WGAR News: Amnesty International Report 2011 - Human rights in Australia

Submitted by WGAR - Working ... on Wed, 18/05/2011 - 12:27pm

Newsletter date: 18 May 2011

Contents:
* Amnesty International Report 2011: Human rights in Australia
* Other Northern Territory (NT) Intervention articles
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Government hopes Senate will debate nuclear waste dump in June
* Background to Muckaty nuclear waste dump
* Interview with National Congress Co-Chair, Jody Broun
* Background to National Congress of Australia's First Peoples
* Other Aboriginal articles

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT 2011: HUMAN RIGHTS IN AUSTRALIA:

- Report

Amnesty International Report 2011: Human rights in Australia
http://www.amnesty.org.au/report/comments/25555
9 May 11: "In June 2010, the Federal Government reinstated the Racial Discrimination Act. The Act had been suspended in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities since 2007 when the government launched the Northern Territory intervention in response to a report citing high levels of sexual abuse. Aboriginal people were subjected to racially discriminatory measures, including compulsory income management. However, the reinstatement only partially restored human rights protection and did not provide remedies for ongoing discrimination or avenues of redress for damage suffered."

OTHER NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION ARTICLES:

- Analysis / Opinion

ABC The Drum Opinion: Important questions for Indigenous policy makers
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2692730.html
16 May 11: "Sara Hudson of The Centre for Independent Studies suggests that in the wake of the Northern Territory Intervention "academic expositions, such as Jon Altman’s on the virtues of “hybrid economies” and the development of curricula relevant to local settings, were increasingly seen as ridiculous". ... Australia might generate more effective policies if we did three things. First, ask people at diverse local levels what their economic aspirations might be. Second, look at what is possible. And third, look at what has worked and might be replicated with state assistance." Jon Altman

National Indigenous Times: Bess Nungarrayi and Dave Price respond to recent media coverage
http://www.nit.com.au/opinion/story.aspx?id=21820
15 May 11: "We want to respond to some of the malicious, adolescent attacks that have been made on Bess Nungarrayi and her people since she appeared on the ABC’s Q & A program. We acknowledge that there are Aboriginal people strongly opposed to the NTER. We don’t object to them expressing their views."

ABC The Drum Opinion: NT Intervention bulldozes the successful patchwork
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2621614.html
12 May 11: "A sad consequence of the Intervention is that the legacy of the older community members (a great many of them now deceased) whose authority and wisdom delivered the patchwork quilt of restricted areas that existed up until mid 2007 has been forgotten in the tide of resentment felt by many if not most residents (in particular younger people) affected by the package of Intervention measures about what they perceive as unjustified government interference and imposition. The debate about whether or not that perception is valid will continue for some time yet, but the damage in terms of the undermining of a pre-existing community consensus on grog has been done." David Dalrymple

- News

National Indigenous Times: Intervention was based on ignorance, says Anderson
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=21912
15 May 11: "Pat Anderson, one of the authors of the Little Children are Sacred report which was used by the Howard Federal Government as the reason to introduce the Northern Territory Intervention, has trashed the Intervention saying the decision was neither 'well-intentioned nor well-evidenced'. Ms Anderson delivered her views on the Intervention when presenting the keynote address at a major health conference in Sydney."

National Indigenous Times: Wage protest at Sydney rally claims workers "ripped off"
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=21878
15 May 11: "Community leaders from Amoonguna in Central Australia and the CFMEU union joined in a protest in Sydney last week claiming Indigenous workers were being exploited under the Northern Territory Intervention. The protest, which included a petition, demanded back pay for Aboriginal people paid on the BasicsCard while doing renovations for the Intervention’s $672 million Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP) and investment in Aboriginal employment across all communities."

National Indigenous Times: Infamous Blue signs to go
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=21915
15 May 11: "The Central Land Council has welcomed the decision to allowing the large blue signs that were put up on Aboriginal land and Community Living Areas by the Australian Government during the Intervention in 2007 removed. CLC Director, David Ross said Aboriginal people in Central Australia had been deeply offended by the references to pornography and the size of the signs in general since they were first erected by the Howard Federal Government during the initial implementation of the Intervention. Most communities already had their own signs prohibiting alcohol in their communities and on Aboriginal land, Mr Ross said."

National Indigenous Times: Macklin says education led Intervention needed
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=21889
15 May 11: "The Northern Territory intervention needs to go further with a focus and stronger efforts to get children to school, the Federal Indigenous Minister, Jenny Macklin has said."

