Newsletter date: 20 August 2012
Contents:
* Sovereign Union: Townsville professor blasts Australia over land rights and Intervention at international conference
* NIT: It’s a resounding no to Mal Brough
* Duncan Kennedy, BBC: Debate over Australia welfare 'credit card'
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Peter Robson: NT elections: some progressive choices among law and order slugfest
* Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation: Federal Court highlights FMG liability at Solomon
* Background to the Aboriginal sovereignty movement
* Sovereign Union: Gugada Embassy to be established in Pt Augusta [SA]
* West Australian: Protesters invade Premier's home [WA]
* Background to the Aboriginal tent embassies
* Rachel Siewert: Greens to examine funding for petrol sniffing programs
* Greens MPs: Acting on Muckaty before the Federal Court challenge is complete
* Background to the proposed Muckaty nuclear waste dump
* Other articles
* SOVEREIGN UNION: TOWNSVILLE PROFESSOR BLASTS AUSTRALIA OVER LAND RIGHTS AND INTERVENTION AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
- News
Sovereign Union: Townsville professor blasts Australia over land rights and Intervention at international conference
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/content/townsville-professor-blasts-a...
17 Aug 12: "An international conference in South Africa last month heard an Aboriginal woman professor from Townsville, Gracelyn Smallwood, blast Australia over land rights and the Northern Territory intervention. She addressed the prestigious annual international conference of the International Association for Critical Realism, and received standing ovations for her three presentations. She told me in an interview for Noosa Community Radio she expects her three talks, based on her PhD thesis to go feral internationally." By Diet Simon
- Related Audio
Audioboo: "Horrified about Australia's deep dark secret" - Professor Gracelyn Smallwood
http://audioboo.fm/boos/923012-horrified-about-australia-s-deep-dark-secret
"Professor Gracelyn Smallwood said in an interview for Noosa Community Radio she expects her three talks, based on her PhD thesis to go feral internationally. The thesis is to be published by a London publisher Routledge "because it was too hot a potato for Australian publishers" she approached."
Audioboo: "If we didn't collect enough copper wire and bottles to sell, we starved" - Professor Gracelyn Smallwood
http://audioboo.fm/boos/923019-if-we-didn-t-collect-enough-copper-wire-a...
Audioboo: "Australia is a racist society and we cannot reconcile without the truth" - Professor Gracelyn Smallwood
http://audioboo.fm/boos/923028-australia-is-a-racist-society-and-we-cann...
* NIT: IT'S A RESOUNDING NO TO MAL BROUGH
- News
National Indigenous Times: It’s a resounding no to Mal Brough
http://www.nit.com.au/your-say.html
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1663-its-a-resounding-no-to-mal-brough.html
19 Aug 12: "Leaders across the nation don't want architect of Intervention as Minister. By National Indigenous Times reporter Geoff Bagnall. Indigenous Australia has spoken. A poll by the National Indigenous Times of 30 leaders from around the country have delivered reactions ranging from horror to dismay at the prospect Mal Brough, the former Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister during the John Howard reign, might be reinstated to the portfolio in the event a Tony Abbott-led Coalition was elected to government at next year's Federal election."
* DUNCAN KENNEDY, BBC: DEBATE OVER AUSTRALIA WELFARE 'CREDIT CARD'
- News
BBC: Debate over Australia welfare 'credit card'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18951205
20 Aug 12: "The Australian government is rolling out a radical new way of paying welfare benefits that may be instructive for other countries around the world. ... "People stare when I bring out my Basics card," said Barbara Shaw ... When the government announced it was expanding the scheme to much of Australia, it prompted street protests in one low-income Sydney suburb. Paddy Gibson, the university researcher, joined the activists against the cards. "We think that the imposition of income management has the potential to make that person's life harder, to make that person's life worse," he said." By Duncan Kennedy
* BACKGROUND TO 'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:
Last updated: 19 August 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-stronger-futures-new-nt...
* BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
Last updated: 1 August 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-...
