W(h)ither remote Indigenous economic development?

As 2011 unfolded, some reflexive summer copy appeared in ‘The Australian’ on disappointingly slow progress in Indigenous development in remote Australia. For several years now ‘The Australian’ has taken a lead role in advocating for intervention, championing the decisive actions taken in 2007 in the Northern Territory under the policy umbrella of a ‘national emergency’, and strongly editorialising and commentating on the need for forms of individual responsibility, private home ownership, education, employment and business development that are regarded as the cornerstones of Australian economic progress.