Reportage: NT workers demand the government pay
http://www.reportageonline.com/2011/05/nt-workers-demand-the-government-...
13 May 11: "A lobby group has launched a petition demanding back pay for the renovation and construction work completed by Indigenous workers in the Northern Territory. Sara Vincent investigates. In a petition launched by lobby group Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney (SICS), Indigenous workers in the Northern Territory (NT) are demanding back pay for the renovation and construction work completed for the government’s Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP). The group are also asking for more investment in employment across Aboriginal communities."

BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:

Creative Spirits: Northern Territory Emergence Response (NTER) - "The Intervention":
http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/politics/northern-terr...

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Northern Territory National Emergency Response: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Territory_intervention

CAAMA (Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association) - NT Intervention: http://caama.com.au/?s=NT+Intervention

IRAG (Intervention Rollback Action Group): Mparntwe - Alice Springs: http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/

Treaty Republic - NT Intervention: http://treatyrepublic.net/search/node/NT%20Intervention

ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation) - NT intervention: http://www.antar.org.au/issues_and_campaigns/nt_intervention

The Greens: Rachel Siewert: Northern Territory Intervention: http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/category/issues/indigenous-rights...

STICS (Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney): http://stoptheintervention.org/

Crikey - NT Intervention: http://www.crikey.com.au/topic/nt-intervention/

Jobs with Justice: http://jobswithjustice.wordpress.com/

MAIC (Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective): http://maicollective.blogspot.com/

'concerned Australians': Without Justice there can be no Reconciliation: http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/

New Matilda - northern territory intervention: http://newmatilda.com/tag/northern-territory-intervention

Amnesty International Australia: Looking back at the Northern Territory Intervention: http://www.amnesty.org.au/indigenous-rights/comments/24460/

Defending Indigenous Rights: http://defendingindigenousrights.wordpress.com/

Intervention walk-off's Blog: http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/

Australian Human Rights Commission: Northern Territory ‘Emergency Response’ intervention: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/intervention/index.html

FAIRA; Human Rights Law Resource Centre; NACLC: Australia’s compliance with CERD - Fact Sheet 2: Northern Territory Intervention: http://www.hrlrc.org.au/files/Fact-Sheet-2-NT-Intervention.pdf

Green Left: Northern Territory intervention: myths and facts: http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/39732

WGAR (Working Group for Aboriginal Rights): http://wgar.info/

GOVERNMENT HOPES SENATE WILL DEBATE NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP IN JUNE:

- News

ABC: Nuclear waste dump debate on back burner
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/17/3219060.htm
17 May 11: "The Federal Government says it hopes the Senate will debate its proposed legislation for a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory at the next sittings of the Upper House in June. The bill paves the way for a dump to be built at Muckaty Station near Tennant Creek. It also also allows for alternative sites if that nomination does not go ahead. The bill was due to be debated last week but was not."

BACKGROUND TO MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:

YouTube: Muckaty Voices-Australia's nuclear waste dump story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcuNpT84Ovo
""Muckaty Voices" is a short film capturing community resistance to an Australian government plan to dump radioactive waste at Muckaty Station, 120 kilometres north of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory."

Beyond Nuclear Initiative - Muckaty:
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/muckaty/

Beyond Nuclear Initiative:
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/

Proposed Radioactive Waste Dump at Muckaty, NT
Briefing Paper - February 2011
Jim Green B.Med.Sci.(Hons.), PhD
National nuclear campaigner - Friends of the Earth, Australia
Friends of the Earth: http://www.foe.org.au/anti-nuclear/issues/oz/nontdump/Dump%20briefing%20...

Nuclear Territory News: Waste Dump News:
http://ntne.ws/articles/article.php?section=waste

WGAR News: Nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory (2 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/02/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-in-the-n...

WGAR News: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (20 Mar 10)
http://groups.google.com.au/group/foblmail/browse_thread/thread/ddc393bb...

WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump (28 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/28/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-close-th...

WGAR News: Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump (4 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/03/wgar-news-muckaty-radioactive-waste-d...

WGAR News: National day of action against Muckaty nuclear waste dump: 12th April!
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/10/wgar-news-national-day-of-action-agai...

WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump: Senate inquiry in Darwin; Nationwide protests (17 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/16/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-senate-i...

WGAR News: Update: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (23 Apr 10)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/22/wgar-news-raw-sewage-dumped-in-ampila...

