Newsletter date: 29 December 2013
Contents:
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: WA Supreme Court in an unbelievable decision dismisses Stolen Generations compensation claim
* Greg Dyett with Ryan Emery, SBS Radionews: Stolen Generations test case dismissed
* David Liddle, NITV News: The Royal Commission 'ignores members of the Stolen Generations'
* Marc Tong, SBS Living Black Radio: NT Specialist Doctor Resigns Over Mandatory Rehabilitation
* Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Federal Government needs to engage on NT alcohol policies
* Background to the NT Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Bill
* The Stringer: Traditional healers - ngangkari - in an Australia-first
* Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: School attendance issues need comprehensive solutions
* Thea Cowie, SBS Radionews: Scepticism over truancy plan for remote communities
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Despite what's being reported, life expectancy NOT improving for ATSI peoples - 1 in 3 dead by 45 years of age
* The Wire: Closing the Credibility Gap in Indigenous health care [Featuring Professor Kerry Arabena]
* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: WA SUPREME COURT IN AN UNBELIEVABLE DECISION DISMISSES STOLEN GENERATIONS COMPENSATION CLAIM
- Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: WA Supreme Court in an unbelievable decision dismisses Stolen Generations compensation claim
http://thestringer.com.au/wa-supreme-court-in-an-unbelievable-decision-d...
20 Dec 13: "The Western Australian family of Noongars Donald and Sylvia and their remaining eight children have had their hearts broken this morning in the WA Supreme Court. The State Government fought against the Collards’ bid for compensation – the battle was seen as a test case. Mr and Mrs Collard suffered the horror of having nine of their children removed from their care during the 1950s and early 1960s. ... This morning Justice Janine Pritchard dismissed the test case. The reasons for the dismissal will be released shortly." By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist
* GREG DYETT WITH RYAN EMERY, SBS RADIONEWS: STOLEN GENERATIONS TEST CASE DISMISSED
- Audio
SBS Radionews: Stolen Generations test case dismissed
By Greg Dyett with Ryan Emery
http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/307614/Stolen-...
20 Dec 13: "The Supreme Court in Western Australia has dismissed a Stolen Generations test case that involved the removal of nine children from a husband and wife in the late 1950s and early 60s. ... WA correspondent Ryan Emery was in court for the decision." By Greg Dyett with Ryan Emery
* DAVID LIDDLE, NITV NEWS: THE ROYAL COMMISSION 'IGNORES MEMBERS OF THE STOLEN GENERATIONS'
- Video
NITV News: The Royal Commission 'ignores members of the Stolen Generations'
By David Liddle; Source NITV News
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/12/10/royal-commission-ignores-m...
10 Dec 13: "One Murri man, who identifies himself as ‘Paul’ from North Queensland, told NITV News about being adopted into a family where the father sexually abused him, inflicting injuries he still suffers today. He bravely came forward to share his story with the Royal Commission, but says his voice was ignored. "I told them what had happened, in more detail, and basically they said it's not within their jurisdiction to investigate it. So, if they've got a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse, why isn't it being investigated," said Paul." By David Liddle
* MARC TONG, SBS LIVING BLACK RADIO: NT SPECIALIST DOCTOR RESIGNS OVER MANDATORY REHABILITATION
- Audio
SBS Living Black Radio: NT Specialist Doctor Resigns Over Mandatory Rehabilitation
By Marc Tong
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/308018/t...
23 Dec 13: "Dr Lee Nixon quits the alcohol treatment program saying its coercive nature must end. ... The specialist doctor employed by the Northern Territory government for its Alcohol Mandatory Treatment program has resigned in protest of the way the legislation was implemented on the ground. The NT government introduced legislation this year that forces problem drinkers into rehabilitation for up to three months. ... he [Dr Lee Nixon] says more fundamentally, human rights violations against Aboriginal participants was apparent." By Marc Tong
* GREENS SENATOR RACHEL SIEWERT: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO ENGAGE ON NT ALCOHOL POLICIES
- Media Release
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Federal Government needs to engage on NT alcohol policies
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/federal-go...
17 Dec 13: "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues
The Australian Greens have called on the Federal Government to become more engaged with measures to reduce alcohol related harm in the NT.
"Increasing rates of alcohol consumption shows that the NT Government has got it wrong on reducing alcohol related harm in the community," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues said today.
"Getting rid of the alcohol-supply restrictions and implementing mandatory detention is not the sort of responsible and community-driven policy making we need to see. Alcohol abuse and alcohol related harm are whole-of-community problems, and both the NT and Federal Governments are failing to treat them as such.
