that two members of the team were “political activists.” The men had used their position to persuade Aboriginals to vote Labour in state and Federal elections, he said. The reintroduction of the health scheme was mooted at last week’s National Aboriginal Conference in Brisbane. N.A.C. delegates said they believed Mr Bjelke-Petersen would oppose the scheme.