Without ownership over our land, our economic prosperity eventually goes overseas.

As a country how are we going to grow and develop if the two major parties continue to sell off our country to the highest bidder?

With a growing and escalating national debt, we are now working, drinking, travelling, eating, driving and using energy from assets and services that are owned by foreign interests.

While the major parties continue to sell off Australia, the federal member for Kennedy Bob Katter recently moved to protect our strategic national assets like farmland and water from foreign interests.

Our federal representative is fighting to halt the sale of prime agricultural land to foreign interests.

Mr Katter also scrutinises the lack of long-term vision by governments of both stripe today.

Without independent representation in the north, the major parties will continue to cash in on key public assets and strategic land.

The end result will be to leave Australia SOLD.

G. Tipping

Mount Isa

Despite living in a wealthy nation Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples still experience health, education and life expectancy outcomes that are more likely to be seen in the developing world than in Australia.

The imprisonment rate for adults is 13 times higher than non-indigenous populations.

And for juveniles they are 24 times more likely to be in detention.

The Greens support approaches that empower and invest in ATSI communities to create community driven solutions. 

To this end the Greens plan to invest $556 million in funding for key services.

These include $40 million for projects to address incarceration rates.

There is $30 million to advance the national conversation on sovereignty and treaties

There is also $15 million which will refund the National congress of Australian First Peoples. 

These measures are sure to be welcomed by the indigenous population of the electorate of Kennedy who make up 13.3% of its population.

The Australian Greens are committed to the right of ATSI peoples to self determination. 

This process must start by addressing Australia's unfinished business.

We need the national conversation about sovereignty and treaties, justice targets and meaningful representation within our national government. 

This will also address our international obligations which stem from Australia’s endorsement in 2009 of the United Nations declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Valerie Weier

Malanda

Greens candidate for Kennedy

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Letters commenting on election issues must bear the name and full address of the writer(s). Responsibility for election comment in this issue is accepted by Fairfax Qld/NT group managing editor Brad Cooper, 58-68 Delancey Street, Ormiston, Qld. Writers should disclose any alliance with political or community organisations and include their telephone number for verification. Election candidates should declare themselves as such when submitting letters.