WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
WGAR Website: http://wgar.info/
Contents:
PM Gillard: No change on Muckaty nuclear waste dump
Other Muckaty nuclear waste dump articles
Background to the Muckaty nuclear waste dump
Calls to reform the Australian Constitution
Deaths in Custody protest
New Way summit: Aboriginals to retake lands
Other Aboriginal articles
PM GILLARD: NO CHANGE ON MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:
- Media Release
Australian Conservation Foundation:
Muckaty nuclear waste plan is a bad deal, not a done deal
http://www.acfonline.org.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=2961
7 Jul 10: "The Australian Conservation Foundation is deeply disappointed with Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s admission in Darwin today that the Federal Government intends to proceed with building a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty, 120 kilometres north of Tennant Creek. “The push to impose a radioactive waste dump on an unwilling Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory is a significant broken promise from Federal Labor,” said ACF nuclear free campaigner Dave Sweeney. “The decision is inconsistent with international best practice for radioactive waste management and must be reconsidered. The Muckaty site is highly contested; Traditional Owners are taking both the Commonwealth Government and Northern Land Council to the Federal Court at the end of this month to halt the dump plan.“"
- News
NT News: Gillard dumps Muckaty in it after refusing to reconsider
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/07/08/162181_ntnews.html
8 Jul 10: "PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has told Territorians she won't be revisiting the decision to dump Australia's radioactive waste in the NT Outback. In Darwin yesterday, Ms Gillard said she wanted a process led by science to choose the best site for the facility."
ABC: Labor missed chance on nuclear dump: CLP
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/08/2947846.htm
8 Jul 10: "The Northern Territory Opposition says the Henderson Government missed a golden opportunity during the Prime Minister's visit to take a stance against a nuclear waste dump being built in the Territory."
ABC: No change on NT nuclear waste dump: PM
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/07/2947331.htm
7 Jul 10: "The Prime Minister says the Federal Government's position on building a nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory remains unchanged. ... During a visit to Darwin today, Julia Gillard said the arrangements made under Kevin Rudd's leadership will remain in place."
Yahoo!7: Gillard OK with nuclear dump process
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/7539514/gillard-ok-with-nuclear-dump...
7 Jul 10: "A process that will see Australia get its first nuclear waste dump against the wishes of the site's traditional owners will not change under Prime Minister Julia Gillard."
OTHER MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP ARTICLES:
- Media Release
Australian Conservation Foundation:
New call to dump Martin Ferguson’s nuclear waste plan
http://www.acfonline.org.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=2931
2 Jul 10: "The Australian Conservation Foundation has launched a major new campaign to end Resources Minister Martin Ferguson’s plan for a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty, 120 kilometres north of Tennant Creek. ACF is seeking community support and donations to run newspaper and billboard advertising (see design below) in Melbourne, asking for him and the Government to ‘Dump the Dump’. Concerned Australians can find out more and donate at www.dumpthedump.org.au. ... “Muckaty is a long way from our east coast capital cities and these billboards are an important way to let people know that their Government is trying to dump nuclear waste on an Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory.“ [Mr Sweeney said.]"
- Radio
Beyond Nuclear Initiative: Audio
June 16, 2010 - Interview on 98.9fm radio
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/audio/
"Featuring Muckaty Traditional Owner Dianne Stokes, Maurice Blackburn senior associate Martin Hyde and Beyond Nuclear Initiative coordinator Nat Wasley."
- News
MelbourneProtests Weblog:
No Dump at Muckaty! FoE ACE Collective at Martin Ferguson’s office, 2 July 2010
http://melbourneprotests.wordpress.com/2010/07/02/no-dump-at-muckaty-foe...
2 Jul 10: "Friends of the Earth Melbourne’s ACE (Anti-nuclear and Clean Energy) Collective continued its campaign against Energy and Resources Minister Martin Ferguson’s planned nuclear waste dump at Muckaty in the Northern Territory. Activists in protective clothing offered motorists and passers-by miniature waste drums containing information leaflets, ... "
BACKGROUND TO THE MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:
- Video
Beyond Nuclear Initiative: Video
[scroll down page] http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/video/
"“Muckaty Voices” is a short film capturing community resistance to an Australian government plan to dump radioactive waste at Muckaty Station."
- Media Monitoring
WGAR News: Nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory (2 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/02/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-in-the-n...
WGAR News: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (20 Mar 10)
http://groups.google.com.au/group/foblmail/browse_thread/thread/ddc393bb...
WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump … (28 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/28/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-close-th...
WGAR News: Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump … (4 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/03/wgar-news-muckaty-radioactive-waste-d...
WGAR News: National day of action against Muckaty nuclear waste dump: 12th April!
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/10/wgar-news-national-day-of-action-agai...
WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump: Senate inquiry in Darwin; Nationwide protests (17 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/16/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-senate-i...
WGAR News: … Update: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (23 Apr 10)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/22/wgar-news-raw-sewage-dumped-in-ampila...
WGAR News: Update on Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (2 May 10)
http://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/02052010-update-on-muckaty-station-...
WGAR News: "Muckaty Voices" film; Senate Report into nuclear waste dump plan (16 May 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/05/16/wgar-news-muckaty-voices-film-senate-...
WGAR News: Federal Court legal challenge over nuclear waste dump (13 Jun 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/06/13/wgar-news-federal-court-legal-challen...
CALLS TO REFORM THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION:
- Media Releases
ANTaR: Constitution Day call for election commitment to reform
http://www.antar.org.au/constitution_day_call_for_election_commitment_to...
9 Jul 10: "On National Constitution Day, ANTaR calls on all major parties to make an election commitment to seek reform of the Australian Constitution to recognise the specific status and rights of Indigenous peoples. "It is time to deal with the unfinished business of reconciliation, including recognising the unique status and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our nation's Constitution," said Dr Janet Hunt, ANTaR President."