* PETER ROBSON: NT ELECTIONS: SOME PROGRESSIVE CHOICES AMONG LAW AND ORDER SLUGFEST
- News
Green Left: NT elections: some progressive choices among law and order slugfest
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/51919
18 Aug 12: "Anti-nuclear activist Matt Haubrick is standing for the Greens in Fong Lim. He said he is running to raise awareness about the federal government’s Muckaty waste dump plan. ... George Pascoe is a Maningrrda Aboriginal man is standing for the Greens in Arafura. Like First Nations candidate for Blaine Daniel Fejo, Pascoe said he is running to protest the major parties’ support for the NT intervention and Stronger Futures laws that legislate away Aboriginal rights for the next decade. ... Bilingual education advocate Kendall Trudgen has spent most of his life in Arnhem Land. Trudgen is running for the seat of Nhulunbuy." By Peter Robson, Darwin
See:
WGAR News: Aboriginal Northern Territory (NT) Intervention and the NT Elections (18 Aug 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/08/18/wgar-news-aboriginal-northern-territo...
"Contents:
* Amy McQuire: All eyes turn to bush seats as NT election gets underway
* Daniel Fejo: First Nations NT candidate: 'Things have been taken away'
* NIT: Japarta Ryan’s plan to stop Intervention
* NT Greens: Barbara Shaw stands up for Alice Springs
* Press TV: Indigenous intervention dominates Australia NT election campaign"
* YINDJIBARNDI ABORIGINAL CORPORATION: FEDERAL COURT HIGHLIGHTS FMG LIABILITY AT SOLOMON
Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation: Federal Court highlights FMG liability at Solomon
http://yindjibarndi.org.au/yindjibarndi/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/12081...
16 Aug 12: "The Federal Court has declared that a determination of native title in favour of the Yindjibarndi People over the land affected by Fortescue Metals Group’s (FMG) Solomon Project may expose FMG to a liability to pay compensation to the Yindjibarndi People for any impairment of their native title rights and for any social disruption caused by FMG’s project.
In a decision handed down on 20 July 2012, allowing FMG to be joined as a respondent to the 2003 native title determination application made by the Yindjibarndi, Justice McKerracher said: ... "
* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT:
Last updated: 19 August 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* SOVEREIGN UNION: GUGADA EMBASSY TO BE ESTABLISHED IN PT AUGUSTA [SA]
- Media Release
Sovereign Union: Gugada Embassy to be established in Pt Augusta
Gugada Original Sovereign Tribal Federation
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/content/gugada-embassy-be-established...
15 Aug 12: "At 10:00am today (15th August 2012) in Gladstone Square, Pt Augusta, South Australia, the Gugada Original Sovereign Tribal Federation will be establishing a new embassy.
"We, the Gugada Original Sovereign Tribal Federation have not, as yet, acquiesced Our Sovereignty," said Sandra Dingamen.
"In the spirit of the 40 year anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra, it has been decided, in the interest of the law of this land, that we, the Gugada Original Sovereign Tribal Federation, say no to the Constitutional Reform and acknowledge that it is the time for Respect and Recognition and Treaty."
"The way forward is not a tokenistic inclusion of Aboriginal people in the Australian Constitution, which has underpinned a political system founded on the fiction of Terra Nullius, but through the recognition that Aboriginal sovereignty has never been ceded, and the development of treaty based on this recognition.""
- Related News
ABC: Indigenous protesters urge sovereignty treaty
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-16/indigenous-protesters-urge-soverei...
16 Aug 12: "About 20 activists sat in Port Augusta's Gladstone Square yesterday, to protest against the inclusion of Aboriginal people in the Australian Constitution. Sandra Dingamen Taylor from the Gugada Original Sovereign Tribal Federation organised the gathering. She says she would rather see a treaty that recognises Aboriginal sovereignty, than inclusion in the Constitution. Ms Dingamen Taylor says the Constitution was based on Australia being unoccupied at colonisation."
* WEST AUSTRALIAN: PROTESTERS INVADE PREMIER'S HOME [WA]
- News
West Australian: Protesters invade Premier's home
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/14584399/protesters-invade...
18 Aug 12: "A 20-year-old protester yesterday climbed a stone wall into Premier Colin Barnett's family home and locked himself to the front gate despite police protecting the house. The major breach of security took place during an Aboriginal rights protest outside Mr Barnett's Claremont home. The Premier was not home but his wife Lyn and two pet dogs were inside. ... The action ended only after Mr Barnett agreed to accept the document at a meeting with the protesters at his electoral office about 3.40pm."
- Related News
West Australian: Trespass tactics wrong, says Aboriginal leader
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/14584362/trespass-tactics-...
18 Aug 12: "A prominent Aboriginal leader has criticised protesters for invading Premier Colin Barnett's privacy by demonstrating outside his home and trespassing on his property. "We are not in favour of anyone protesting and going into personal properties or residences of people," Ted Wilkes said. "That's not the way that we should protest." Protest ringleader Marianne Mackay said they were protesting to assert their sovereign rights over Whadjuk country, which includes the Darling Range and Perth city."
