Newsletter date: 9 December 2013
Contents:
* 'concerned Australians' compilation: Dismantling the Land Rights Act - 99 year leases
* Respect and Listen compilation: Dismantling the Land Rights Act - 99 year leases
* ACM Sydney: The dismantling of the Land Rights Act (NT) 1976 forum [a forum held by 'concerned Australians']
* Michele Harris 'concerned Australians': "I would like to thank all those who attended the conversation on the "Dismantling of the Aboriginal land Rights Act (NT) 1976" yesterday."
* 'concerned Australians': The Hon Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC Answers Questions on 99-Year Leases from Rosalie Kunoth-Monks OAM and Rev. Dr Djiniyini Gondarra OAM
* Luke Waters, NITV News: Malcolm Fraser criticises government's leasehold plan
* Rita Camilleri, 'concerned Australians': Unravelling the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT) of 1976
* Ian R. Yule, 'concerned Australians': The 99-Year Lease Attack on the NT Land Rights Act
* Geoff Bagnall, National Indigenous Times: "Scullion's lease deal means next four generations won't control their land"
* Professor Jon Altman, 'concerned Australians': Senator Scullion peddles De Soto in Arnhem Land
* Catholic Religious Australia: Dismantling the Land Rights Act (NT) 1976
* David Wood: No 99 year leases - No oil and gas exploration say Arnhem Land clans
* The Stringer: Nigel Scullion responds to criticisms about the 99-year-leases
* Ryan Liddle, NITV News: Indigenous Affairs Minister defends controversial NT lease deals
* WGAR News concerning: NT uranium mine; Rio Tinto closure (5 Dec 13)
* Michael Brull, Overland literary journal: The media and the Intervention
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* 'CONCERNED AUSTRALIANS' COMPILATION: DISMANTLING THE LAND RIGHTS ACT - 99 YEAR LEASES
- Compilation
'concerned Australians': Dismantling the Land Rights Act - 99 year leases
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/#DISLRA
[scroll down page] http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/
6 Nov 2013: "Statement by Rev. Dr Djiniyini Gondarra OAM regarding MOUs on township 99 year leases
"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." ... "
* RESPECT AND LISTEN COMPILATION: DISMANTLING THE LAND RIGHTS ACT - 99 YEAR LEASES
- Compilation
Respect and Listen: Dismantling the Land Rights Act - 99 year leases
http://www.respectandlisten.org/nt-intervention/land-rights/dismantling-...
Respect and Listen: Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976
http://www.respectandlisten.org/nt-intervention/land-rights.html
* ACM SYDNEY: THE DISMANTLING OF THE LAND RIGHTS ACT (NT) 1976 FORUM [A FORUM HELD BY 'CONCERNED AUSTRALIANS']
- Letters
ACM Sydney: The dismantling of the Land Rights Act (NT) 1976 forum
http://acmsydney.wordpress.com/2013/11/29/the-dismantling-of-the-land-ri...
29 Nov 13: "On Wednesday Graeme and I attended a forum held by 'concerned Australians'. It was a wonderful opportunity to hear Utopia Elder Rosalie Kunoth-Monks speak about her concerns with 99 year leases and other challenges communities are facing. It was also an opportunity to hear expert legal and political analysis of the Federal Government’s proposed 99 year leases. Below is a letter that Michele Harris has sent out today regarding the forum. Also attached is a letter from Rev. Dr Djiniyini Gondarra sent to the Australian newspaper Djiniyini and The Australian- referred to by Michele below. As Michele says this letter is of great educational value and I would recommend it to you. Regards, Gabrielle ... "
* MICHELE HARRIS 'CONCERNED AUSTRALIANS': "I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE CONVERSATION ON THE "DISMANTLING OF THE ABORIGINAL LAND RIGHTS ACT (NT) 1976" YESTERDAY."
- Letter
The dismantling of the Land Rights Act (NT) 1976 forum
ACM Sydney: [scroll down page] http://acmsydney.wordpress.com/2013/11/29/the-dismantling-of-the-land-ri...
