Newsletter date: 29 April 2013
Contents:
* Chris Graham At Large: A poor man's treaty: the 'con' in constitutional reform
* Nicola Butler, The Stringer: APY lands wasted funds
* Background to Income Management for APY Lands in South Australia
* Paddy Gibson, Solidarity Online: Income Management expansion in effort to break boycott
* Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Housing report shows more action is needed on NT overcrowding
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* Chris Graham At Large: Adam's eve: The rise and rise of the first black head of government
* NIRS: Peak groups want consultation rehab bill
* NIRS: Scullion backs NT alcohol policy
* CHRIS GRAHAM AT LARGE: A POOR MAN'S TREATY: THE 'CON' IN CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
- Analysis / Opinion
Chris Graham At Large: A poor man's treaty: the 'con' in constitutional reform
http://chrisgrahamatlarge.com/2013/04/01/a-poor-mans-treaty-the-con-in-c...
1 Apr 13: "CONSTITUTIONAL recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples seems to have captured the imagination of many white Australians, writes CHRIS GRAHAM. But are the motives really all pure? ... you shouldn’t negotiate with a government that still refuses to extend to Aboriginal people basic human rights and respect. Constitutional recognition is a poor man’s treaty. It is another national apology, without compensation. I think Aboriginal people should hold out for a better deal." By Chris Graham
"Chris Graham is a Walkley Award and Human Rights Award winning journalist, the former managing editor of Tracker magazine, and the former founder and editor of the National Indigenous Times. He’s now a freelance writer based in Sydney."
* NICOLA BUTLER, THE STRINGER: APY LANDS WASTED FUNDS
- Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: APY lands wasted funds
http://thestringer.com.au/apy-lands-wasted-funds/
23 Apr 13: "A recent article published by The Australian regarding the misappropriation of substantial government funding on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands is only the tip of the iceberg in regards to the demoralising, destructive conditions being experienced by the traditional owners, the Anangu." By Nicola Butler
* BACKGROUND TO INCOME MANAGEMENT FOR APY LANDS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
APY Lands: Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands (remote N-W of South Australia)
Last updated: 9 January 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/09/14/background-to-income-management-for-a...
* PADDY GIBSON, SOLIDARITY ONLINE: INCOME MANAGEMENT EXPANSION IN EFFORT TO BREAK BOYCOTT
- Analysis / Opinion
Solidarity Online: Income Management expansion in effort to break boycott
http://www.solidarity.net.au/55/income-management-expansion-in-effort-to...
April 2013: "Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin has launched a further expansion of the Income Management system, sparking plans for protest. Income Management quarantines 50 per cent of Centrelink payments, so it cannot be accessed as cash and can only be used in stores and on items approved by the government. From July, people under 25 exiting prison and receiving the "crisis payment" will automatically be placed on compulsory Income Management. Youth with an "unreasonable to live at home" status with Centrelink, or under 16s on a special benefit, will be forced onto the system. ... In Sydney, a rally marking the six year anniversary of the NT Intervention will be held in Bankstown in June. ...
Protest six years of the NT Intervention, no to the expansion of Income Management
Saturday June 22, noon. Paul Keating Park, Bankstown" Paddy Gibson
* GREENS SENATOR RACHEL SIEWERT: HOUSING REPORT SHOWS MORE ACTION IS NEEDED ON NT OVERCROWDING
- Media Release
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Housing report shows more action is needed on NT overcrowding
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/housing-re...
26 Apr 13: "The Australian Greens say that a new report on Aboriginal housing in the Northern Territory shows the Government to do more to address overcrowding.
The report, 'Tenants' experiences of the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing Property and Tenancy Management Reforms', was released today.
"It is great that the report on tenants’ experiences shows positive effects are being felt in some areas, particularly for the health and education of kids," Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
"However, the report also makes it clear that overcrowding continues to be a serious problem in the Northern Territory. The Government needs to address this ongoing issue in order to make sure this housing program is more effectively delivered. ...
"It’s not good enough for the Government to simply refurbish a home, in full knowledge that overcrowding will make it significantly harder to maintain the property in good order.
"Positive investments in communities, including adequate housing and community support services, will deliver far stronger and longer term outcomes than the waste we’re currently seeing through failed schemes such as income management," Senator Siewert concluded."
* BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
Last updated: 20 February 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-...
* BACKGROUND TO 'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:
Last updated: 17 April 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-stronger-futures-new-nt...
* CHRIS GRAHAM AT LARGE: ADAM'S EVE: THE RISE AND RISE OF THE FIRST BLACK HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
- Analysis / Opinion
Chris Graham At Large: Adam's eve: The rise and rise of the first black head of government
http://chrisgrahamatlarge.com/2013/04/01/the-rise-and-rise-of-adam-giles/
1 Apr 13: "LAST month, Adam Giles became the first Aboriginal person to lead an Australian government, after successfully challenging for the Chief Minister’s job in the Northern Territory. The Kamiliaroi man has quickly risen through the ranks of the Liberal Party and although he’s already made history, Giles’ career ambitions are unlikely to have been satisfied entirely. CHRIS GRAHAM reports from Darwin. ... " By Chris Graham
"Chris Graham is a Walkley Award and Human Rights Award winning journalist, the former managing editor of Tracker magazine, and the former founder and editor of the National Indigenous Times. He’s now a freelance writer based in Sydney."
* NIRS: PEAK GROUPS WANT CONSULTATION REHAB BILL
- Audio
National Indigenous Radio Service: Peak groups want consultation rehab bill
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29139/Peak-groups-want-consulta...
26 Apr 13: "Peak Aboriginal organisations in the Northern Territory are calling on the NT Government to release its mandatory rehabilitation bill for public consultation prior to next parliamentary sittings."
* NIRS: SCULLION BACKS NT ALCOHOL POLICY
- Audio
National Indigenous Radio Service: Scullion backs NT alcohol policy
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29116/Scullion-backs-NT-alcohol...
23 Apr 13: "By NIRS/98.9fm: The Shadow Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion says he backs the Northern Territory Government’s new approach to addressing problem drinking. The Territory Government says it’ll put habitual problem drinkers through up to 12 weeks of mandatory treatment through new legislation to be introduced into parliament."
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