Newsletter date: 22 April 2012
Contents:
* ABC PM: Court throws out Olympic Dam challenge
* Background to challenge of Olympic Dam mine
* Olympic Dam expansion music/art/festival/protest
* Interview with Congress co-chair Les Malezer
* arena: Protector Macklin’s Intervention by Jeff McMullen
* Campaign to stop Income Management reaches out to unionists
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Other articles
* ABC PM: COURT THROWS OUT OLYMPIC DAM CHALLENGE:
- Audio
ABC PM: Court throws out Olympic Dam challenge
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-20/court-throws-out-olympic-dam-chall...
20 Apr 12: "It was a last-ditch effort to stop what's predicted to be the world's biggest mining project. But today the Federal Court threw out a challenge to BHP's proposed Olympic Dam expansion in remote South Australia. A local traditional owner [Kevin Buzzacott] argued that the Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke, had failed to consider crucial environmental factors in approving the proposal last October. But today, the argument was dismissed and BHP Billiton indicated that it would pursue the Aboriginal elder for costs."
- Related Media Release
Friends of the Earth Adelaide:
Mining giant seeks costs from Arabunna Elder after ruling on challenge to Federal Court approval of the Olympic Dam Expansion
http://www.adelaide.foe.org.au/2012/04/mining-giant-seeks-costs-from-ara...
20 Apr 12: "In a packed courtroom today Justice Besanko dismissed Uncle Kevin Buzzacott’s challenge of the Federal approval of the Olympic Dam expansion. The judge did not discuss his reasons in the court.
Both BHP and the Federal government are seeking costs from Kevin Buzzacott.
The hearing was held in the Federal Court on the 3rd and 4th April, after which the Judge reserved his judgement. Both BHP Billiton and the South Australian government had successfully sought to become parties to the proceedings.
"The speed with which this decision was made suggests pressure to resolve the matter as quickly as possible so as not to impact the project," said Nectaria Calan of Friends of the Earth Adelaide. ...
"This is a very sad day," said applicant Kevin Buzzacott. "We offered the judge the issue on a platter, and he wasted an opportunity to make changes that will reverberate in this nation for thousands of years."
"But we’re not going away. This isn’t over yet," Mr Buzzacott concluded."
- Related News
Adelaide Now: Aboriginal elder loses bid to overturn expansion of BHP Billiton's Olympic Dam
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/aboriginal-elder-loses-bid-to-ove...
20 Apr 12: "THE Federal Court has dismissed a challenge to the approval of BHP Billiton's Olympic Dam expansion. Aboriginal elder and anti-nuclear campaigner Kevin Buzzacott challenged the Federal Government's approval of the $30 billion project, arguing the environmental assessment was too shortsighted and small in scope. ... Around 20 protesters congregated outside the court before the judgment, where Mr Buzzacott criticised the "greedy" and "selfish" act of expanding the mine."
Yahoo!7: Elder loses court fight over outback mining plan
http://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/elder-loses-court-fight-over-053610744....
20 Apr 12: "The Federal Court has dismissed an application by an Aboriginal elder to overturn a proposed expansion of the Olympic Dam uranium and copper mine in outback South Australia. Kevin Buzzacott challenged the Federal Government's approval for the expansion, which was granted last year. He argued environmental risks from the planned expansion of underground mining to an open pit operation had not been properly considered. But Justice Anthony Besanko dismissed the application."
Australian: Court rejects bid to stop SA Olympic Dam
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news-old/court-rejects-bid...
20 Apr 12: "THE federal court has rejected a move by an Aboriginal elder to block a giant expansion of the Olympic Dam uranium and copper mine in South Australia's north. ... "We were expecting something like this to happen. I guess it's just a sad day for the people of South Australia and especially my people," Mr Buzzacott said. "I think we did our best to get our arguments up. "It's not over yet. The battle may have started, but it hasn't ended yet.""
* BACKGROUND TO CHALLENGE OF OLYMPIC DAM MINE:
WGAR News: Aboriginal elder challenges expansion of Olympic Dam mine (6 Apr 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/06/wgar-news-aboriginal-elder-challenges...
WA Greens: Greens back David in fight against radioactive Goliath (3 Apr 12)
http://wa.greens.org.au/content/greens-back-david-fight-against-radioact...
WGAR News: The Lizard's Revenge over uranium mine - Festival protest against Olympic Dam expansion (31 Mar 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/03/31/wgar-news-the-lizards-revenge-over-ur...
* OLYMPIC DAM EXPANSION MUSIC/ART/FESTIVAL/PROTEST
- Upcoming events
Event: Sat 28 April 2012: Brunswick
Desert Liberation Front presents
Lizard Rising Fundraiser Gig
Special guests:
* Uncle Kev Buzzacott aka Buzwapa,
* Robbie Thorpe and
* Johnny Harding
Flyer: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3154084985542&set=o.2874081946592...
