"Stronger Futures legislation will cause great suffering in our hearts"

MEDIA RELEASE (27.6.2012)by the Yolngu Nations Assembly and the Alyawaar Nation

Should this Stronger Futures legislation pass through the Senate and become law, it will be a day of mourning for all Aboriginal peoples. This legislation will be the cause of great suffering in our hearts.

For those of us living in the Northern Territory the anguish of the past five years of Intervention has been almost unbearable. Many have simply given up hope. We have been burying people who can no longer live with the pain and despair.

We had believed that we were moving to a time of security, where we would no longer live from day to day in a state of fear but would be supported to find our own destiny in the security of our law and our culture. We little expected to be thrown into such turmoil by a Government determined to remove from us control over everything that we most value.

Money alone can never be the answer. Government has never understood and still fails to understand, that badly needed funds must be accompanied by the willingness to allow us to determine the direction of our lives. There must be respect and genuine partnership, not the top-down approach which undermines and devalues us as a people.

How is it that so many from across Australia – from small organisations, from churches and national institutions - understand the value and importance of our people determining their own futures, whereas Government does not?

If this legislation should pass the senate, one thing that Government needs to know is that Aboriginal people will fight. We will never accept this racist legislation that separates us from other Australians and creates its own Apartheid in our country. Furthermore those thousands of people who have given us their statements of support will be with us. We will fight together for real justice.

Aboriginal peoples of the Northern Territory will never give up their rights – their right to live in true safety with the certainty that their culture and their language and their law will be protected and respected, as it is under international law under conventions to which Australia is a signatory.

We put the Government on notice. Do not pass this racist legislation.

Rev. Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra OAM
Spokesperson for the Yolngu National Assembly
And
Rosalie Kunoth Monks OAM
Spokesperson for the Alyawaar Nation
27 June 2012

National Indigenous Times: Intervention - Gondarra in High Court challenge
http://www.nit.com.au/your-say.html
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1342-intervention-gondarra-in-high-court-chal...
28 Jun 12: "Dr Gondarra said he believed the [extension of the NT Intervention] legislation, is race-based and discriminatory. "If this passes I will have to bring this before the High Court," Dr Gondarra said. "I will challenge this through the High Court in Australia. "I will not stop fighting. I will fight and fight until this legislation is in the bin; until this legislation that is damaging the nation of ours is destroyed and we all start fresh, new, a new dialogue, a new policy, a policy where the Elders get together with the Australian government to talk," he said."

STRONGER FUTURES IS A "WAR ON DEMOCRACY": GONDARRA

- News

newsTracker: Stronger Futures is a "war on democracy": Gondarra
http://tracker.org.au/2012/06/stronger-futures-is-a-war-on-democracy-gon...
29 Jun 12: Dhurili leader Reverend Djiniyini Gondarra is an outspoken opponent of the Gillard government’s controversial Stronger Futures policy. (AFP PHOTO/BEN STANSALL)

A respected Yolngu leader has slammed both major parties for passing the Stronger Futures laws, stating they have both “stolen the authority and responsibility of Aboriginal people” and started a “war on democracy”.

The Stronger Futures laws, which extend and expand many aspects of the NT intervention, were passed in the Senate early this morning, following a marathon debate surrounding the asylum seeker crisis.

The laws have been subject to strong opposition campaign from civil, human rights and Aboriginal organisations.

The Greens were the only party to oppose the legislation.

The laws were amended to reduce the review period from seven to three years. But attempts to cut the sunset clause from 10 years to five were defeated.

Stronger Futures was passed despite calls for the government to refer it to a parliamentary committee on human rights to scrutinize whether it complied with Australia’s international rights obligations.

Yolngu leader Rev Dr Djiniyini Gondarra today slammed the government and opposition, stating both could not be trusted.

He has labeled it a “war on democracy”.

“In this country we have a very poor understanding of democracy. Government is supposed to belong to the people and be for the people. But Aboriginal people will always be seen as second class citizens in this country,” Rev Gondarra told Tracker.

“The government has stolen the authority and responsibility from us. They’ve taken it from us without properly sitting down with us.

“They’ve taken away the leadership and responsibility just in the same way as at the time of invasion, when they stole our sovereignty.”

Rev Gondarra says today is a day of mourning and that both parties have lost the trust of Aboriginal people.

“There will be a lot of angry people, and not just Aboriginal people, but those who have fought for justice,” Rev Gondarra said.

“Aboriginal people will always oppose anything that comes from these two parties. We will not listen to them. Aboriginal people will not take and enter into negotiations with these two parties… we will only work with the independents and the Greens.”

Rev Gondarra said the Greens should be congratulated for standing up for the rights of Aboriginal people.

