WGAR News
Newsletter date: 29 Apr 2011
Contents:
* Request for Support for Prescribed Area Peoples’ Alliance Gathering - Darwin June 19-21, 2011
* Deaths in Custody: A Crikey Investigation
* Aboriginal summit - Call for dramatic return to proactive political action
* First Nations political party and the NT elections
* Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* National Congress of Australia's First Peoples
* Background to National Congress of Australia's First Peoples
REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FOR PRESCRIBED AREA PEOPLES' ALLIANCE GATHERING - DARWIN JUNE 19-21, 2011:
Intervention Rollback Action Group:
Request for Support for Prescribed Area Peoples’ Alliance Gathering - Darwin June 19-21, 2011
http://rollbacktheintervention.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/funding-appea...
26 Apr 11: "I’m Barbara Shaw and I live at Mt Nancy, Central Australia, one of the 'prescribed areas' under the NTER (Intervention). For nearly 4 years the Intervention Rollback Action Group (IRAG) has been working to support and advocate for Aboriginal people living under the NTER legislation. ...
On June 19-20th Prescribed Area peoples from Central Australia and Top End communities will meet in Darwin to discuss strategies to accomplish the aims of the program. There will be meetings with parliamentarians, unions and key organisations.
The following day, June 21st, will mark four years of failed Intervention. On this day there will be a rally to show support for Prescribed Area people followed by a concert.
In order for all this happen we urgently need funds to support our work and to take a delegation of key people from as many communities as possible to Darwin in June. ... "
[Click on the above link for more info and details of how to make a donation.]
DEATHS IN CUSTODY: A CRIKEY INVESTIGATION:
Crikey: Deaths in Custody: A Crikey Investigation
http://www.crikey.com.au/deaths-in-custody/
"Twenty years today after the Royal Commission report into Aboriginal deaths in custody was released, fatalities in prison custody are rising and inmates are still dying as a result of the same lethal practices the Commission sought to eliminate. As part of a forensic Crikey investigation, freelance journalist and Australian Centre for Independent Journalism associate Inga Ting examines the startling data, the damning case studies and the very human stories behind a vexed political and social issue."
See:
WGAR News: Deaths in custody and Aboriginal incarceration rates (14 Apr 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/14/wgar-news-deaths-in-custody-and-abori...
WGAR News: Joint National Call to Action to reduce imprisonment of Indigenous people (16 Apr 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/16/wgar-news-joint-national-call-to-acti...
WGAR News: Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (21 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/21/wgar-news-elders-speak-out-on-the-nor...
WGAR News: Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (24 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/24/wgar-news-two-urgent-petitions-on-the...
ABORIGINAL SUMMIT - CALL FOR DRAMATIC RETURN TO PROACTIVE POLITICAL ACTION:
- Media Release
Call for dramatic return to proactive political action at Aboriginal summit
By Michael Anderson and Ellie Gilbert
Indigenous Peoples: http://indigenouspeoplesissues.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=art...
Indymedia Australia: http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/26/call-for-dramatic-return-to-proactive...
26 Apr 11: "Canberra 25 April 2011, Anzac Day -- The Aboriginal New Way Sovereignty Summit here over Easter was informed that given the state of Aboriginal Affairs in this country today it is now time to make a dramatic return to proactive political action.
Within the coming months legal submissions will be completed for two challenges. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will be asked for an Advisory Opinion on the status of the Aboriginal Sovereignty.
The second legal challenge will be in the European Court of Human Rights where an application will be made for compensation and reparation from the British in respect to the colonisation, dispossession, usurpation of our natural wealth and resources.
The core of the latter legal application will focus on the absolute dispossession of Aboriginal lands that has caused us to become internally displaced Peoples and refugees."
- Background to the Summit
Indymedia Australia: New Way Sovereignty Summit, Canberra 22-25 April (Easter Weekend)
http://indymedia.org.au/new-way-sovereignty-summit-canberra-22-25-april-...
FIRST NATIONS POLITICAL PARTY AND THE NT ELECTIONS:
- Audio
The Wire: Aboriginal Party hopes to stand in NT election
[scroll down page] http://www.thewire.org.au/daydetail.aspx?SearchDay=2011-04-27
27 Apr 11: "Australia’s first Indigenous political party has been officially registered and plans to contest the next federal election. For now though it has it’s sights on the Northern Territory and other states. The Australian Electoral Commission officially registered the First Nations political party this year, and it has now applied to the Noethern Territory Electoral Commission for registration. In this story: Japarta Ryan, President of the First Nations political party and David Carment, Professor of History at the Charles Darwin University"
- News
Radio New Zealand: New party launched to represents Aboriginals
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/73850/new-party-launched-to-represen...