Event details: http://indymedia.org.au/lizard-rising-fundraiser-gig
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/224524544273924
Background: http://londonminingnetwork.org/2011/10/australia-approves-20-30bn-bhp-bi...
Event: Sat 14 to Fri 20 July 2012: Olympic Dam, SA
The Lizard's Revenge:
Olympic Dam expansion music/art/festival/protest
"Sleeping underneath the ground there is an old lizard,
Kalta the sleepy lizard. The lizard ain’t so sleepy anymore.
BHP is mining right into that Lizards body. The government
has just approved an expansion of the Olympic Dam uranium
mine, making it the biggest uranium mine in the world.
Kalta is angry and wants revenge.
Arabana elder Kevin Buzzacot is calling the people of the
world to help the lizard shut down the mine. He is calling
for people to come and heal the land in the name of peace
and justice for the next 10,000 generations to come."
Event details: http://indymedia.org.au/the-lizards-revenge-olympic-dam-expansion-musica...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/224524544273924
Background: http://londonminingnetwork.org/2011/10/australia-approves-20-30bn-bhp-bi...
WGAR News: The Lizard's Revenge over uranium mine - Festival protest against Olympic Dam expansion (31 Mar 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/03/31/wgar-news-the-lizards-revenge-over-ur...
* INTERVIEW WITH CONGRESS CO-CHAIR LES MALEZER:
- Audio Interview
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
Governments commitment to engage with National Congress challenged !
http://caama.com.au/governments-commitment-to-engage-with-national-congr...
20 Apr 12: "The co chair of Australia’s peak national representative body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders has questioned the Gillard Labor governments commitment to engage and work with the new group at the level which had been originally intended. The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples was created as a national voice to represent the views and aspirations of Aboriginal and Islander peoples to government and engage in meaningful debate and discussion….but Co chair Les Malezer says the government hasn’t been prepared to share business."
* ARENA: PROTECTOR MACKLIN'S INTERVENTION BY JEFF McMULLEN:
- Analysis / Opinion
arena: Protector Macklin’s Intervention
http://www.arena.org.au/2012/04/protector-macklin%E2%80%99s-intervention/
Apr 2012: "The shadow of Auber Octavius Neville, the great white Protector, once more falls across Aboriginal Australians as politicians agree to extend the Intervention in the Northern Territory. A century ago Chief Protector Neville insisted that Aboriginal people ‘have to be protected against themselves whether they like it or not’. It was this logic that gave Australia the Stolen Generation as tens of thousands of Aboriginal children were removed from their families sending waves of trauma through successive generations. ... " Dr Jeff McMullen
* CAMPAIGN TO STOP INCOME MANAGEMENT REACHES OUT TO UNIONISTS:
- News
Solidarity: Bankstown BasicsCard campaign reaches out to unionists
http://www.solidarity.net.au/44/bankstown-basicscard-campaign-reaches-ou...
Apr 2012: "The campaign to stop Income Management, first introduced as part of the racist NT Intervention, is reaching out to organised workers in an attempt to stop the policy in its tracks. Income Management, which "quarantines" 50 per cent of welfare payments onto a BasicsCard, is set to be implemented in Bankstown in Sydney’s South-West this July, along with Logan and Rockhampton (Qld), Playford (SA) and Shepparton (Vic). ... The campaign will hold a major seminar and strategy session on Saturday May 26 at the Arab Council Australia Office in Bankstown. Promotion will be aimed at workers who will be caught up implementing Income Management in Bankstown, as well as other unionists." Paddy Gibson
See:
Say No to Government’s Income Management: Not in Bankstown, Not Anywhere!
http://www.sayno2gim.info/
Stop the Intervention: Income Management
http://stoptheintervention.org/facts/income-management
- Upcoming events
Event: Fri 27 April 2012: Bankstown, Sydney, NSW
Speak Out against Income Management (IM)
"As part of the 2011 Federal Budget, the Australian
government announced that it plans to spend $117.5 million
over the next five years to introduce Income Management to
five "disadvantaged" communities across Australia. ...
Income Management will commence in these sites from 1st
July 2012 and will be compulsorily applied to welfare
recipients in the "trial sites" who are assessed by
Centrelink to be "vulnerable to financial crisis" and they
will have 50% of their payment quarantined."
Event details: http://www.facebook.com/events/333817633347001/
IM Background: http://www.sayno2gim.info/
IM Background: http://stoptheintervention.org/facts/income-management
Event: Sat 26 May 2012: Bankstown, Sydney, NSW
Seminar for unionists and community members:
Income Management (IM) in Bankstown
" ... aimed at workers who will be caught up
implementing Income Management in
Bankstown, as well as other unionists."
Event details: http://www.solidarity.net.au/44/bankstown-basicscard-campaign-reaches-ou...