"Dear Friends, I would like to thank all those who attended the conversation on the "Dismantling of the Aboriginal land Rights Act (NT) 1976" yesterday [Wednesday 27th]. To those who were unable to attend I wanted to let you know that we will attempt to use the material from the event to make a couple of you tubes which we will be able to send to you sometime soon. It is clear from the legal advice that was provided, from both Alastair Nicholson and Frank Vincent, that there is a great deal for NT communities to be concerned about as our new Government offers considerable sums of money in return for 99-year leases. ... Thank you. Michele Harris 'concerned Australians'"
* 'CONCERNED AUSTRALIANS': THE HON ALASTAIR NICHOLSON AO RFD QC ANSWERS QUESTIONS ON 99-YEAR LEASES FROM ROSALIE KUNOTH-MONKS OAM AND REV. DR DJINIYINI GONDARRA OAM
- Video
'concerned Australians': The Hon Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC Answers Questions on 99-Year Leases from Rosalie Kunoth-Monks OAM and Rev. Dr Djiniyini Gondarra OAM
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/#V99NIC
[scroll down page] http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/
"1. Government is asking some communities to agree to 99-year township leases. What are the implications of signing a 99-year lease?
2. Government states that the community will still own the land even though a 99-year lease has been signed. Can you explain this please.
3. How important to Aboriginal Peoples are the protections in the Land Rights Act? ... "
* LUKE WATERS, NITV NEWS: MALCOLM FRASER CRITICISES GOVERNMENT'S LEASEHOLD PLAN
- Video
NITV News: Malcolm Fraser criticises government's leasehold plan
By Luke Waters; Source NITV News
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/11/27/malcolm-fraser-criticises-...
27 Nov 13: "Former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser has criticised a federal government push to introduce 99-year leaseholds over some Northern Territory communities. ... Mr Fraser is among a growing number opponents to the plan who say there has been little community consultation to date. "If the government is wanting 99-year leases, it goes a long way to making sure Aboriginals can no longer control their own land," Mr Fraser said. That view is shared by senior Indigenous figure Rosalie Kunoth-Monks." By Luke Waters
* RITA CAMILLERI, 'CONCERNED AUSTRALIANS': UNRAVELLING THE ABORIGINAL LAND RIGHTS ACT (NT) OF 1976
- Analysis / Opinion
'concerned Australians': Unravelling the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT) of 1976 - Rita Camilleri
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/media/99_year_leases_Statement_Ca...
"The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 was the first attempt by an Australian government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, to legally recognise the Aboriginal system of land ownership and put into law the concept of inalienable freehold title. The Land Rights Act was a fundamental piece of social reform. Its intention was to give Aboriginal people ownership of the land - forever. Land Councils were to ensure the First Nation’s rights to consultation and informed consent. ... "
* IAN R. YULE, 'CONCERNED AUSTRALIANS': THE 99-YEAR LEASE ATTACK ON THE NT LAND RIGHTS ACT
- Analysis / Opinion
'concerned Australians': The 99-Year Lease Attack on the NT Land Rights Act
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/media/99_year_leases_Statement_Yu...
29 Nov 13: "The NT Land Rights Act is under attack from the new Federal Government. The new Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Senator Scullion, has been undertaking day-visit consultations to Aboriginal communities, seeking a Heads of Agreement with them to lease their town area to the Federal Government on a 99-year lease. This would extinguish native title on land which the NT Land Rights Act sought to secure for Aboriginal people in perpetuity! ... Ian R. Yule M.Ed"
* GEOFF BAGNALL, NATIONAL INDIGENOUS TIMES: "SCULLION'S LEASE DEAL MEANS NEXT FOUR GENERATIONS WON'T CONTROL THEIR LAND"
- Analysis / Opinion
National Indigenous Times: "Scullion’s lease deal means next four generations won’t control their land"
'concerned Australians': http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/media/99_year_leases_NIT_2013_12_...
4 Dec 13: "The Federal Government will use its 99 year leases to extinguish Aboriginal culture from Australia by forever severing the cultural link of Aboriginal peoples to their land, a meeting of prominent Australians has warned. The proposed lease agreement being put forward by the Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Nigel Scullion would take the land for four generations in what former Liberal Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser described as "virtually secure tenure, so close to freehold that there wasn’t really much difference"." By National Indigenous Times reporter Geoff Bagnall
* PROFESSOR JON ALTMAN, 'CONCERNED AUSTRALIANS': SENATOR SCULLION PEDDLES DE SOTO IN ARNHEM LAND
- Analysis / Opinion
'concerned Australians': Senator Scullion peddles De Soto in Arnhem Land - Professor Jon Altman
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/media/99_year_leases_Statement_Al...
