In May150,000 marched in support of aborigines

Australia has said it will restrict visits by UN experts to the country in response to a series of damning reports.

The latest report on Australia comes from the UN's economic, social and cultural rights committee.

The committee expressed its deep concern about what it describes as the comparative disadvantage suffered by aborigines in the fields of employment, housing, health and education.

Reconciliation damaged

Aborigines were kept in chains in the last century

The human rights experts also made clear their regret over recent amendments to Australia's land laws.

They believe that these have damaged the process of reconciliation between aboriginal groups and the government.

The committee also attacked Australia for failing to protect tenants from eviction.

It noted that a number of forced evictions have been reported especially as a result of the preparations for the forthcoming Olympic games.

Timor role praised

Not all of the report's findings are negative.

Australia wins praise for the leadership role it has played by providing economic and humanitarian assistance to East Timor.

The 'stolen generation' say they were robbed of their culture

But the latest criticisms are likely to further incense the Australian Government, which has just decided to impose restrictions on future visits by UN human rights experts.

The government in Canberra took the action in response to two earlier UN reports which were strongly critical of Australia's treatment of aborigines and asylum-seekers.

UN officials deny that Australia has been unfairly singled out, saying the same standards are being applied to all member states.

However, UN officials have expressed their support for reforms in the current human rights system, which can lead to several committees tackling the same topics but from different angles.