Western Australia

Newsletter date: 19 April 2012

Contents:
* Aboriginal Nations assert sovereignty over the Northern Murray Darling Basin
* Workshop on legal and political implications of claims to Aboriginal sovereignty
* Interview with Michael Anderson, founder of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra
* Background to the Aboriginal sovereignty movement
* SBS Living Black: WA's Government remains silent on its stolen wages offer
* SBS Living Black: New Representative Group for Aboriginal & TSI with disabilities
* More Intervention: Lecture by 3 UTS experts in Indigenous law reform

Newsletter date: 13 April 2012

Contents:
* Lest We Forget the Frontier Wars - Anzac Day 25 April 2012
* Greens back Aboriginal elder Kevin Buzzacott in legal challenge
* Muckaty Traditional Owners stall traffic on highway
* Statements from Moree Sovereign Embassy, NSW
* Statement from The Sovereign Embassy Brisbane, Qld
* Interview with Dennis Eggington on Nyoongar Tent Embassy, WA
* The Spec: Council plans to close Portland Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Vic
* 'Stronger Futures' Legislation related articles
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws

Gerry Georgatos
As my PhD progresses in researching Australian Deaths in Custody - I have visited Immigration Detention Centres - visited adult prisons - interviewed former detainees of the Immigration detention centres network - interviewed former prisoners of adult custodial jurisdictions.

Gerry Georgatos
The West Australian government will attempt to water down the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 to make it easier for government and big business to secure the "assessments they want" of Aboriginal historical and cultural sites.

Aboriginal Elders and advocates have spoken about their fears that the only intention of this move by the state government is to keep on building assimilationist policies, to railroad Aboriginal folk and in effect extinguish customary and historical rights to the benefit or miners, big business and state and local government projects.