WGAR News: Productivity Commission statistics highlight continuing Stolen Generation: Grandmothers Against Removals (GMAR)

Newsletter date: 27 November 2014

WGAR News Public Google Group: https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en-GB#!forum/wgar-news
WGAR News - Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

Contents:

* Media Release: Grandmothers Against Removals: Productivity Commission statistics highlight continuing Stolen Generation
* Analysis / Opinion: Amy McQuire, New Matilda: Removal Of Aboriginal Children At Crisis Point And Rising
* Analysis / Opinion: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: The catastrophe of the Stolen Generations, 2014

* Analysis / Opinion: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: 600 Black deaths in custody by 2025 & jail numbers to soar
* News: Amy McQuire, New Matilda: Family Of Man Shot By Police Protest Ongoing Practice Of Cops Probing Cops
* Analysis / Opinion: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Police shot man dead who had no firearm
* Audio: Mark Colvin, ABC PM: Campaign to stop jailing mentally ill without conviction grows
* Audio Interviews: Cassandra Tim, National Indigenous Radio's 'Weekly News-in-Review'

* Audio: Chris Uhlmann, ABC AM: Indigenous elder says government programs failing to stop youth suicide
* Analysis / Opinion: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: The smaller a community, the less likely suicide
* Media Release: Rachel Siewert, Greens call for a changed approach to reduce Aboriginal suicide
* Journal article: Australian Indigenous Health Bulletin: Using participatory action research to prevent suicide in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
* Audio: Chris Uhlmann, ABC AM: Indigenous imprisonment and suicide rates are up, but life expectancy gap has closed

- Media Release

Grandmothers Against Removals: Productivity Commission statistics highlight continuing Stolen Generation
http://stopstolengenerations.com.au/?page_id=1181
http://stopstolengenerations.com.au/?page_id=25
20 Nov 14: "Grandmothers Against Removals (NSW) has condemned what it calls a continuing Stolen Generation of Aboriginal children, citing shocking statistics in the Productivity Commission report, Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage - Key Indicators 2014.
The report details a massive 436 per cent increase in "care and protection" orders on Indigenous children between 2004 - 2013. Overwhelmingly, children on such orders are living away from their parents in "out of home care".
The report states (4.81):
"The rate per 1000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children on care and protection orders increased from 11.3 per 1000 children at 30 June 2004 to 49.3 per 1000 children at 30 June 2013, the rate per 1000 non-Indigenous children increased from 2.6 per 1000 children at 30 June 2004 to 5.7 per 1000 children at 30 June 2013 leading to an increase in the gap, from 8.7 per 1000 children to 43.6 per 1000 children".
While the Productivity Commission summary and news headlines focussed on appalling statistics such as a 48 per cent increase in hospitalisation for self-harm and a 57 per cent increase in incarceration, the shocking indicators on so called "Child Protection" were buried in the report. ... "

Grandmothers Against Removals (GMAR) homepage: http://stopstolengenerations.com.au/

About
http://stopstolengenerations.com.au/?page_id=113
"Gunnedah grandmothers fight against the removal of Indigenous kids. The group Grandmothers Against Removals (GMAR) was formed in January in an effort to highlight the process of removal used by the New South Wales Department of Children’s Services. ... "Our children, they have silent voices," said Gunnedah grandmother Aunty Hazel. "We as their grandparents, as their families, we need to be their voices for our little babies. We want our babies home, this cannot be continued."

- Analysis / Opinion

New Matilda: Removal Of Aboriginal Children At Crisis Point And Rising
https://newmatilda.com/2014/11/20/report-reveals-removal-aboriginal-chil...
20 Nov 14: "The Productivity Commission has claimed some progress in Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage, but the report also includes harrowing figures on Aboriginal 'child protection'. Amy McQuire reports. The rates of Aboriginal children removed from their families have increased each year since Kevin Rudd said sorry to the Stolen Generations, and more and more are being placed with non-Indigenous carers, a new report into Indigenous disadvantage has revealed." By Amy McQuire, a senior reporter with New Matilda. She's the former editor of Tracker magazine and the National Indigenous Times.

