No-one in government cares enough about Aboriginal peoples
Gerry Georgatos
Well placed sources, including parliamentarians, in the Australian Labor Party, the Coalition, and the Greens have made surprising comments that issues afflicting Aboriginal peoples and 'Aboriginal affairs' are in the 'too hard basket' or 'best swept under the carpet'.
By Gerry Georgatos
The Office of the Prime Minister continues to deny any involvement in sparking the Lobby restaurant incident - and their official spokesperson claims that Tony Hodges went rogue and acted alone. Two separate well placed sources in government and who are close to the Office of the Prime Minister have said that Mr Hodges did not act alone and that indeed the Office of the Prime Minister was extensively involved.
It is disingenous for Julia Gillard, Wayne Swan, Stephen Conroy, Bill Shorten and others to be smashing the reputation of Kevin Rudd and to dishevel the legacy of his time in the Office of the Prime Minister.
The ObserverTree is a platform situated 60m above the ground in an old-growth Eucalyptus Delegatensis tree, in the heart of Tasmania’s southern forests. On the 14th of December 2011 conservationist Miranda Gibson climbed a rope to the top of the tree and vowed to stay untill the forest is protected. Miranda’s upper canopy home is a tree under imminent threat, in a forest due to be logged any day now.
Three men being held in Pontville detention centre in Tasmania have been on hunger strike for 11 days now, at the lack of progress of their refugee assessments. Around 150, more than half of the Afghan asylum seekers at Pontville detention centre in Tasmania were involved in a hunger strike, with most suspending their fast on January 25 to continue talks with immigration officials.
LONG TERM AFGHAN ASYLUM SEEKERS STAGE MASS HUNGER STRIKE AT PONTVILLE : THREE HOSPITALISED
Frustrations over the Immigration department’s reneging on promises of community detention and bridging visas for long term detainees have spilled over to the Pontville detention centre in Tasmania.
Around 150, more than half of the Afghan asylum seekers at Pontville detention centre in Tasmania are now involved in a hunger strike. The asylum seekers have been in detention between 15 and 33 months.
At the end of 2011 The Huon centre turns ten years old, and this is an incredible achievement for our volunteer not for profit organisation.
To celebrate this milestone we are holding a festival between January 20th – 22nd 2012 in Southern Tasmania. There will be musicians, circus events, speakers workshops and food stalls.
Located in Southern Tasmania the Huon Valley Environment Centre has advocated tirelessly for the protection of southern Tasmania’s forests for 10 years.
Newsletter date: 9 October 2011
Contents:
* Tracker's Brian Johnston: Reality in APY Lands is different from the media agenda driven campaigns
* APY Council general manager calls for full community consultation about their needs
* Head of Amnesty says govt's "top-down externally driven" efforts widen the gap
* Media re Barbara Shaw's Sydney speaking tour - 3-9 Oct 2011
* Upcoming Aboriginal rights events around Australia - 25 events from 9 October 2011
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Other articles
Newsletter date: 6 October 2011
Contents:
* Sydney public forum launching a national campaign calling for a Moratorium on Income Management - 6 October 2011
* Alice Springs public forum: No Income Management - Women demand a Moratorium on Income Management - 13 October 2011
* Media Release by Aboriginal activist and trained lawyer Michael Anderson
* Other Northern Territory (NT) Intervention articles
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Other articles
* Upcoming Aboriginal rights events around Australia - 26 events from 6 October 2011
Newsletter date: 2 October 2011
Contents:
* Reminder of change of venue of 'Rebuilding from the Ground Up' launch with Barb Shaw
* A Tribute to Aboriginal Youth Suicide and Stolen Generations: 10 October 2011
* NT government's draft update to its English in schools policy
* Plan to truck nuclear waste through SA on way to NT
* Upcoming Aboriginal rights events around Australia - 29 events from 2 October 2011
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Other articles
* REMINDER OF CHANGE OF VENUE OF 'REBUILDING FROM THE GROUND UP' LAUNCH WITH BARB SHAW:
