Newsletter date: 21 December 2012
Contents:
* HRLC: UN Human Rights Committee asks Australia to explain human rights record
* Background: Calls for 'Stronger Futures' laws to be subject to Human Rights scrutiny
* Background to Aboriginal imprisonment and Deaths in Custody
* 3CR Community Radio interviews with activists Robbie Thorpe and Gary Foley
* Background to the Aboriginal sovereignty movement
* Phillip Adams, Late Night Live, interviews Prof's. Marcia Langton and Ciaran O'Faircheallaigh on Native Title 20 years on
* Background to Mabo and Native Title
* Other articles
* HRLC: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE ASKS AUSTRALIA TO EXPLAIN HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD
- News
Human Rights Law Centre: UN Human Rights Committee asks Australia to explain human rights record
http://www.hrlc.org.au/un-human-rights-committee-asks-australia-to-expla...
19 Dec 12: "The UN Human Rights Committee has asked Australia to explain how a range of laws, policies and practices are compatible with international human rights standards ahead of a major review of Australia’s human rights record. ... "The expert treaty body has asked the government to explain, for example, how Australia can adequately protect human rights in the absence of a national Human Rights Act. It has also raised prima facie concerns with issues such as ... the human rights compatibility of the continuing Northern Territory intervention, ... said Mr Schokman. [HRLC’s Director of International Human Rights Advocacy, Ben Schokman] ... The Committee also expressed concern about the "disproportionately high rate of incarceration of Indigenous people""
See:
Human Rights Law Centre: Focus area - Indigenous rights
http://www.hrlc.org.au/category/focus-areas/focus-areaindigenous-rights
"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to experience significant disadvantage, discrimination and disempowerment. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples provides a framework for the empowerment of Australia’s First Peoples. The Human Rights Law Centre works with ATSI organisations to ensure that the principles in this Declaration - including the principles of self-determination, land and cultural rights, and participation in decision-making processes - are reflected and enshrined in Australian law, policy, practice and institutions."
Human Rights Law Centre: What we do
Freedom. Respect. Equality. Dignity. Action.
http://www.hrlc.org.au/about/what-we-do
"The Human Rights Law Centre is dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights in Australia and beyond. We do this through a strategic combination of evidence-based advocacy, research, litigation and education."
* BACKGROUND: CALLS FOR 'STRONGER FUTURES' LAWS TO BE SUBJECT TO HUMAN RIGHTS SCRUTINY
Last updated: 2 August 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/07/07/background-calls-for-stronger-futures...
* BACKGROUND TO ABORIGINAL IMPRISONMENT AND DEATHS IN CUSTODY:
Last updated: 17 December 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/12/17/background-to-aboriginal-imprisonment...
* 3CR COMMUNITY RADIO INTERVIEWS WITH ACTIVISTS ROBBIE THORPE AND GARY FOLEY:
- Audio Interviews
3CR Community Radio 855 AM - Podcasts
[scroll down page] http://www.3cr.org.au/podcast
Earth Matters - 17 Dec 2012
[listen to this program online] http://pod.3cr.org.au/pod/3CRCast-2012-12-16-62323.mp3
17 Dec 12: "Dubious as the political motives of self appointed (ab)Original spokesperson Marcia Langton may be - it continues to throw the debate on the relationship between "Greenies" & the Sovereignty movement wide open to a discourse largely neglected by the middle left enviro players. Gunnai Sovereignty activist Robbie Thorpe & Clare Land (3CR’s Fire First Show), Cam Walker (Friends of the Earth) & Gumbaynggirr activist & scholar Gary Foley discuss this crucial subject. Also, Miranda Gibson celebrates the one year mark in The Oberver Tree (observertree.org)."
See:
3CR Community Radio 855 AM - Who we are
http://www.3cr.org.au/about_3CR
"The radio station was established in 1976 to provide a voice for those denied access to the mass media, particularly the working class, women, Indigenous people and the many community groups and community issues discriminated against in and by the mass media. ... Many 3CR broadcasters are community activists and therefore uniquely placed to present alternative current affairs, news and views. 3CR stages a number of special broadcasts annually to promote human rights issues including Aboriginal rights, women’s rights and worker’s rights."
* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT:
Last updated: 19 December 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* PHILLIP ADAMS, LATE NIGHT LIVE, INTERVIEWS PROF'S. MARCIA LANGTON AND CIARAN O'FAIRCHEALLAIGH ON NATIVE TITLE 20 YEARS ON:
- Audio Interview
ABC Radio National, Late Night Live: Native Title 20 years on
Producer: Ann Arnold; Presenter: Phillip Adams
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/native-title-...