27 Apr 11: "A new political party representing Aboriginal people in Australia has been given the green light to run in the Northern Territory election."
ABC: Aboriginal party seeks to stand in NT election
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/26/3200415.htm
26 Apr 11: "A new political force representing the interests of Aboriginal people hopes to run in the Northern Territory election next year. The Australian Electoral Commission officially registered the First Nations political party earlier this year. But that only gave the party the right to stand in federal elections. First Nations has now applied to the Northern Territory Electoral Commission for registration."
NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
- Women's Discussion Groups [2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th of May]
Equality Rights Alliance - Women's Voices for Gender Equality:
Women Invited to Have Their Say on Income Management
http://www.equalityrightsalliance.org.au/news/women-invited-have-their-s...
"Women affected by Income Management and BasicsCard are invited to have their say at independent discussion groups in Alice Springs and Darwin.
"Equality Rights Alliance is Australia's largest network of organisations advocating for women's equality. We want policy makers and media to hear the views of women living with BasicsCard and Income Management," says Emma Davidson, Project Coordinator at Equality Rights Alliance."
- Video
ABC 7.30: NT intervention four years on
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2011/s3201839.htm
27 Apr 11: "Chris Uhlmann reports from Alice Springs on the controversial Howard Government intervention in the Northern Territory. Has it been a success or not?"
ABC 7.30: Bess Price on the intervention
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2011/s3201843.htm
27 Apr 11: "Bess Price, Chair of the Northern Territory's Indigenous Affairs Advisory Council speaks with Chris Uhlmann."
See:
Rollback the Intervention - Media Releases:
Town camp leader outraged by Bess Price claims on Q and A
http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/media/
15 Apr 11: "Barbara Shaw, spokesperson for the Intervention Rollback Action Group in Alice Springs and resident of Mt Nancy Town camp says that comments by Bess Price on Q and A about the “success” of the Intervention ignore the huge evidence of continuing failure.
IRAG says Mrs Price’s comments have caused distress amongst people living in prescribed areas under the Intervention, whose experiences of deteriorating social conditions continue to be ignored by government and mainstream media. ...
"Marcia Langton wrote in the Australian today that Bess Price 'resides in Yuendumu'. This is untrue and the Australian needs to correct the public record. Bess does not live under the Intervention. She lives a comfortable lifestyle in the eastern suburbs of Alice Springs, not in a prescribed area. She does not have a Basics Card and she does not work for the dole. She doesn’t have her home raided. She doesn’t have her alcohol taken away at the bottle shop," Ms Shaw concluded."
- News
ABC: Intervention needs education focus: Macklin
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/28/3202058.htm
28 Apr 11: "Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin says she would like to see the Northern Territory intervention go further with stronger efforts to get children to school. Ms Macklin says the intervention has improved the lives of many Indigenous women and children in remote Aboriginal communities but she told the ABC's 7.30 program thousands of children are not still enrolled in school or not attending on a regular basis."
Australian: Abbott flies into heart of intervention debate in Alice Springs
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/abbott-flies-into-heart-of-i...
28 Apr 11: "Opposition Leader Tony Abbott last night thrust himself into the centre of the Northern Territory intervention debate, flying into Alice Springs to hold discussions with key traditional Aboriginal leaders, some of whom are embroiled in a dispute over who has the right to represent their community."
BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
Creative Spirits: Northern Territory Emergence Response (NTER) - "The Intervention": http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/politics/northern-terr...
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Northern Territory National Emergency Response: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Territory_intervention
IRAG (Intervention Rollback Action Group) - Mparntwe - Alice Springs: http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/
Jobs with Justice: http://jobswithjustice.wordpress.com/
STICS (Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney): http://stoptheintervention.org/
MAIC (Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective): http://maicollective.blogspot.com/
ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation) - NT intervention: http://www.antar.org.au/issues_and_campaigns/nt_intervention
The Greens: Rachel Siewert: Northern Territory Intervention: http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/category/issues/indigenous-rights...