"The Coalition’s Policy for Indigenous Affairs released on 5 September 2013 stated that Indigenous people in remote areas have no property rights. This observation is bewildering and wrong given that one-third of the Australian continent is under some form of statutory land rights or exclusive and nonexclusive native title determination following successful land claims and native title determinations over the past 35 years. The election statement can be interpreted in various ways. ... " Jon Altman, a professor of economics/anthropology at the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, the Australian National University
* CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS AUSTRALIA: DISMANTLING THE LAND RIGHTS ACT (NT) 1976
- Analysis / Opinion
Catholic Religious Australia: Dismantling the Land Rights Act (NT) 1976
http://www.catholicreligiousaustralia.org/index.php/justice-network/just...
20 Nov 13: "Catholic Religious Australia calls on all its members to be aware of what is happening with Land Rights in the Northern Territory. Opportunities for action will be communicated in these coming days. Currently in the Northern Territory the Federal Government is in the process of ‘negotiating’ 99 year leases with some communities. Concerns have been raised about the process of engaging communities in these negotiations. Previously, the Government has talked about a blitz in communities to get these leases signed and this is leading to a perception of haste in the Government approach. ... "
* DAVID WOOD: NO 99 YEAR LEASES - NO OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION SAY ARNHEM LAND CLANS
- News
Sovereign Union: No 99 year leases - No oil and gas exploration say Arnhem Land clans
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/node/782
19 Nov 13: "David Wood NT News ... Eddie Mason has come to town to tell the Territory Government he doesn't want oil and gas exploration off the Arnhem Land coast - and he doesn't want 99-year leases on his land. The Maningrida resident and Bulachani clan law man said he had been given permission to speak on behalf of the 25 clans of the Amburra Nation and Japana Nation. And he said the Government would not come and see him. He has hand-delivered a letter to a representative of Chief Minister Adam Giles at the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly."
* THE STRINGER: NIGEL SCULLION RESPONDS TO CRITICISMS ABOUT THE 99-YEAR-LEASES
- Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: Nigel Scullion responds to criticisms about the 99-year-leases
http://thestringer.com.au/nigel-scullion-responds-to-criticisms-about-th...
1 Dec 13: "In the November 20, 2013 edition of The National Indigenous Times, journalist Gerry Georgatos wrote of a wave of fear that has gripped Aboriginal communities outside of the Northern Territory, that the 99-year-leases proposed to Northern Territory communities will soon be proposed to communities in South Australia’s APY lands and elsewhere in Australia. Senator Nigel Scullion, Federal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Gerry Georgatos recently discussed these concerns: ... " By The Stringer
* RYAN LIDDLE, NITV NEWS: INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS MINISTER DEFENDS CONTROVERSIAL NT LEASE DEALS
- Video
NITV News: Indigenous Affairs Minister defends controversial NT lease deals
By Ryan Liddle; Source NITV News
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/11/18/indigenous-affairs-ministe...
18 Nov 13: "The Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion says controversial 99-year lease deals for townships in the Northern Territory are working. ... But with the policy attracting criticism from local bodies he concedes that some changes are needed. Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion says he feels duty bound to support the government's controversial 99-year lease scheme for remote Indigenous communitities across the Northern Territory." By Ryan Liddle
* WGAR NEWS CONCERNING: NT URANIUM MINE; RIO TINTO CLOSURE (5 DEC 13)
- Compilation
WGAR News: ... (5 Dec 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/12/04/wgar-news-forty-uranium-mines-is-the-...
"Contents: ...
* SBS News: New NT uranium mine in question
* SBS News: Indigenous Nhulunbuy community rocked by Rio Tinto closure
* 9 News: Arnhem Land must look beyond mining jobs"
* MICHAEL BRULL, OVERLAND LITERARY JOURNAL: THE MEDIA AND THE INTERVENTION
- Analysis / Opinion
Overland literary journal: The media and the Intervention
http://overland.org.au/2013/10/the-media-and-the-intervention/
23 Oct 13: "For years, I have been a bit of a broken record about the Intervention in the Northern Territory. I have written time and again that it has achieved no gains in Indigenous communities, it has caused harms, it is degrading and widely hated. When I first started writing about the Intervention, I considered my voice a rather isolated one. Years after the Intervention was launched, it was hard to find critiques of the Intervention in the corporate media. No major journalist or commentator in either the Fairfax or Murdoch press was opposed to the Intervention, and neither were ALP and Coalition representatives." Michael Brull is studying Juris Doctor at University of NSW and has written for ABC Drum, Indigenous Law Bulletin, National Times, Overland and elsewhere
* BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
Last updated: 24 November 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-...
* BACKGROUND TO 'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:
Last updated: 24 November 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-stronger-futures-new-nt...
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