Newsletter date: 11 November 2013
Contents:
* 'concerned Australians': Statement by Rev. Dr Djiniyini Gondarra OAM regarding MOUs on township 99 year leases
* The Wire: Traditional Owners reject 99-year leases [Featuring Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra]
* Lindy Kerin, NITV News: A modern day invasion threatens Aboriginal community [Featuring Reverend Djiniyini Gondarra]
* Patricia Karvelas, The Australian: Truancy army to get kids to school [99-year township lease]
* Patricia Karvelas, The Australian: Nigel Scullion faces rebellion on leases
* 'CONCERNED AUSTRALIANS': STATEMENT BY REV. DR DJINIYINI GONDARRA OAM REGARDING MOUS ON TOWNSHIP 99 YEAR LEASES
- Statement
Dismantling the Land Rights Act (NT) 1976
'concerned Australians' http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/media/Statement_Djiniyini_Gondarr...
'concerned Australians' http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/
6 Nov 13: "I express my deep concern at the actions of the Abbott Government as evidenced by the behaviour of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion, in hastily procuring MOUs on township leases for 99 years in Gunbalanya and Yirrkala in recent weeks. He is quoted as saying that this was part of a blitz to encourage other communities around the country to sign similar deals.
There is no evidence of general consultation with the communities concerned and the haste associated with the process would suggest that there has been no time for reflection or the obtaining of legal and other advice as to the advisability of what the Government proposes. The process therefore places unfair pressure on the communities concerned.
What these leases involve is the handing over of hard fought entitlements to lands to the Government for at least four generations for what would appear to be short term gains. A 99 year lease is regarded by most people as an effective surrender of title. It is a decision that requires careful and mature consideration and not one taken in response to a fly in fly out Government ‘blitz’. ...
Rev. Dr Djiniyini Gondarra OAM
6th November 2013"
- Homepage
'concerned Australians':
Without Justice there can be no Reconciliation
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/
- Background
Background to support for the Yolngu statement and opposition to the 'Stronger Futures' laws
(Last updated: 8 July 2013)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/06/10/background-to-support-for-the-yolngu-...
"Contents:
* Yolngu Nations Assembly Statements and Media Releases
* Compilations calling for: support for the Yolngu statement of 24 April 2012 and the abandonment of the Stronger Futures laws
* Supportive Statements, Media Releases and News (14 March 2012 - 8 July 2013)"
* THE WIRE: TRADITIONAL OWNERS REJECT 99-YEAR LEASES [FEATURING DR. DJINIYINI GONDARRA]
- Audio
The Wire: Traditional Owners reject 99-year leases
Produced by Annie Hastwell
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=11018
7 Nov 13: "Aboriginal Land Rights are again in spotlight as the Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion seeks to negotiate 99-year township leases in Arnhem Land. Traditional owners are expressing displeasure, claiming they have been excluded from consultations about the the plans. Traditional owners in Arnhem Land are claiming that the new leases are dismantling the Land Rights Act (NT) 1976 and are calling for other Aboriginal Communities to reject the plans.
Featured in story: Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra"
* LINDY KERIN, NITV NEWS: A MODERN DAY INVASION THREATENS ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY [FEATURING REVEREND DJINIYINI GONDARRA]
- Article
NITV News: A modern day invasion threatens Aboriginal community
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/11/08/modern-day-invasion-predic...
8 Nov 13: "A high profile Indigenous leader has said the Federal Government's push towards a 99 year township lease on Aboriginal communities is a modern day invasion. Reverend Djiniyini Gondarra from the Northern Territory says the government's consultations have been rushed and haven't been inclusive. Reverend Gondarra is one of Arnhem Land's most respected elders and has a strong message for the Federal Government. "We are concerned about the 99 year lease because the question has not been addressed properly and there has not been preparation given to people," says reverend Gondarra. ... " By Lindy Kerin; Source NITV News
* PATRICIA KARVELAS, THE AUSTRALIAN: TRUANCY ARMY TO GET KIDS TO SCHOOL [99-YEAR TOWNSHIP LEASE]
- News
The Australian: Truancy army to get kids to school
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/truancy-army-to-...
31 Oct 13: "SCORES of truancy workers will be sent to individual homes in remote indigenous communities as Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion designs a new emergency response to get children to school and deliver a measurable increase in student attendance from the first term next year. ... The Australian can also reveal a second Arnhem Land community has signed an agreement with Senator Scullion to negotiate a 99-year township lease by September next year." Patricia Karvelas
* PATRICIA KARVELAS, THE AUSTRALIAN: NIGEL SCULLION FACES REBELLION ON LEASES
- News
The Australian: Nigel Scullion faces rebellion on leases
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/scullion-faces-r...
7 Nov 13: "SEVERAL traditional owners are declaring that an agreement signed with Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion to negotiate a 99-year township lease by next September is "null and void" because they were not consulted. Yirrkala, a town wracked by petrol-sniffing, kava abuse and unemployment, recently became the second Arnhem Land community to sign an agreement with Senator Scullion to negotiate a 99-year township lease that would allow private ownership." Patricia Karvelas
- - -
WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
About WGAR News:
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/30/about-wgar-news-working-group-for-abo...
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 the Aboriginal tent embassies;
* Justice Reinvestment, Aboriginal imprisonment and Aboriginal Deaths in Custody;
* Aboriginal land rights and mining;
* Suicide and self-harm in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities;
* Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing;
* other Aboriginal rights issues; and
* upcoming Aboriginal rights events around Australia.
'WGAR News' gives priority to grassroots Aboriginal voices and grassroots voices in solidarity with Aboriginal peoples' rights.
The role of 'WGAR News' is to facilitate the voices of others, and as such, 'WGAR News' rarely writes its own articles.
'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, audio, videos and events.
Subscribers can expect to receive about 6 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.
Sample WGAR News e-newsletters:
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/03/about-wgar-news-sample-wgar-news-e-ne...
- - -
WGAR events postings:
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/03/about-wgar-news-wgar-events-postings
WGAR background info web-pages:
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/03/about-wgar-news-wgar-background-info-...
- - -
You can also subscribe to our second list 'Contact WGAR' which 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)