Newsletter date: 24 August 2013
Contents:
* Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory (APO NT): Central Australian Grog Summit 2013
* CAAMA Video: Central Australian Grog Summit
* Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory (APO NT) Communiqué: Alice Springs Grog Summit: Outcomes
* NACCHO NT grog summit news: Four major outcomes on alcohol policy and its impact on Aboriginal people and communities
* "On 31 July 2013 at the Alice Springs Grog Summit representatives from Aboriginal organisations and communities endorse the call for a Board of Inquiry ... "
* CAAMA Radio: Elder Sammy Butcher says his culture is dying slowly
* CAAMA Radio: Associate Professor Ted Wilkes says alcohol is decimating his people
* News about the Alice Springs Grog Summit
* The Guardian: Northern Territory to shift problem drinkers from hospital to prison unit
* Background to the NT Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Bill
* Greens WA MLC Robin Chapple: Justice Reinvestment to Tackle Shameful Indigenous Imprisonment Rates
* Background to Justice Reinvestment, Aboriginal imprisonment and Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
* Amy McQuire, Tracker: NSW AG knocks back Royal Commission into Bowraville murders
* ABORIGINAL PEAK ORGANISATIONS OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (APO NT): CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN GROG SUMMIT 2013
- Background
Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory (APO NT): Central Australian Grog Summit 2013
[APO NT: an alliance of the CLC, NLC, CAALAS, NAAJA and AMSANT]
http://apont.org.au/index.php/central-australian-grog-summit-2013.html
"From 30 to 31 July 2013 a summit on alcohol policy and its impact on Aboriginal people and communities was held in Alice Springs, sponsored by the Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory [APO NT]. The summit was attended by around 100 people. The summit heard from a number of speakers from Aboriginal communities and organisations across the Territory including: Anyinginyi Health Service; Central Australian Aboriginal Congress; CAAAPU; CAAFLU; WAHAC; Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women's Council; Borroloola; Ntaria and Beswick. ... "
See also:
Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory (APO NT): Top End Grog Summit 2012
http://apont.org.au/index.php/top-end-grog-summit.html
Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory (APO NT) Policy: Alcohol and Other Drugs
http://apont.org.au/index.php/alcohol-and-other-drugs.html
Welcome to APO NT
http://apont.org.au/
"Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory-APO NT-is an alliance comprising the Central Land Council (CLC), Northern Land Council (NLC), North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service (CAALAS) and the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the NT (AMSANT). The alliance was created to provide a more effective response to key issues of joint interest and concern affecting Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, including through advocating practical policy solutions to government."
* CAAMA VIDEO: CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN GROG SUMMIT
- Video
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: Central Australian Grog Summit
http://caama.com.au/central-australian-grog-summit
1 Aug 13
* ABORIGINAL PEAK ORGANISATIONS OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (APO NT): COMMUNIQUE: ALICE SPRINGS GROG SUMMIT: OUTCOMES
- Media Release
Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory Communiqué: Alice Springs Grog Summit: Outcomes
[APO NT: an alliance of the CLC, NLC, CAALAS, NAAJA and AMSANT]
http://apont.org.au/attachments/article/45/130801%20-%20Media%20Communiq...
1 Aug 13: "From 30 to 31 July 2013 a summit on alcohol policy and its impact on Aboriginal people and communities was held in Alice Springs, sponsored by the Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory [APO NT]. The summit was attended by around 100 people. This summit followed a similar grog summit sponsored by APO NT in Darwin in November 2012. ...
The summit delegates agreed that there was an urgent need for action and better evidence to address alcohol related harm both in Alice Springs, and across the NT. All delegates of the summit were concerned about the children’s future and the need to act now. The summit agreed on a number of priority areas for action including:
* Reducing supply as a critical 'circuit breaker' in the fight against alcohol harm: ...
* Focusing on holistic approaches in treatment, including addressing underlying causes:
* The need to act now to address FASD: ...
* Building stronger community-based approaches to addressing alcohol related harm: ... "
* NACCHO NT GROG SUMMIT NEWS: FOUR MAJOR OUTCOMES ON ALCOHOL POLICY AND ITS IMPACT ON ABORIGINAL PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES
- News
NACCHO NT grog summit news: Four major outcomes on alcohol policy and its impact on Aboriginal people and communities
[NACCHO: National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation]
http://nacchocommunique.com/2013/08/03/naccho-nt-grog-summit-news-four-m...