IM Background: http://www.sayno2gim.info/
IM Background: http://stoptheintervention.org/facts/income-management
* BACKGROUND TO 'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-stronger-futures-new-nt...
* BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-...
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- News
National Indigenous Radio Service: Noongar people call for the formulation of tribal council
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7137-noongar-people-call-for-the...
19 Apr 12: "Opponents of a billion dollar offer to extinguish Native Title claims over Noongar country in Western Australia's south-west have indicated they will form a breakaway Native Title organisation. Noongar protesters, who established a Tent Embassy on Heirrison Island in Perth, say the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, who support the offer, don't represent them. Embassy spokesperson Marianne McKay says her group has been meeting with Noongar people to inform them of the pitfalls of the offer. She says there will be a meeting for June to form a Noongar tribal council."
National Indigenous Times: WA’s holiday change is worthless without talks
http://www.nit.com.au/news/932-was-holiday-change-is-worthless-without-t...
19 Apr 12: "The actions of the Premier of Western Australia Colin Barnett over the Perth Tent Embassy proved he was "not fair dinkum" and re-naming the State's annual State holiday to Western Australia Day "worthless" for the State's Nyoongar peoples. Iva Hayward-Jackson described Mr Barnett's refusal to meet with Nyoongar people to resolve the Tent Embassy issues as an "insult" and the Western Australia... "
National Indigenous Radio Service: Anger over lack of Murray-Darling cultural water continues
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7136-anger-over-lack-of-murray-d...
19 Apr 12: "The Chairman of the Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations has called for immediate amendments to the draft Murray-Darling Basin Authority Plan after 20 weeks of consultations ended on Monday. Grant Rigney has demanded water licences be revoked so the river system can be free-flowing. Mr. Rigney says Indigenous groups aren't happy with the proposed amount of water to be allocated back in to the system and there are many holes in the Plan."
National Indigenous Times: Use Anzac Day to also remember the colonial wars, says Anderson
http://www.nit.com.au/news/933-use-anzac-day-to-also-remember-the-coloni...
19 Apr 12: "Aboriginal leader Michael Anderson has called on Indigenous people to march on ANZAC Day to remember those who fell in the colonial wars and massacres since invasion. "I think it's time Australia accepted its history and started accepting some of the realities of its existence and it's up to us to make that happen," Mr Anderson... "
Koori Mail: Anzac march plan
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php?page=Current+Edition
18 Apr 12: "ABORIGINAL leaders have defended moves to highlight the frontier wars during Anzac Day marches amid claims that it would be disrespectful. Canberra Aboriginal Tent Embassy founder Michael Anderson has called on Aboriginal people across the country to march on Anzac Day in commemoration of frontier wars ‘perpetuated by British invaders and the ongoing war of attrition against Aboriginal Peoples’. Particularly, he wants anyone interested to carry a banner for one of the wars or massacres that occurred."
- Upcoming event
Event: Anzac Day 25 April 2012: Canberra, ACT
Lest We Forget the Frontier Wars
- Anzac Day march in Canberra
Michael Anderson said "Last year we started
Lest We Forget the Frontier Wars by joining on behind the
Anzac Day march in Canberra and we received enormous
support from the public at this time.
Now we need to keep it going.
We have commenced a process to highlight the wars fought on
Australian soil since 1788, when our country was taken by
superior force, at gunpoint, and those who stood in the way
were shot.
What we need to do now is to keep identifying that there
has been warfare; that blood has been spilt on the wattle;
and there is an ongoing war of attrition against Aboriginal
Peoples to this day. ...
Joining the Anzac march is NOT a protest.
It is a remembering of the wars and the losses of those
who suffered."
Event details: http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/13/wgar-news-lest-we-forget-the-frontier...
Event details: http://nationalunitygovernment.org/content/lest-we-forget-frontier-wars-...
- - -
Subscription to 'WGAR News' is free.
'WGAR News' monitors the media, including alternative media, focusing on:
* the Australian Federal government intervention into Northern Territory (NT) Aboriginal communities;
* the Aboriginal sovereignty movement and tent embassies;
* other Aboriginal rights issues; and
* upcoming Aboriginal rights events around Australia.
'WGAR News' publishes information and opinions from a wide range of sources. These opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions of WGAR.
The e-newsletters include media releases, opinion pieces, news items and events. Subscribers can expect to receive about 2 e-newsletters each week.
To subscribe, email wgar.news@gmail.com and include the words "subscribe WGAR News" in the message header.
To unsubscribe, email wgar.news@gmail.com and include the words "unsubscribe WGAR News" in the message header.
- - -
You can also subscribe to our second list 'Contact WGAR' which focuses on activities and events and provides a point of contact.
To subscribe, email contactwgar@gmail.com and include the words "subscribe WGAR Contact" in the message header.
- - -
WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
WGAR Website: http://wgar.wordpress.com/