Newsletter date: 28 August 2015; last updated 5:10pm AEST
Contents:
* Video & News Analysis: Danny Teece-Johnson, NITV News: At Redfern's the Block, spirits lifted after Tent Embassy win [includes NITV News Live from The Block]
* Video: Newzulu Australia: [Video] Sydney: Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy comments on housing deal [featuring Jenny Munro, founder of the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy]
* Audio: Bridget Brennan, ABC PM: Redfern's tent embassy claims victory as Federal Government offers money to end housing dispute at The Block [featuring Wiradjuri woman Jenny Munro, Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion, & AHC chairwoman Alisi Tutuila]
* Statement: Green Left Weekly: Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy declares victory "The Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy released this statement on August 27."
* News Analysis: Tom Joyner & Justin Pen, Honi Soit: Black heart, still beating: Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy claims important housing victory
* News Analysis: The Guardian: Victory at The Block: government gives $5m to homes for Aboriginal families
* News Analysis: Diane Fieldes, Red Flag: Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy - a win in sight?
* News Analysis: Daisy Dumas, Sydney Morning Herald: Redfern Aboriginal tent embassy given seven days to pack up and leave
* News Analysis: Pedestrian TV: Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy Claim Victory, Prepare To Vacate The Block
* facebook updates: Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy, facebook
WGAR News postings on Indymedia Australia: https://indymedia.org.au/newswire
WGAR News Public Google Group: https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en-GB#!forum/wgar-news
WGAR News - Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
- Video & News Analysis
NITV News: At Redfern's the Block, spirits lifted after Tent Embassy win
www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2015/08/27/redferns-block-spirits-lifted-aft...
27 Aug 15: "The ball is now in the court of the Aboriginal Housing Company CEO Mick Mundine to sign off on a deal to finance low-income Housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on the Block. ... The Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy is claiming victory after Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion stepped in to guarantee finance for low-income housing at the iconic landmark in the Sydney suburb of Redfern. ... NITV News Live from The Block: ... But late on Wednesday night, the Embassy announced a deal that will see $5 million in Federal funding put towards developing affordable housing. ... " By Danny Teece-Johnson; Source: NITV News
- Video
Newzulu Australia: [Video] Sydney: Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy comments on housing deal
[featuring Jenny Munro, founder of the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy]
http://www.newzulu.com.au/en/videos/world/2015-08-27/11896/video-sydney-...
27 Aug 15: "Jenny Munro, founder of the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy, speaks outside the Supreme Court in Sydney on August 27, 2015 about a 70 million AUD federal government deal that will ensure the construction of 62 homes for Indigenous families. Earlier this week the Supreme Court ordered the eviction of the embassy, ... The AHC will now be required to build the social housing for Indigenous families before or at the same time as the commercial development, under a new deal brokered by Indigenous Affairs Minister, Nigel Scullion. ... "
- Audio
ABC PM: Redfern's tent embassy claims victory as Federal Government offers money to end housing dispute at The Block
Reporter: Bridget Brennan
[featuring Wiradjuri woman Jenny Munro, Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion, & AHC chairwoman Alisi Tutuila]
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2015/s4301454.htm
27 Aug 15: "Mark Colvin: For more than a year, Aboriginal protesters have camped out at a tent embassy at The Block at Redfern in Sydney, demanding affordable housing be built on the famous site. Today, the New South Wales Supreme Court gave them a week to pack up and leave. But the tent embassy is still claiming a victory. Its organisers say the protest convinced the Federal Government to help fund housing for Aboriginal families at The Block. Bridget Brennan reports. ... "
- Statement
Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy declares victory
Green Left Weekly: https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/59886
27 Aug 15: "The Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy released this statement on August 27.
The Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy (RATE) has claimed an important victory in its fight for Aboriginal housing on the Block, ahead of a Supreme Court decision today on a timeline for forced eviction of the Embassy camp.
After more than a year of struggle from the Embassy, demanding Aboriginal housing, the federal government has been pulled to the table, committing a $5 million grant and helping to organise a bank loan in which all 62 dwellings earmarked in the Pemulwuy project would be built for Aboriginal families.
This is a huge turn around from 15 months ago, when the Aboriginal Housing Company (AHC) was making preparations to begin construction of the commercial aspects of the major Pemulwuy project.
The AHC had no finance to build the community housing that was supposed to be central to the Pemulwuy project.
There was a real threat the housing would never get built and the land would remain vulnerable to acquisition by developers.
The federal government grant has been made conditional on the Embassy’s central demand that construction of this housing must take place before, or at the same time, as the commercial aspects of the development. RATE is calling on the AHC to confirm agreement of these terms immediately. ... "
- News Analysis
Honi Soit: Black heart, still beating: Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy claims important housing victory
http://honisoit.com/2015/08/black-heart-still-beating-redfern-aboriginal...
27 Aug 15: "The Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy has claimed a pivotal, eleventh-hour victory in its lengthy battle against the Aboriginal Housing Company (AHC), announcing late last night it had brokered a deal that will see $5 million in federal funds flow to the development of affordable Aboriginal housing at The Block. "We’ve had some serious open-heart surgery there at The Block, but I think we can say after this that the black heart of the city is still beating", Wiradjuri elder and Embassy founder Jenny Munro told Honi. The agreement, reached amid a heated court battle, would require the AHC to build 62 rent-controlled dwellings for Aboriginal families. ... " Tom Joyner and Justin Pen report.
- News Analysis
The Guardian: Victory at The Block: government gives $5m to homes for Aboriginal families
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/27/victory-at-the-blo...