'concerned Australians' - Without Justice there can be no Reconciliation: http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/
Crikey - NT Intervention: http://www.crikey.com.au/topic/nt-intervention/
New Matilda - northern territory intervention: http://newmatilda.com/tag/northern-territory-intervention
Amnesty International Australia - Looking back at the Northern Territory Intervention: http://www.amnesty.org.au/indigenous-rights/comments/24460/
Defending Indigenous Rights: http://defendingindigenousrights.wordpress.com/
Intervention walk-off's Blog: http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/
Australian Human Rights Commission - Northern Territory ‘Emergency Response’ intervention: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/intervention/index.html
FAIRA; Human Rights Law Resource Centre; NACLC: Australia’s compliance with CERD - Fact Sheet 2: Northern Territory Intervention: http://www.hrlrc.org.au/files/Fact-Sheet-2-NT-Intervention.pdf
Green Left: Northern Territory intervention: myths and facts: http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/39732
WGAR (Working Group for Aboriginal Rights): http://wgar.info/
NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST PEOPLES:
- Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA Radio News 27-04-2011
http://caama.com.au/caama-radio-news-27-04-2011
27 Apr 11: "* Former ALP national president Warren Mundine has called on the Gillard Government to withdraw the $30 Million funding for the National Congress of Australia’s First People’s claiming the new indigenous representative body is a waste of money and would do nothing to improve Aboriginal lives.
* The new co-chair of the National Congress, Les Malezer, says at no point in the consultations to establish the body, was there a proposal for two chairs and having both a female and male chair of the organization he heads was 'the idea of an elite few'."
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA NEWS 26-04-11
http://caama.com.au/caama-news-26-04-11
26 Apr 11: "The new co-chair of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, Les Malezer says at no point in the consultations to establish the body…. was there a proposal for two chairs…and having both a female and male chair was "the idea of an elite few"."
- News
ABC: Indigenous congress shrugs off Mundine attack
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/27/3201349.htm
27 Apr 11: "The year-old national Indigenous congress has responded to criticism levelled at it by former Labor Party president Warren Mundine, who says it is "dead in the water". Mr Mundine said the Federal Government-funded National Congress of Australia's First Peoples will not have the support of its constituents. But Sam Jeffries, one of the congress chairs, says the voter turnout was strong for a year-old organisation. "These are very good runs on the board," he said. Mr Jeffries says the congress would fight for what its members want."
Australian: Congress is a waste of money, says Warren Mundine
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/aboriginal-australia/congress-i...
27 Apr 11: "He [former ALP national president Warren Mundine] called on the government to withdraw the $30 million funding for the new indigenous representative body, saying the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples was a waste of money and would do nothing to improve Aboriginal lives. ... While Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin disagreed with Mr Mundine's assessment, she issued a veiled warning to congress co-chairman Les Malezer to follow his memberships' views."
Australian: Aboriginal Facebook stand-off
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/aboriginal-facebook-stand-of...
26 Apr 11: "THE social networking site Facebook has become embroiled in a stand-off between Aboriginal leaders. The new co-chair of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples, Les Malezer, has used Facebook to claim Aboriginal leader Lowitja O'Donoghue was never elected to lead indigenous bodies and that having both a female and male chair of the organisation he heads was "the idea of an elite few"."
BACKGROUND TO NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST PEOPLES:
WGAR News: Proposed national Indigenous body (29 Aug 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/290809-un-expert-calls-nt-intervent...
WGAR News: More media responses to proposed national Indigenous body (31 Aug 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/310809-more-media-responses-to-un-e...
WGAR News: Still more media responses to proposed national Indigenous body (3 Sep 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/3-sep-2009-governments-review-of-ab...
WGAR News: Proposed National Indigenous Representative Body (22 Sep 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/23/22-sep-2009-ampilatwatja-anti-inter...
WGAR News: New Way Summit delegates unanimously reject government sponsored Rep body (31 Jan 10)
http://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/new-way-summit-delegates-unanimousl...
WGAR News: Proposed National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (2 Feb 10)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/02022010-national-day-of-action-sat...
WGAR News: New National Congress of Australia's First Peoples (9 May 10)
http://www.indymedia.org.au/2010/05/08/wgar-news-new-national-congress-o...
WGAR News: Co-Chairs of National Congress of Australia's First Peoples elected (21 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/21/wgar-news-elders-speak-out-on-the-nor...
WGAR News: National Congress of Australia's First Peoples (24 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/24/wgar-news-two-urgent-petitions-on-the...
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WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
WGAR Website: http://wgar.info/