Australia

Newsletter date: 16 June 2012

Contents:
* avaaz.org Petition: Stop the next indigenous intervention - bring self-partnership back to Aboriginal policy making
* ACM Sydney: Last-ditch call to Senators to drop Stronger Futures
* Background to support for the Yolngu statement
* The Malpa Project fully supports the statement of the Yolngu Nations Assembly and the people of the Eastern Alyawarr Region
* Australian Peace Committee expresses support for the Yolngu Nations
* Bankstown Sydney Rally marks 5 years of NT Intervention: 12 noon, 16 June 2012

Newsletter date: 14 June 2012

Contents:
* Background to support for the Yolngu statement
* Gurindji People of Daguragu and Kalkarinji call on government to get rid of 'Stronger Futures' laws
* Tangentyere CEO, Walter Shaw, calls for help from 'fair-minded' Australians
* WCC appeals to Government of Australia to respect the wishes of Yolngu Nations Assembly
* FATSILC statement regarding Stronger Futures Bill and Northern Territory Policies
* NCSMC stands in union with Yolngu Nations and opposes Stronger Futures Bill

The Philippine-Australia military agreement, known as the Status of the Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), which was poised to be ratified by the Philippine senate on June 6, has now been postponed until late July for final ratification. The SOVFA will enable Australian troops to conduct military exercises and other related activities in the Philippines. The SOVFA, as with the US Visiting Forces Agreement, sets the guidelines for the treatment of visiting Australian troops. The SoVFA was signed in Canberra in May 2007.

It still remains important for the Office of the Prime Minister to come clean about the extent of their role in trying to orchestrate members of Aboriginal Tent Embassy to attend the Lobby restaurant on Australia Day.