New Matilda homepage: https://newmatilda.com/

About Us - newmatilda.com
https://newmatilda.com/about-us
"New Matilda is independent journalism at its best. The site has been publishing intelligent coverage of Australian and international politics, media and culture since 2004. You'll find new stories on the homepage daily. ... We believe that robust media is fundamental to a healthy democracy - and there's never been a more important time for independent media in Australia. With shrinking media diversity, and huge changes underway in delivery, there are fewer and fewer outlets publishing independent-minded journalism like ours. ... "

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: The catastrophe of the Stolen Generations, 2014
http://thestringer.com.au/the-catastrophe-of-the-stolen-generations-2014...
20 Nov 14: "The rates of removals of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children during the last decade have gone beyond the alarming. During those years, despite the unheard outcries from less than 3 per cent of the population - First Peoples - departments of child welfare went carte blanche in removing children. The high rates should have triggered a response from the Commonwealth but it was all let slide. In 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered the Apology to the Stolen Generations, as if all was well, and "that the injustices of the past will never happen again" but all the while they were and continue to be happening - children removed at record-high rates." By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist

About Us - The Stringer
http://thestringer.com.au/about-us
"The Stringer is an independent online news site, delivering free-to-access independent news to readers daily. We went live on February 20 and formally launched on February 25, 2013 at the Media at the Crossroads Conference at NSW Parliament’s Theatrette. The Stringer was founded by media academic and producer Jennifer Kaeshagen and by multi-award winning investigative journalist Gerry Georgatos. The Stringer team: Co-Editor & Journalist - Gerry Georgatos; Co-Editor & Producer - Jennifer Kaeshagen ... "

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: 600 Black deaths in custody by 2025 & jail numbers to soar
http://thestringer.com.au/600-black-deaths-in-custody-by-2025-jail-numbe...
20 Nov 14: "Yesterday, ten years ago Mulrunji Doomadgee was bashed to death in a Palm Island police cell. His death is one of many deaths in custody which occurred in either murderous or in the least – dubious circumstances. Despite the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADC), deaths in custody continue at inexcusable rates. But the tragedy of deaths in custody is borne by the spiralling imprisonment rates of First Peoples, which are among the world’s highest jailing rates. ... " By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist

Gerry Georgatos - The Stringer
http://thestringer.com.au/gerry-georgatos-contributing-editor-and-journa...
19 Feb 13: " ... Gerry has completed two Masters trying to understand racism and the ways forward. He has fought a number of campaigns, often at great personal toll, in trying to eliminate racism, including from universities - he was once told by a university official, "What do these blacks want? An education? Send them back to the bush where they belong!" Gerry is currently completing a PhD on Australian Custodial Systems and Australian Deaths in Custody. ... "

- News

New Matilda: Family Of Man Shot By Police Protest Ongoing Practice Of Cops Probing Cops
https://www.newmatilda.com/2014/11/19/family-man-shot-police-protest-ong...
19 Nov 14: "Residents of a tiny NSW town have turned out to protest the police shooting of a man four years ago. Justice still evades them, they say. Amy McQuire reports. Friends and family of an Aboriginal man shot dead by a police officer four years ago in north west NSW have spoken of the traumatic last 40 seconds of his life, and condemned the ongoing practice of allowing police to investigate police. On November 11, 2010, Aboriginal man Mark Mason Snr was shot by a police officer in the small north-west town of Collerenebri, ... " By Amy McQuire, a senior reporter with New Matilda. She's the former editor of Tracker magazine and the National Indigenous Times.

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: Police shot man dead who had no firearm
http://thestringer.com.au/police-shot-man-dead-who-had-no-firearm-9112
21 Nov 14: "On November 14, a father of four was remembered after being shot dead four years ago by police in a northern NSW town. The family of the man believe that justice has evaded them. But they will not give up. It took the coroner’s office three years to complete the investigation into the Aboriginal man’s death. Nearly fifty people gathered to remember Mr Mason in the small town of Collarenebri, ... Rights advocates, including Indigenous Social Justice Association president, Ray Jackson and the Aboriginal Legal Services stalwart Stephen Lawrence ... converged on Collarenebri to support the family." By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist

- Audio

ABC PM: Campaign to stop jailing mentally ill without conviction grows
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2014/s4133730.htm
21 Nov 14: "A national campaign to stop mentally disabled people being jailed without a conviction is gaining momentum. The Aboriginal Disability Justice Campaign estimates more than a hundred people are in that predicament around the country and about half of them are Indigenous Australians. Lawyers, academics and justice and welfare groups met in Melbourne today to develop an action plan. Samantha Donovan reports." Mark Colvin

PM About Us - Mark Colvin
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/about.html#presenter
"Radio is fresh, immediate and cheap to make, so there's a chance to go anywhere in the world for a breaking story' says Mark. 'I love PM because it has the space to explore a wide range of the day's issues in more details and with more depth than the soundbite sausage-machine".