WGAR News: Update on Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (2 May 10)
http://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/02052010-update-on-muckaty-station-...

WGAR News: "Muckaty Voices" film; Senate Report into nuclear waste dump plan (16 May 10)
https://indymedia.org.au/2010/05/16/wgar-news-muckaty-voices-film-senate...

WGAR News: Federal Court legal challenge over nuclear waste dump (13 Jun 10)
http://lists.perthimc.asn.au/pipermail/blackgreensolidarity/2010-June/00...

WGAR News: PM Gillard: No change on Muckaty nuclear waste dump (12 Jul 10)
http://lists.perthimc.asn.au/pipermail/blackgreensolidarity/2010-July/00...

WGAR News: Legislation passes enabling a nuclear waste dump to be built at Muckaty, NT (1 Mar 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/01/wgar-news-legislation-passes-enabling...

WGAR News: Federal Court challenge over nuclear dump resumes in August (16 Mar 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/16/wgar-news-federal-court-challenge-ove...

WGAR News: Interview with Kylie Sambo, Mark Lane and Dr. Jim Green about Muckaty nuclear waste dump (21 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/21/wgar-news-protest-blockade-by-lake-ty...

WGAR News: Nuclear waste legislation must wait until objections heard in Federal Court (23 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/23/wgar-news-international-day-for-the-e...

WGAR News: Aboriginal groups protest against nuclear waste dump (26 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/26/wgar-news-police-used-to-break-blocka...

WGAR News: Crisis in Japan and Muckaty Nuclear Waste Dump (2 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/02/wgar-news-online-petition-about-abori...

WGAR News: Muckaty Traditional Owners speak out (14 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/14/wgar-news-deaths-in-custody-and-abori...

WGAR News: Help Stop the Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump - May 7-8 (24 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/24/wgar-news-two-urgent-petitions-on-the...

WGAR News: "Keep the poison out of Muckaty" - community rally on May 7, 2011 (30 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/30/wgar-news-keep-the-poison-out-of-muck...

WGAR News: NT nuclear waste dump plans contested (10 May 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/10/wgar-news-nt-nuclear-waste-dump-plans...

WGAR News: More on Muckaty nuclear waste dump (14 May 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/14/wgar-news-aboriginal-elder-raises-int...

WGAR News: Interview with Muckaty Traditional Owner, Dianne Stokes / Doctor: Public misled over nuclear medicine needs (17 May 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/17/wgar-news-global-call-to-action-for-a...

INTERVIEW WITH NATIONAL CONGRESS CO-CHAIR, JODY BROUN:

- Audio

Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane
Let's Talk - Indigenous presented talkback:
http://989fm.com.au/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29
10 May 11: "Jody Broun: Tiga Bayles spoke with National Congress Co-Chair, Jody Broun."
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasting/audio/98fm-podcast-2011-05-10-73082.mp3

BACKGROUND TO NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST PEOPLES:

WGAR News: Proposed national Indigenous body (29 Aug 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/290809-un-expert-calls-nt-intervent...

WGAR News: More media responses to proposed national Indigenous body (31 Aug 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/310809-more-media-responses-to-un-e...

WGAR News: Still more media responses to proposed national Indigenous body (3 Sep 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/3-sep-2009-governments-review-of-ab...

WGAR News: Proposed National Indigenous Representative Body (22 Sep 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/23/22-sep-2009-ampilatwatja-anti-inter...

WGAR News: New Way Summit delegates unanimously reject government sponsored Rep body (31 Jan 10)
http://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/new-way-summit-delegates-unanimousl...

WGAR News: Proposed National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (2 Feb 10)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/02022010-national-day-of-action-sat...

WGAR News: New National Congress of Australia's First Peoples (9 May 10)
http://www.indymedia.org.au/2010/05/08/wgar-news-new-national-congress-o...

WGAR News: Co-Chairs of National Congress of Australia's First Peoples elected (21 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/21/wgar-news-elders-speak-out-on-the-nor...

WGAR News: National Congress of Australia's First Peoples (24 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/24/wgar-news-two-urgent-petitions-on-the...

WGAR News: National Congress of Australia's First Peoples (29 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/29/darwin-gathering-for-aboriginal-peopl...

WGAR News: Les Malezer defends National Congress of Australia's First Peoples (30 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/30/wgar-news-keep-the-poison-out-of-muck...

WGAR News: Speech by Les Malezer, Co-chair of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples (7 May 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/07/wgar-news-interviews-with-barb-shaw-a...