Newsletter date: 18 January 2014
Contents:
* Sovereign Union: Anderson: Cuts to Aboriginal Legal Aid budget deny natural justice and rights of appeal
* Background to the Aboriginal sovereignty movement
* Marc Tong, SBS Living Black Radio: Fighting to Stay Afloat [Featuring Chairperson of NATSILS, Kalkadoon Wonkamudla man Shane Duffy]
* WGAR News: NATSILS Factsheet: funding cuts to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (22 December 2013)
* Tracker: Wyatt takes aim at Mundine's legal cut stance
* CAAMA Radio: Peak Aboriginal organisations challenge funding cuts to child protection [Featuring Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory spokesperson Jared Sharp]
* Background to Justice Reinvestment, Aboriginal imprisonment and Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
* SNAICC News: Defunding of NATSILS and Congress raises major concerns
* SNAICC News: Congress to hold urgent meetings with members and supporters
* Brooke Boney, NITV News: Audit chief: No guarantee Indigenous spending will be immune from cuts
* Background to National Congress of Australia's First Peoples
* SOVEREIGN UNION: ANDERSON: CUTS TO ABORIGINAL LEGAL AID BUDGET DENY NATURAL JUSTICE AND RIGHTS OF APPEAL
- Media Release
Sovereign Union: Anderson: Cuts to Aboriginal Legal Aid budget deny natural justice and rights of appeal
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/content/anderson-cuts-aboriginal-lega...
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/pdf/2014/140114-MA-SU-LegalAidCUT.pdf
14 Jan 14: "Cuts to Aboriginal Legal Aid budget deny natural justice and rights of appeal
Convenor of the Sovereign Union of First Nations and Peoples in Australia, said from Goodooga today:
The recent cuts by the Commonwealth government to the Aboriginal Legal Aid budget demonstrate the need for Aboriginal people to change the way they do business with governments.
[ http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/303557/t... ]
These cuts to legal aid will also deny people of their natural legal right to appeal severity of sentencing and to appeal the facts presented by police, etc. There will be others who will no longer have access to the Court of Criminal Appeal from within prison. The underfunded pilot diversionary programs being introduced are no substitute for natural justice.
What complicates these cuts even more is the fact that PM Tony Abbott's leading Aboriginal advisor, Warren Mundine, supports the budget cuts and dismisses any arguments about the delivery of true justice by establishing a monologue on ideology versus pragmatism. Such a debate has no place when we talk about the dire need for justice.
[ http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/when-ideology-t... ] " Ghillar Michael Anderson, Head of State of Euahlayi Peoples Republic, Convenor and Joint Spokesperson of the Sovereign Union of First Nations and Peoples in Australia
* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT:
Last updated: 16 January 2014
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* MARC TONG, SBS LIVING BLACK RADIO: FIGHTING TO STAY AFLOAT
[FEATURING CHAIRPERSON OF NATSILS, KALKADOON WONKAMUDLA MAN SHANE DUFFY]
- Audio Interview
SBS Living Black Radio: Fighting to Stay Afloat
By Marc Tong
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/311160/t...
10 Jan 13: "The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services says it will look for other income alternatives once funding stops. ... The peak body representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services is determined to stay afloat saying the federal government does not possess its depth of knowledge in the field. ... Chairperson of NATSILS, Kalkadoon Wonkamudla man Shane Duffy says the organisation will now look for other funding alternatives. But he says they are many barriers for NATSILS to generate its own income. He tells Marc Tong the funding cuts came as a shock to everyone in the field."
* WGAR NEWS: NATSILS FACTSHEET: FUNDING CUTS TO ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER LEGAL SERVICES (22 DECEMBER 2013)
- Compilations
WGAR News: NATSILS Factsheet: funding cuts to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (22 December 2013)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/12/21/wgar-news-natsils-factsheet-funding-c...
"Contents:
* NATSILS - National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services: Government to defund Aboriginal Legal Services Peak Body and all Law Reform and Policy Positions
* NATSILS Factsheet: funding cuts to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Services
* CAALAS - Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service: Cuts to Aboriginal legal aid will silence Aboriginal communities
* NACCHO political health news: Abbott Government cuts to impact on Aboriginal health
* SNAICC News: Media Release 18 December 2013 - Cuts to Aboriginal Legal Services
* ANTaR: Cuts to Aboriginal Legal Services will undermine action on Aboriginal jobs and education
* ANTaR: Take Action: Abbott Government delivers a blow to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice
* Oxfam Australia Media: Cuts to Aboriginal Legal Services will widen the gap
* WA Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Abbott’s legal aid cuts a bad sign for justice in WA
* Greens Senator Penny Wright: Abbott's cruel cuts will raise indigenous prison rates
* ABC PM: Funding cuts to cripple Indigenous legal services [Featuring NATSILS chairman, Shane Duffy]
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Government defunding NATSILS makes no sense
* Human Rights Law Centre: Aboriginal legal service cuts will make justice more remote
* Amnesty International Australia: Legal cuts a massive blow for Indigenous Australians
* Equality Rights Alliance: NATSIWA calls for a halt to funding cuts
* Mid North Coast Greens: The Government has proposed cuts to the funding for Aboriginal legal services and the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples
* Australian Human Rights Commission: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs at risk [Cuts to Aboriginal legal aid]
* The Guardian: Five questions to Amy McQuire: on Australia's two worlds - one for black and one for white [Includes cuts to Aboriginal legal aid]
* News.com.au : More indigenous in jail without legal aid
* Videos on the cuts to Aboriginal legal aid
* Background to Justice Reinvestment, Aboriginal imprisonment and Aboriginal Deaths in Custody"
WGAR News: Indigenous legal aid cuts must not go ahead: Greens Senators Rachel Siewert & Penny Wright (25 November 2013)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/11/24/wgar-news-indigenous-legal-aid-cuts-m...