Australian Human Rights Commission:
Calls for Constitutional recognition on National Aboriginal and Islanders Day
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/about/media/media_releases/2010/72_10.html
9 Jul 10: "Constitutional reform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is the next major step towards reconciliation and full recognition of Indigenous rights, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda, and Co-Chairs of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, Sam Jeffries and Dr Kerry Arabena, said today, on National Constitution Day. Commissioner Gooda, Mr Jeffries and Dr Arabena used 9 July, National Constitution Day and also a national day of celebration of Indigenous people and culture, to call for an election commitment to Constitutional reform from the major political parties and independents."
DEATHS IN CUSTODY PROTEST:
- Video
Perth Indymedia: Video from Deaths in Custody protest 2-7-10
by Alex Bainbridge
http://perth.indymedia.org/?action=newswire&parentview=152131
3 Jul 10: "Over 100 people protested outside the office of the director of public prosecutions after the DPP announced that they would not lay ANY charges in the case of the Warburton elder killed in the back of a prison van in January 2008. The protest took place Fri 2 July 2010 and was a prelude to the major public rally on Sun 11 July 2010."
ABC Lateline: Anger over decision on prison van death
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2010/s2939396.htm
28 Jun 10: "LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: Western Australia's Director of Public Prosecutions says no-one will face criminal charges over the death of an Aboriginal elder after a trip in a prison van two years ago. The man, known as Dr Ward - Mr Ward, sorry, died of heat stroke after being transported hundreds of kilometres across the Goldfields in extreme conditions. The decision has sparked an angry reaction from his family and the community."
- News
ABC: Hundreds protest against death in custody decision
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/11/2950444.htm?site=indigenou...
11 Jul 10: "Hundreds of people have rallied in Perth to protest against a decision not to lay charges over the death of Aboriginal elder Mr Ward. Mr Ward died in 2008 after being transported hundreds of kilometres across the Goldfields in a prison van with faulty air conditioning. The temperature in the back of the van was close to 50 degrees."
NEW WAY SUMMIT: ABORIGINALS TO RETAKE LANDS:
- Media Release
Perth Indymedia: New Way summit: Aboriginals to retake lands
http://perth.indymedia.org/?action=newswire&parentview=152171
5 Jul 10: "Aboriginal people have been encouraged to take possession of unoccupied and Crown lands including abandoned buildings to assert their ownership and original title. This proposal comes out of an Aboriginal conference held in Melbourne from 1-4 July. The third meeting of the New Way Summit movement, initiated by Michael Anderson, heard that the Mabo judgment on Native Title was legal trickery, because hunting, gathering, walking on land, ceremonies on Country do not constitute a claim to legal title and ownership, whereas erecting fences, buildings and clearing of land does as an act of ‘adverse possession’."
- News
Green Left: New Way Summit: Aboriginal people to retake lands
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/44738
11 Jul 10: "At the conclusion of the New Way Summit in Melbourne over July 1-4, a proposal was adopted stating that: “Aboriginal people be encouraged to take possession of unoccupied and Crown lands, including abandoned buildings, to assert their ownership and original title.” This was the third New Way Summit on Indigenous rights to be held. The New Way Summit was initiated by Euahlayi man Michael Anderson from far-western New South Wales. The first summit was held in Canberra in January."
OTHER ABORIGINAL ARTICLES:
- Media Release
Greens: New PM, same disregard for the disadvantaged.
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/new-pm-same...
7 Jul 10: "Senator Rachel Siewert, Greens spokesperson for Community Services has today expressed great disappointment with the Prime Minister’s decision to continue punitive income management measures in the Northern Territory. “Despite a change in leader, the Government is persisting with this draconian approach to the most marginalised people in our society,” Senator Rachel Siewert said today. “It is disappointing to hear the Prime Minister repeating the rhetoric of Minister Jenny Macklin, making claims about income management that are not supported by the evidence.“"
- Analysis/Opinion
Treaty Republic: Indigenous Land Corporation accused of defrauding Aboriginal people
http://treatyrepublic.net/content/indigenous-land-corporation-accused-de...
11 Jul 10: "Aboriginal people across Australia are expressing great concerns and anger at the operations of the government's Indigenous Land Corporation, whose task is to purchase and give land to Aboriginal people unable to claim it through Native Title. Political activist Michael Anderson, leader of the 3,000 Euahlayi living on both sides of the Queensland and NSW border, says he is receiving calls about this from various parts of the country."
On Line Opinion: Punishing poverty
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=10659
8 Jul 10: "Recent legislation introduced by the Federal Government sees welfare recipients across the Northern Territory lose control of at least 50 per cent of their income. ... But welfare groups haven’t been so quick to applaud the scheme. More than 90 submissions were given to the government opposing the reforms, with only two submissions supporting it."
- News
ABC: NAIDOC award winner blasts intervention laws
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/11/2950375.htm
11 Jul 10: "The winner of the NAIDOC lifetime achievement award in Darwin last night has called on the Federal Government to rethink its "draconian" Indigenous intervention laws. In accepting the award, the Labor Member for Arafura, Marion Scrymgour, criticised the intervention, saying it "completely demoralises" Aboriginal people."
Green Left: Indigenous leader slams major parties' 'race to the bottom' on refugees
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/44699
9 Jul 10: "Brisbane Murri activist and Socialist Alliance Senate candidate Sam Watson made the following comments on July 8 on the anti-refugee policies of the two major parties. * * * PM Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott are involved in a headlong race to the bottom of the political pile with their policies on asylum seekers. There is no sign of humanity, no compassion, no generosity of spirit."
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WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)