3 Aug 13: " ... The summit heard also from expert speakers including Associate Professor, Ted Wilkes from the National Indigenous Drug & Alcohol Committee; Professor Dennis Gray from the National Drug Research Institute and June Oscar, Emily Carter and Professor Elizabeth Elliott AM, who have been involved in the successful Fitzroy Valley recovery plan. The summit delegates agreed that there was an urgent need for action and better evidence to address alcohol related harm both in Alice Springs, and across the NT. All delegates of the summit were concerned about the children’s future and the need to act now. ... "
* "ON 31 JULY 2013 AT THE ALICE SPRINGS GROG SUMMIT REPRESENTATIVES FROM ABORIGINAL ORGANISATIONS AND COMMUNITIES ENDORSE THE CALL FOR A BOARD OF INQUIRY ... "
Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory (APO NT): Central Australian Grog Summit 2013
[APO NT: an alliance of the CLC, NLC, CAALAS, NAAJA and AMSANT]
http://apont.org.au/index.php/central-australian-grog-summit-2013.html
"On 31 July 2013 at the Alice Springs Grog Summit representatives from Aboriginal organisations and communities endorse the call for a Board of Inquiry, and the proposed Terms of Reference framed to provide the data and evidence that is needed to develop a comprehensive, evidence-based blueprint for tackling alcohol harm. They will provide for the development of recommendations that include effective alcohol supply controls as well as strong preventative and early intervention measures that address harm minimisation and the need to reduce the demand for alcohol consumption."
APO NT: Proposed Terms of Reference: Board of Inquiry into Alcohol consumption and harm in the NT
http://apont.org.au/attachments/article/71/130626%20-%20APO%20NT%20Propo...
* CAAMA RADIO: ELDER SAMMY BUTCHER SAYS HIS CULTURE IS DYING SLOWLY
- Audio Interview
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: Elder Sammy Butcher says his culture is dying slowly
http://caama.com.au/elder-sammy-butcher-says-his-culture-is-dying-slowly
6 Aug 13: "After attending the Grog Summit in Alice Springs last week, well-known Aboriginal leader Sammy Butcher says alcohol and drugs are having a devastating affect on his people. Sammy shares his story with CAAMA Radio."
* CAAMA RADIO: ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR TED WILKES SAYS ALCOHOL IS DECIMATING HIS PEOPLE
- Audio Interview
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: Associate Professor Ted Wilkes says alcohol is decimating his people
http://caama.com.au/associate-professor-ted-wilkes-says-alcohol-is-decim...
1 Aug 13: "Delegates from around Australia attended the Central Australian Grog Summit in Alice Springs this week. ... At the summit, Associate Professor of Aboriginal Research Programs at the National Drug Research Institute Faculty of Health Sciences at Curtin University, Ted Wilkes, a Noongar man from Western Australia described the impact alcohol is having on his people. "Alcohol and drugs is actually traumatising the Aboriginal world, in fact I use the word decimate." Wilkes spoke to CAAMA Radio about the issues raised at the summit."
* NEWS ABOUT THE ALICE SPRINGS GROG SUMMIT
- Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/am-2-08.mp3
2 Aug 13: "A veteran Western Australian Nyungar health researcher says that alcohol and drugs are decimating the Aboriginal community and diminishing its capacity to tell the wider non-Indigenous community, that they are living like paupers in their own country."
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/am-1-08-13.mp3
1 Aug 13: "A group of Western Australian Aboriginal women has told a Central Australian grog summit that people power and the imposed sale of low alcohol products in their community resulted in positive changes within three to six months."
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/am-31-07.mp3
31 Jul 13: "A peak Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol treatment facility, has told a "Grog Summit" in Alice Springs that it supports the Giles Northern Territory governments' mandatory alcohol rehabilitation regime and, that taking care of their people is a good story."
- News
ANTaR: Alice Springs Grog Summit
http://antar.org.au/news/alice-springs-grog-summit
8 Aug 13: "ANTaR NT's David Cooper attended the Alice Springs Grog Summit held on the 30th and 31st July. ... Summit delegates agreed that there was an urgent need for action and better evidence to address alcohol related harm both in Alice Springs and across the NT."