"Contents:
* Greens Senators Rachel Siewert & Penny Wright: Indigenous legal aid cuts must not go ahead
* Amy McQuire, Tracker: Come clean on Indigenous legal aid cuts: Greens
* Brooke Boney, NITV News: Nova Peris questions Indigenous legal aid cuts
* WGAR News: Coalition's proposed cuts 'a heartless decision' says ALSWA: Aboriginal Legal Service WA (9 Sep 13)
* Background to Justice Reinvestment, Aboriginal imprisonment and Aboriginal Deaths in Custody ... "
* TRACKER: WYATT TAKES AIM AT MUNDINE'S LEGAL CUT STANCE
- News
newsTracker: Wyatt takes aim at Mundine's legal cut stance
http://tracker.org.au/2014/01/wyatt-takes-aim-at-mundines-legal-cut-stance/
9 Jan 14: "NATIONAL: A senior Indigenous parliamentarian has taken the prime minister’s key Aboriginal adviser to task for failing to criticise government funding cuts to Aboriginal legal aid. Ben Wyatt, a state Labor frontbencher in Western Australia, says Warren Mundine is using his position as chairman of Tony Abbott’s Indigenous advisory council to defend the government. Mr Mundine argues it is unrealistic to expect Indigenous affairs spending to be immune from budget cuts. ... Mr Wyatt agrees, but says he expects Mr Mundine to remind the government of the real consequences of its decisions." By Tracker
* CAAMA RADIO: PEAK ABORIGINAL ORGANISATIONS CHALLENGE FUNDING CUTS TO CHILD PROTECTION
[FEATURING ABORIGINAL PEAK ORGANISATIONS OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY SPOKESPERSON JARED SHARP]
- Audio Interview
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: Peak Aboriginal organisations challenge funding cuts to child protection
http://caama.com.au/peak-aboriginal-organisations-challenge-funding-cuts...
18 Dec 13: "Further criticism of the Northern Territory CLP Government decision to to cut funding to the peak Aboriginal child protection body in the Territory – Strong Aboriginal Families, Together (SAF,T). The establishment of SAF,T was one of the key reforms following the Growing them Strong, Together Inquiry into the NT’s child protection system. SAF,T has played a key role in: Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory spokesperson Jared Sharp says SAF,T is working to improve the protection and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and families in the NT and should continue to be funded to perform this vital role."
* BACKGROUND TO JUSTICE REINVESTMENT, ABORIGINAL IMPRISONMENT AND ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY:
Last updated: 22 December 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/12/17/background-to-aboriginal-imprisonment...
* SNAICC NEWS: DEFUNDING OF NATSILS AND CONGRESS RAISES MAJOR CONCERNS
- News
SNAICC News: Defunding of NATSILS and Congress raises major concerns
[SNAICC: Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care]
http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1311
16 Jan 14: "SNAICC has expressed its concerns at the Australian Government’s plan to defund the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) and the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples. ... NATSILS said in a Media Release, the funding cuts will mean that even more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will not be able to access essential legal services and will further entrench Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as second-class citizens in their own country. ... "
* SNAICC NEWS: CONGRESS TO HOLD URGENT MEETINGS WITH MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS
- News
SNAICC News: Congress to hold urgent meetings with members and supporters
[SNAICC: Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care]
http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1309
15 Jan 14: "National Congress of Australia's First Peoples (Congress) Co-Chairs will be holding urgent meetings with Congress members and supporters across Australia to provide information and discuss its future in the wake of the Government's advice that it may not fund the body beyond June 2104.
The schedule of meetings is as follows:
* Alice Springs, NT - 16 January
* Brisbane, QLD - 28 January
* Perth, WA - 28 January
* Townsville, QLD - 29 January
* Adelaide, SA - 29 January
* Melbourne, VIC - 30 January
* Sydney, NSW - 31 January
For more information on these meetings, please visit the Congress Unite and Support Strong Black Voices webpage. [ http://nationalcongress.com.au/congress-events/ ] "
* BROOKE BONEY, NITV NEWS: AUDIT CHIEF: NO GUARANTEE INDIGENOUS SPENDING WILL BE IMMUNE FROM CUTS
- Video
NITV News: Audit chief: No guarantee Indigenous spending will be immune from cuts
By Brooke Boney; Source NITV News
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/01/15/audit-chief-no-guarantee-i...
15 Jan 14: " ... The government wants a surplus of at least $15 billion dollars within the next 10 years, but questions remain over how this will accumulate. The government spends about $400 billion per year and nearly $12 billion of that is Indigenous expenditure. Mr Abbott initially stated he wanted to be "the Prime Minister for Indigenous Affairs," but many believe his recent budget cuts suggest otherwise. The effects of Abbott's budget cuts will not be clear until the end of February, when the first phase of the report is released. A final copy is due at the end of March. ... " By Brooke Boney
* BACKGROUND TO NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST PEOPLES:
Last updated: 23 December 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/05/background-to-the-national-congress-o...
- - -
WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
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