18 Dec 12: "It's been twenty years since the High Court's Mabo judgment. With Professor Marcia Langton from Melbourne University, and Professor Ciaran O’Faircheallaigh from Griffith University, we canvass whether this ground-breaking legislation has delivered on its promise for Indigenous people. ...
Guests:
* Professor Marcia Langton, Foundation Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies at the University of Melbourne
* Professor Ciaran O'Faircheallaigh, Professor of politics and public policy at Griffith University"
See:
ABC Radio National: In Bed With Phillip - 20 Years of Late Night Live
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/features/inbedwithphillip/
"Phillip Adams has presented Late Night Live on ABC Radio National for 20 years. To thank our listeners, the LNL team have revisited the ten thousand interviews in our vault, and picked out the very best."
* BACKGROUND TO MABO AND NATIVE TITLE:
Last updated: 5 December 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/07/02/background-to-mabo-and-native-title
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- Video
ABC: NAPLAN results show gap remains for Indigenous students
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-18/naplan-results-show-a-decline-in-n...
18 Dec 12: "The nationwide NAPLAN test for primary and high school students shows a decline in numeracy skills and a wide gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students."
- News
ABC Indigenous: Culture seen as key to Indigenous education
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-19/culture-seen-as-key-to-indigenous-...
19 Dec 12: "Indigenous educators say introducing Aboriginal culture to school curriculums could improve attendance and learning. The Federal Government is promising to focus on Indigenous education, after its latest NAPLAN national report showed Indigenous students were not catching up to the mainstream. The CEO of the Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy, Danielle Toon, says local culture is promoted and explored in the three schools it manages. She says this makes parents more likely to send their children to school."
National Indigenous Radio Service: Anti-uranium campaigners celebrate Wiluna decision delay
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7708-anti-uranium-campaigners-ce...
19 Dec 12: "The Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke has delayed his decision on the approval of a uranium mine in Western Australia. Mr. Burke has pushed back the decision for Toro Energy's mine at Wiluna in the state's mid-west until the 31st of March next year. Co-Chair of the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance Peter Watts says it's good news not just for Aboriginal people who are fighting against the mine at Wiluna, but those who are opposed to uranium mining throughout the country."
National Indigenous Radio Service: "No evidence" of community improvements from income management
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7704-qno-evidenceq-of-community-...
18 Dec 12: "A prominent social researcher says there's no evidence of a positive impact of income management in Indigenous communities and questions Government plans to extend the scheme. Eva Cox from the Junbunna House of Learning at the University of Technology, Sydney says the system in the Northern Territory doesn't improve the financial standing of Aboriginal people. Ms. Cox says a recent Government-funded report shows no evidence to support income management."
Koori Mail: Stolen pay blow
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php?page=Current+Edition
17 Dec 12: "THE Queensland Government says it won’t pay any more stolen wages, despite claims from hundreds of elderly Indigenous victims and pleas from unions and others. The Government’s stance - made clear to the Koori Mail by a spokesman for Premier Campbell Newman - has come as a blow to many aged Indigenous former workers in the lead-up to what shapes as a bleak Christmas. They say they have been left thousands of dollars out of pocket after their wages 'disappeared', and high and dry by a scheme that has paid some claimants, but denied others."
Koori Mail: Mental health report recs welcomed
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php?page=Current+Edition
17 Dec 12: "ABORIGINAL and Torres Strait Islander organisations have backed the National Mental Health Commission's first national report card into mental health and suicide prevention, 'A Contributing Life'. The Lowitja Institute and the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples were amongst those that welcomed the report card, especially a recommendation that the mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples be included in federal 'Closing the Gap' targets."
Koori Mail: Gooda calls for new approach
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php?page=Current+Edition
17 Dec 12: "ABORIGINAL and Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda has used the launch of his annual social justice and native title reports to plead with governments to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians a chance to 'take control'. "Effective Indigenous governance must start with us, with our peoples and our communities," Mr Gooda said. However, he said Indigenous communities had not been properly supported, enabled or empowered in the past and a new approach was required."
Koori Mail: Recognition closer
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php?page=Current+Edition
17 Dec 12: "LEGISLATION that recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as 'the first inhabitants of Australia' has been introduced into Federal Parliament. Federal Indigenous Affairs minister Jenny Macklin announced in September that the Government realised there was not currently enough community awareness or support for a successful referendum. Instead, the major parties agreed to legislate recognition, to keep the referendum process in motion. On 28 November, Ms Macklin introduced the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition Bill 2012 into the Lower House."
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