David Hughes: What is ‘Indigenous policy’?

We increasingly use ‘catch all’ terms such as ‘Women’s Policy’, ‘Youth Policy’ and ‘Indigenous Policy’, when in reality most areas of public policy impact these groups.

A rising star in the Australian Federal parliament, Zoe McKenzie expressed her frustration the other week at the use of the term ‘Women’s Policy’. She has a point: it is far too simplistic (and even demeaning) to package up childcare measures and women's workforce participation measures and think you have ticked a box to satisfy female voters. In reality, most women care just as much about tax policy as men, and fathers care just as much about childcare subsidies as mothers.