He says the fight will continue.

“I want to say thank you to the many Australians, black and white, those from the different sectors in government and in the church as well as the individuals that have walked with us.

“In my heart I say thank you for being with us. I encourage them to continue to fight with us, not to give up.

“Because this is very important. Democracy in this country must be seen as an authority. It must be practiced for all people, regardless fo whetehr we are black or white.”

The laws have also been condemned by the Executive Director of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, Sydney Archdiocese Graeme Mundine.

“This is a sad day for all Aboriginal people in Australia and it is a sad day for democracy,” Mr Mundine said.

“The Stronger Futures legislation has now passed through both Houses of Parliament despite comprehensive opposition from Northern Territory Aboriginal Nations, community groups, Churches, welfare groups and others.

“More than 43,000 people have signed a petition and more than 450 submissions were made to the Senate inquiry. International Human Rights bodies have criticized the legislation and countless letters have been sent to Parliamentarians.

“Most importantly, Aboriginal people have made it clear that issues can be better addressed through respectful partnerships rather than through racist and discriminatory legislation.

“Civil society has played its part in our democratic process, but Government and Opposition Parliamentarians have failed in their responsibilities.

“They have ignored the voice of the people and pushed their own ill-informed and racist agenda.

Amnesty International says the laws show the Gillard government’s “blatant disregard” for its human rights obligations.

“Rather than genuinely listening to and working with the communities affected, the government has simply pushed through laws that extend some of the punitive aspects of the Intervention, such as linking school attendance with welfare payments,” Monica Morgan, Manager of Amnesty International’s Indigenous Rights Program said.

“It is difficult to imagine how these policies can work when there are such strong feelings of continued mistrust amongst the affected communities.

“Aboriginal Peoples in remote communities deserve the same respect, safety and protection as does any Australian – but this will not be achieved in a sustained manner under Stronger Futures.

“By not subjecting the Bills to scrutiny under the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee, the government has missed its opportunity to respect the rights of Aboriginal Peoples in the NT, leaving the people who will bear the brunt of these policies under continued Government control for the next decade.”

* CONGRESS STATEMENT: PASSAGE OF THE STRONGER FUTURES BILLS

- Statement

National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples:
Congress Statement: Passage of the Stronger Futures Bills
http://nationalcongress.com.au/congress-statement-passage-of-the-stronge...
29 Jun 12: "Congress says that even though the laws to continue the Northern Territory Intervention have passed they still should be examined by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights.

While we are disappointed at the outcome, we will ensure Aboriginal people are aware of the available complaints mechanisms, if needed. ...

We will continue consult our members about the next steps and continue to keep Government accountable on delivery of services and funding in the Northern Territory."

See:
Background to National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples
Last updated: 5 May 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/05/background-to-the-national-congress-o...

* ACM SYDNEY: A SAD DAY FOR DEMOCRACY BUT THE FIGHT WILL CONTINUE

- News

ACM Sydney: A sad day for democracy but the fight will continue
http://acmsydney.wordpress.com/2012/06/29/a-sad-day-for-democracy-but-th...

29 Jun 12: "Graeme Mundine, Executive Director of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, Sydney Archdiocese, has lamented the Senate’s passing of the Stronger Futures Legislation on Thursday evening. "This is a sad day for all Aboriginal people in Australia and it is a sad day for democracy," Mr Mundine said. ... "Civil society has played its part in our democratic process, but Government and Opposition Parliamentarians have failed in their responsibilities. They have ignored the voice of the people and pushed their own ill-informed and racist agenda." [Mr Mundine said]"

* ACOSS: WRONG WAY, GO BACK: COMMUNITIES SEEK A CHANGE OF DIRECTION ON INCOME MANAGEMENT

- Media Release

Australian Council of Social Service: Wrong way, go back: Communities seek a change of direction on income management
http://www.acoss.org.au/media/release/wrong_way_go_back_communities_seek...

29 Jun 12: "Peak welfare bodies the Australian Council of Social Service and the National Welfare Rights Network and grass roots community groups are disturbed by the entrenchment of Income Management in the Northern Territory and its extension to five new areas from 1 July. The groups argue that to impose income management on communities without proper consultation and solid evidence on its effects is wasteful and demeaning to those people whose household budgets will be controlled by Centrelink.

"We are extremely disappointed to see the Government's 'Stronger Futures' legislation passed in the Senate in the early hours of this morning, that not only extends the NT intervention by another 10 years, but also now imposes the unproven income management model for people on social security payments to five trial sites outside the Top End. The Government committed to evaluate the Northern Territory scheme before extending it further but has now extended aspects of it anyway, both in the Territory and the five new sites, " said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie. ... "