West Australian: McGowan condemns Barnett street protesters
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/14579057/protesters-occupy...
17 Aug 12: "Opposition Leader Mark McGowan has condemned protesters who occupied the street outside Premier Colin Barnett's Claremont home, one of whom scaled a fence into the property. A 20-year-old man was arrested and charged with trespass after allegedly locking himself to the property's gate. ... Protest organiser Marianne Mackay said her group had failed in many earlier attempts to give the document to Mr Barnett and were prepared to stay outside his house "for as long as it takes"."
* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSIES:
Last updated: 19 August 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* RACHEL SIEWERT: GREENS TO EXAMINE FUNDING FOR PETROL SNIFFING PROGRAMS
- Media Release
Rachel Siewert: Greens to examine funding for petrol sniffing programs
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/greens-exa...
15 Aug 12: "Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert will examine a federal government decision to end the provision of funding to three petrol sniffing programs during tomorrow’s Senate Inquiry into the Greens’ Low Aromatic Fuel Bill.
It has been reported that federal funding for the programs in the Kimberley, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands and central Australia will not continue past this year.
"Asking organisations to continue these programs without federal funding is an onerous request that has the potential to threaten the long term stability needed to combat petrol sniffing," Senator Siewert said today. ... "
* GREENS MPS: ACTING ON MUCKATY BEFORE THE FEDERAL COURT CHALLENGE IS COMPLETE
Greens MPs: Acting on Muckaty before the Federal Court challenge is complete
http://greensmps.org.au/content/questions-notice/acting-muckaty-federal-...
16 Aug 12: "(Question No. 1966) Senator Ludlam asked the Minister for Resources and Energy, upon notice, on 20 July 2012:
Given the response received in the answer to question on notice no. 1889 concerning the declaration of Muckaty in the Northern Territory as the final location for the proposed nuclear waste site under the National Radioactive Waste Management Act 2012, will the Minister delay the declaration of Muckaty as the site until after the Federal Court of Australia case is resolved.
Senator Chris Evans: The Minister for Resources and Energy has provided the following response to the honourable member's question:
My media release of 13 March 2012 noted that in relation to litigation in the Federal Court concerning the nominated land [on Muckaty Station], the Government will not act on this site until this matter is resolved by the Court."
* BACKGROUND TO THE PROPOSED MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:
Last updated: 16 August 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-proposed-muckaty-nu...
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- Analysis / Opinion
agendaTracker: The Contrarian: Black Power and Aboriginal Arts
http://tracker.org.au/2012/08/the-contrarian-black-power-and-aboriginal-...
16 Aug 12: "NATIONAL: Aboriginal Australia owes much of its advancement – particularly in the arts – to the local Black Power movement, writes GARY FOLEY. It was great men like Chicka Dixon who forged the way ahead in the most unlikely of places. Today, people have become accustomed to the unprecedented international interest shown in all aspects of Aboriginal art and culture. ... This situation has only developed over the past three decades, and what most people do not know is that it did not emerge from a vacuum." Gary Foley, a historian and lecturer at Victoria University, completing a PhD in History at the University of Melbourne
- News
National Indigenous Times: Facebook’s race hate farce
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1659-facebooks-race-hate-farce.html
19 Aug 12: "A Facebook page full of bitter, twisted racial hatred against Aboriginal people appeared from somewhere early last week but nobody knew where, it then disappeared but only for a few hours after a torrent of complaints about the racist comments and then re-appeared before again disappearing last Thursday with a half-hearted apology from Facebook. Then, suddenly, another version re-appeared last Friday."
National Indigenous Times: Traditional Owners divided over Bob Brown’s gas hub campaign
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1651-traditional-owners-divided-over-bob-brow...
19 Aug 12: "By National Indigenous Times West Australian reporter Gerry Georgatos. The Kimberley's Traditional Owners are split right down the middle whether the billion dollar gas hub project proposed for James Price Point (Walmandan) should go ahead and whether it was right for Greens founder Dr Bob Brown to be speak on behalf of Aboriginal peoples and their... "
National Indigenous Times: Housing exceeds targets: Macklin
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1656-housing-exceeds-targets-macklin.html
19 Aug 12: "More Indigenous people in remote communities are benefitting from new and refurbished homes completed as part of the $5.5 billion National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing, the Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin said."
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