The Australian: Indigenous leaders gather for grog summit
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/indigenous-leaders-ga...
31 Jul 13: "MORE than half a century after artist Albert Namatjira was given Australian citizenship and the right to drink, indigenous leaders have gathered at the site of his former camp to discuss ways to loosen the grip of alcohol on their communities. "Just a couple of yards away from here where the creek is, that's where Albert Namatjira had his camp and did his paintings (and now) we're back here where it all started," said Noel Hayes, chairman of the Central Australian Legal Aid Service. He was speaking at the Central Australian Grog Summit in Alice Springs on Wednesday." Neda Vanovac
newsTracker: Aboriginal leaders at war against alcohol
http://tracker.org.au/2013/07/aboriginal-leaders-at-war-against-alcohol/
30 Jul 13: "NT: An endangered species threatened by a deadly weapon: that’s how Aboriginal community leaders have described themselves waging a war against alcohol in the Northern Territory. The Central Australian Grog Summit in Alice Springs on Tuesday heard how alcohol has been ravaging Aboriginal communities as representatives meet to discuss strategies to stop people drowning in the so-called rivers of grog. "Our people are going down like flies because the grog’s just killing them," said Noel Hayes, chairman of the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service." AAP
* THE GUARDIAN: NORTHERN TERRITORY TO SHIFT PROBLEM DRINKERS FROM HOSPITAL TO PRISON UNIT
- Analysis / Opinion
The Guardian: Northern Territory to shift problem drinkers from hospital to prison unit
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/22/northern-territory-moves-dr...
22 Aug 13: "Anyone taken into police custody three times in two months for public drunkenness could be forced to undergo treatment
The Northern Territory government is preparing to move problem drinkers undergoing mandatory rehabilitation to a secure unit at the Darwin jail, but insists the treatment will not be a prison for alcoholics. The city's alcohol mandatory treatment facility will be moved from the Royal Darwin hospital to a secure facility at Darwin correctional centre's low-security accommodation once construction of the new prison precinct in Howard Springs is completed in mid-2014." Australian Associated Press
* BACKGROUND TO THE NT ALCOHOL MANDATORY TREATMENT BILL
Last updated: 24 July 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/07/03/background-to-the-nt-alcohol-mandator...
* GREENS WA MLC ROBIN CHAPPLE: JUSTICE REINVESTMENT TO TACKLE SHAMEFUL INDIGENOUS IMPRISONMENT RATES
- Analysis / Opinion
Greens WA MLC Robin Chapple: Justice Reinvestment to Tackle Shameful Indigenous Imprisonment Rates
http://www.robinchapple.com/justice-reinvestment-tackle-shameful-indigen...
8 Aug 13: "Greens WA Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region, and spokesperson on Aboriginal issues, Robin Chapple MLC, concurs with the Law Council of Australia’s recent strong concern regarding the shameful high imprisonment rates among indigenous Australians. ... "The ‘tough on crime’ approach of the major parties is not working. It is not reducing crime rates, it is not making our communities safer, and it is leading to higher rates of imprisonment, at a huge cost to the taxpayer. "We can be smarter with the way we spend this money, by investing in stronger communities. ... "
* BACKGROUND TO JUSTICE REINVESTMENT, ABORIGINAL IMPRISONMENT AND ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY:
Last updated: 11 August 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/12/17/background-to-aboriginal-imprisonment...
* AMY MCQUIRE, TRACKER: NSW AG KNOCKS BACK ROYAL COMMISSION INTO BOWRAVILLE MURDERS
- News
newsTracker: NSW AG knocks back Royal Commission into Bowraville murders
http://tracker.org.au/2013/08/nsw-ag-knocks-back-royal-commission-into-b...
9 Aug 13: "NEW SOUTH WALES: The NSW Attorney General Greg Smith has come under fire from the families of three Aboriginal children, murdered on Bowraville mission in the early 90s, after he refused to support a Royal Commission into the case, stating it would not lead to a conviction. It is the latest disappointment in the case that has strangled the victims’ families and the community of Bowraville, on NSW’s mid north coast." By Amy McQuire, a Darumbal and South Sea Islander woman, editor of Tracker
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