- Audio Interviews

National Indigenous Radio's 'Weekly News-in-Review' - November 21, 2014
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4pny5qmyntp4zjx/Weekly%20News%20in%20Review%20...
21 Nov 14: "This week's episode is presented by Cassandra Tim.
This week:
* Alec Doomadgee speaking on the 10th anniversary of the infamous death in custody on Palm Island;
* Arrernte social commentator Celeste Liddle discusses the 'First Contact' television program on SBS;
* Professor Pat Dudgeon from the University of Western Australia on the results of a Productivity Commission report on disadvantage;
* Members of Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance speak at a rally on decolonisation.
Producers: Merinda Ninyette, Cassandra Tim and Warren Barnsley"

NIRS Homepage: http://www.nirs.org.au/program/PROGRAMS/article/14089/NIRS-Weekly-New-in...

- Audio

ABC AM: Indigenous elder says government programs failing to stop youth suicide
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2014/s4132272.htm
20 Nov 14: "An Indigenous elder from the Northern Territory says the $25 billion governments spend each year on Aboriginal programs has failed to stem high rates of youth suicide. David Cole says Indigenous communities in the Top End have some of the highest rates of youth suicide in the world and funding should be redirected to grass roots Aboriginal organisations to stop the deaths. A report out yesterday found the suicide rate among young Indigenous people was almost four times the rate of the rest of the population. Sue Lannin reports. " Chris Uhlmann

AM About Us - Chris Uhlmann
http://www.abc.net.au/am/about.html#presenter
"Chris Uhlmann is one of the ABC’s most respected journalists. He was most recently the political editor of ABC TVs 7.30 and ABC News 24. ... "

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: The smaller a community, the less likely suicide
http://thestringer.com.au/the-smaller-a-community-the-less-likely-suicid...
25 Nov 14: "Suicides are less likely in small remote communities and instead are more likely in larger remote and regional towns. Western Australia’s Premier linked ‘high suicide rates’ in remote communities to justifications for the State to shut down 100 to 150 small remote communities. These small communities are actually places of respite and refuge, safe havens, where troubled at-risk people do go to. In these communities they are distant from the risk factors that indeed flourish in large towns. ... " By Gerry Georgatos

"Declaration of conflict of interest - the author of this article, Gerry Georgatos is a suicide prevention researcher and a senior national consultant to the ATSISPEP (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Evaluation Project)"

- Media Release

Rachel Siewert, Greens call for a changed approach to reduce Aboriginal suicide
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/greens-cal...
26 Nov 14: "The Australian Greens said today that urgent action is needed to address the Aboriginal suicide rate, particularly in WA and that implementation of recommendations in reports such as the Hear Our Voices report is a good place to start.
"We know that accurate numbers around mental health and suicide are difficult to attain, but clearly these are significant and growing issues in Western Australia, as they are around the country," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues said today.
"Reports today indicating that the number of deaths of Aboriginal children and young people this year could be double the official figures are deeply disturbing.
"There needs to be changes in the approaches taken to addressing suicide, with more focus and support for community developed, driven and managed programs. ... "

- Journal article

Australian Indigenous Health Bulletin: Using participatory action research to prevent suicide in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
http://healthbulletin.org.au/articles/using-participatory-action-researc...
26 Nov 14: "Issue: Vol 14 No 4, October 2014 - December 2014 ...
Cox A, Dudgeon P, Holland C, Kelly K, Scrine C, Walker R (2014)
Using participatory action research to prevent suicide in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
Australian Journal of Primary Health; 20: (345-349)"

- Audio

ABC AM: Indigenous imprisonment and suicide rates are up, but life expectancy gap has closed
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2014/s4131530.htm
19 Nov 14: "There are some shocking results for Indigenous Australians in the latest statistics measured by the Productivity Commission. Imprisonment and juvenile detention rates have worsened compared to non-Indigenous Australians and the suicide rate was almost twice the rate of non-Indigenous people. Some positives have emerged, including that the life expectancy gap has closed. Political correspondent Louise Yaxley joins me with this snapshot of the latest figures. And Louise, where have the gaps widened?" Chris Uhlmann

- - -

WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

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WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)