"It is time for Governments to implement floor pricing, takeaway free days and better restrictions on the number of liquor outlets in the NT, as part of wider efforts to work with the community. This means standing up to the alcohol industry. ...
"Governments need to be paying attention to the evidence that is being presented and start working much harder to address the underlying causes of alcohol abuse.
"We need to see strong and stable investments in community driven programs that address the underlying issues that contribute to disadvantage, alcohol abuse and related harm," Senator Siewert concluded."
* BACKGROUND TO THE NT ALCOHOL MANDATORY TREATMENT BILL
Last updated: 17 December 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/07/03/background-to-the-nt-alcohol-mandator...
* THE STRINGER: TRADITIONAL HEALERS - NGANGKARI - IN AN AUSTRALIAN FIRST
- Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: Traditional healers - ngangkari - in an Australia-first
http://thestringer.com.au/traditional-healers-ngangkari-in-an-australia-...
17 Dec 13: "In an Australia-first, traditional Aboriginal healers from central Australia have coalesced to form a corporate body to coordinate the provision of their health care services. Recently in Adelaide the new body - Anangu Ngangkari Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation -launched the ‘Hand-in-Hand report on Aboriginal Traditional Medicine’. ... "The Anangu Ngangkari Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation is the first organisation of Aboriginal traditional healers in Australia, founded on the principle of self-determination. ... " said Dr Panzironi." By The Stringer
* GREENS SENATOR RACHEL SIEWERT: SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ISSUES NEED COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS
- Media Release
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: School attendance issues need comprehensive solutions
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/school-att...
20 Dec 13: "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues
The Australian Greens have raised concerns over plans to send truancy officers into remote communities, saying the complex issues which prevent kids going to school need broader and more comprehensive solutions.
"Rushing the placement of untrained truancy officers in time for the new school year is unlikely to have a sustained impact, given the complex issues that Aboriginal families and children are struggling with that contribute to poor attendance at school," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues said today.
"Nobody argues that education is a key to helping end Aboriginal disadvantage but it is simplistic to imply that these issues are as easy to overcome as putting a few truancy officers in place.
"Any efforts to improve school attendance need to address the underlying factors that prevent kids going to school in the first place, and then ensure that their experience at school is a strong and nurturing one.
"It is important to ensure that enough resources are dedicated to quality teaching and suitable class sizes to deal with the needs of many children in remote communities. We also need to see investments to support bilingual education, more language and culture in schooling, full time parent liaison officers and parent support groups. ... " [Senator Siewert said] "
* THEA COWIE, SBS RADIONEWS: SCEPTICISM OVER TRUANCY PLAN FOR REMOTE COMMUNITIES
- Audio
SBS Radionews: Scepticism over truancy plan for remote communities
By Thea Cowie
http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/307546/Sceptic...
20 Dec 13: "The idea of employing school truancy officers is an old one, but the federal government says it's a good one. ... Professor Buckskin is also sceptical about whether the right people can be found and properly trained by the time school resumes next year. ... Dr Chris Sarra is the chairman of the Stronger Smarter Institute which aims to reverse low expectations in Indigenous education. He's told the ABC school attendance officers will only make a difference if schools are engaging. ... " By Thea Cowie
* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: DESPITE WHAT'S BEING REPORTED, LIFE EXPECTANCY NOT IMROVING FOR ATSI PEOPLES - 1 IN 3 DEAD BY 45 YEARS OF AGE
- Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: Despite what’s being reported, life expectancy NOT improving for ATSI peoples - 1 in 3 dead by 45 years of age
http://thestringer.com.au/despite-whats-being-reported-life-expectancy-n...
7 Dec 13: "Despite the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) latest figures showing that life expectancy for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders has increased, on the ground in the Aboriginal communities that matter, in remote and semi-remote communities life expectancy is still in tune with third-world statistics. However, the ABS figures show an increase in the life expectancy for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders over the past five to seven years, which if true would slightly narrow the gap compared to non-Indigenous people. " By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist
* THE WIRE: CLOSING THE CREDIBILITY GAP IN INDIGENOUS HEALTH CARE [FEATURING PROFESSOR KERRY ARABENA]
- Audio Interview
The Wire: Closing the Credibility Gap in Indigenous health care
Produced by Bridget Backhaus
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=11077
22 Nov 13: "A symposium in Melbourne has spent the last few days discussing the difference between what we say we can and what we do to achieve health equity in Australia. The symposium focussed on the implementation of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013- 2023. ...
Featured in story: Professor Kerry Arabena - Director and Chair of Indigenous Health, Onemda, University of Melbourne"
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