27 Aug 15: "Redfern’s tent embassy celebrates grant, which will pave way for Aboriginal Housing Company to organise a bank loan to fund community housing ... Protesters at The Block in inner Sydney say their battle cry has been heard with the federal government committing $5m to building homes for Aboriginal families at the site. Redfern Aboriginal tent embassy, led by Wiradjuri elder Jenny Munro, gathered outside the supreme court in Sydney on Thursday to celebrate the news. "That was always our battle cry from day one that affordable housing be built first for our people. I think we can rightfully today claim that victory," Munro said. ... " Australian Associated Press; Helen Davidson contributed to this report
- News Analysis
Red Flag: Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy - a win in sight?
https://redflag.org.au/article/redfern-aboriginal-tent-embassy-win-sight
27 Aug 15: " ... It’s not over till it’s over, as they say. While waiting to address the assembled media, Jenny Munro made it plain that the Redfern Tent Embassy stalwarts are prepared to fight on. There are Aboriginal grandmothers still willing to get in front of those bulldozers if that’s what it takes. But whatever comes next, Jenny Munro concluded outside the court this morning that “We’ve had some serious open-heart surgery there at the Block, but I think we can say after this that the black heart of the city is still beating”." Diane Fieldes
- News Analysis
Sydney Morning Herald: Redfern Aboriginal tent embassy given seven days to pack up and leave
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/redfern-aboriginal-tent-embassy-given-seven-da...
27 Aug 15: " ... But while their leader Jenny Munro was on Thursday given official marching orders by the NSW Supreme Court, federal minister Nigel Scullion made a point of applauding her efforts to help secure a $5 million federal government grant that guarantees the land is used for affordable Aboriginal housing. The minister stepped in to broker a deal between the tent embassy and the Aboriginal Housing Company when relations between the two groups hit a crisis point a fortnight ago. He said in a statement on Thursday that "had it not been for the groundswell of community feeling, including that of the tent embassy, we would not be here today". ... " Daisy Dumas, Writer
- News Analysis
Pedestrian TV: Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy Claim Victory, Prepare To Vacate The Block
https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/arts-and-culture/redfern-aboriginal-tent-...
" ... Wiradjuri elder and leader of RATE, Jenny Munro, said to Fairfax Media that their year of struggle was worth it: "I'm old school. My teachers taught me the principles of our resistance - we never ceded our land to anyone. The embassy has demonstrated that for our people, resistance is the only way to go. For all the communities around the country facing closure - don't talk sovereignty, assert your sovereignty. Put up an embassy and demand the funding for your basic rights. We will fight with you every step of the way." While tension and concerns of transparency still remain - AHC still refuse to allow Munro or any other RATE members to join their board ... "
- facebook updates
Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy, facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Redfern-Aboriginal-Tent-Embassy/249063975...
"Aboriginal Tent Embassy re established in Redfern on what is known as 'Sorry Day' 26th of May 2014. The Blacks in Sydney are silent no more... "
- Background:
Photo essay: John Donegan, ABC News: A day in the life of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Redfern
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-04/a-day-in-the-life-of-the-aborigina...
Photos: Jaroslaw L Gasiorek: Build Aboriginal Housing on The Block, 11.08.15 (410 images)
http://jaroslaw-gasiorek.photoshelter.com/gallery/Build-Aboriginal-Housi...
Photo Archive: Jaroslaw L Gasiorek - Street Photography: http://www.yarek.com.au/
Past facebook event: Friday August the 14th 2015: Support Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy's right to occupy The Block: rally outside court to defend 'trespass' charges
https://www.facebook.com/events/1685601811671669/
WGAR News: Redfern Tent Embassy claims victory with Aboriginal housing deal: Lucy McNally and staff, ABC News
https://indymedia.org.au/2015/08/27/wgar-news-redfern-tent-embassy-claim...
WGAR News: Redfern [Aboriginal] Tent Embassy Calls for Solidarity on 'Judgment Day' - Monday, 24 August 2015 - Supreme Court of NSW - facebook event
https://indymedia.org.au/2015/08/23/wgar-news-redfern-aboriginal-tent-em...
WGAR News: Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy protests at Parliament: Peter Boyle, Green Left Weekly
https://indymedia.org.au/2015/08/16/wgar-news-redfern-aboriginal-tent-em...
WGAR News: Federal Government Steps In To Mediate Over Fight For Redfern's The Block: Allan Clarke, BuzzFeed News Reporter, Australia
https://indymedia.org.au/2015/08/15/wgar-news-federal-government-steps-i...
WGAR News: Attorney-General alerted as Redfern [Aboriginal] tent embassy feud intensifies: Daisy Dumas, Sydney Morning Herald
https://indymedia.org.au/2015/07/14/wgar-news-attorney-general-alerted-a...
Analysis / Opinion: Rachel Evans & Jemma Nott, Green Left: Redfern tent embassy is 'not laying down'
https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/58404
Explainer: Andrea Booth, NITV News: Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy and Aboriginal Housing Company dispute
http://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/nitv-news/article/2015/02/24/explainer-redfer...
SBS The Block: Stories from a Meeting Place
http://www.sbs.com.au/theblock/
WGAR Background to the Aboriginal Sovereignty Movement
https://indymedia.org.au/2014/12/24/wgar-background-to-the-aboriginal-so...
(last updated: 27 August 2015)
WGAR Background to the Aboriginal sovereignty movement and the Aboriginal tent embassies
https://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-soverei...
(last updated: 29 May 2014)
- - -
WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
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