WGAR News: "Rebuilding from the Ground Up: An Alternative to the NT Intervention" Document

Submitted by WGAR - Working ... on Sun, 05/06/2011 - 10:25am

Newsletter date: 5 June 2011

Contents:
* "Rebuilding from the Ground Up: An Alternative to the NT Intervention" Document
* June 21/25 Rallies around Australia: 4 years since announcement of NT Intervention
* Problems with Native Title
* Newcastle Rally: No Waste Dump at Muckaty, 11 June 2011
* Background to Muckaty nuclear waste dump
* Other Northern Territory (NT) Intervention articles
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Other Aboriginal articles

"REBUILDING FROM THE GROUND UP: AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE NT INTERVENTION" DOCUMENT

- The Document

Rebuilding from the Ground Up - An Alternative to the Northern Territory Intervention
IRAG: http://rollbacktheintervention.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/rebuilding-fr...
STICS: http://stoptheintervention.org/uploads/files_to_download/rebuilding-from...
"This document puts forward a list of demands that have come consistently from Aboriginal communities since the announcement of the NT Intervention in 2007. It has been widely endorsed by Aboriginal community leaders, along with the Intervention Rollback Action Group (Alice Springs), Stop the Intervention Collective (Sydney) and ‘concerned Australians’ (Melbourne). Research supported by Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at UTS."

- Endorsements needed

Alternative to the Intervention
IRAG: http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/alternative-to-the-interven...
STICS: [scroll down page] http://stoptheintervention.org/
"Support the Alternative to the Intervention
The statement ‘Rebuilding from the Ground Up: An Alternative to the NT Intervention’ will be launched at a rally Darwin on June 21, four years since the announcement of the Intervention. The launch will follow ratification by a meeting of the Prescribed Area People’s Alliance on June 19-20.
Rallies to protest four years of Intervention and support ‘Rebuilding from the Ground Up’ will also be held in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
If you or your organisation would like to endorse the document, please email Alt2Intervention@gmail.com ...
Endorsements
Aboriginal leaders from a range of communities including: Mutitjulu, Yuendumu, Amoonguna, Tennant Creek, Darwin, Kalkaringi, Daguragu, Lajamanu, Murray Downs, Ntaria (Hermannsburg), Uruna Potara Homeland, Mt Nancy Town Camp, Charles Creek
Organisations and supporters including: Intervention Rollback Action Group (Alice Springs), Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney, Concerned Australians, the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), Larrakia Nations, Jeff McMullen, Cr Irene Doutney (Sydney City Council), WGAR (Working Group for Aboriginal Rights)"
[Click on above link for more info about how to endorse the document.]

- Support needed

Intervention Rollback Action Group:
Request for Support for Prescribed Area Peoples’ Alliance Gathering - Darwin June 19-21st 2011
http://rollbacktheintervention.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/funding-appea...

JUNE 21/25 RALLIES AROUND AUSTRALIA: 4 YEARS SINCE ANNOUNCEMENT OF NT INTERVENTION

- Darwin

Rollback the Intervention: 4 Years Too Long - Stop the Intervention
Rally Raintree Park - Tuesday 11am June 21 - Darwin
Prescribed Area Peoples’ Alliance Meeting - June 19-20
http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/
"Self Determination Now
No Racism
No Leases
No Income Management
Bring back Community Councils
Real Jobs, Real Pay
Bilingual Education
Fund a Future for All Communities"
"People from prescribed areas will be travelling to Darwin for meetings on 19-20 June and finalisation of the "Rebuilding from the ground up" document. [See document: http://rollbacktheintervention.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/rebuilding-fr... ] Join us for a rally on 21st June, 4 years since the announcement of the NTER (Intervention). There will be speakers and a march to parliament house with a formal launch of the “Rebuilding….” document.
Funds urgently needed to enable Prescribed Area Peoples’ Alliance meeting in Darwin June 2011 [See funding appeal for PAPA: http://rollbacktheintervention.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/funding-appea... ]"

- Melbourne

Green Left: Speakout: Four years too long. Stop the Intervention!
http://www.greenleft.org.au/events/47766
"Event date: Tue, 21/06/2011 - 12:30pm
Self determination now, no racism, no leases, no income management; bring back community councils, real jobs with real pay, bilingual education, fund a future for all communities.
FaHCSIA, cnr Lonsdale & Spring Sts, City.
Organised by Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective.
Website: MAI Collective http://www.maicollective.blogspot.com/ "

Treaty Republic: Melbourne Funrazor - Stop The Intervention
http://treatyrepublic.net/node/754
https://indymedia.org.au/stop-the-intervention-funrazor
"Friday, 10 Jun 2011 at 8.00pm
303 High St, Northcote
Event to raise funds to get Aboriginal community members who are living in NTI 'Prescribed Areas' up to Darwin for the event 'STOP THE INTERVENTION - 4 Years Too Long'. There will be an important Prescribed Area Peoples Alliance (PAPA) meeting and rally to launch their 11 point plan "Rebuilding from the ground up", which is an alternative. [See 11 point plan: http://rollbacktheintervention.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/rebuilding-fr... ] "
Flyer/Poster: https://sites.google.com/site/treatyrepublicfilebank/im/STOPTHEINTERVENT...

- Sydney

Saturday June 25: Sydney rally to stop the Northern Territory Intervention
Four years of racist shame... Stop the NT Intervention - Self Determination Now!
Sydney Indymedia: http://indymedia.org.au/sydney-rally-to-stop-the-northern-territory-inte...
STICS: [scroll down page] http://stoptheintervention.org/
"Date and Time: Sat, 25/06/2011 - 1:00pm
Rally 1pm Sydney Town Hall - march to Belmore park for speakers and concert
- Apply the Racial Discrimination Act unconditionally
- No Income Management: not in the NT, not in Bankstown
- Land Rights not Leases
- Jobs with Justice: no work for the BasicsCard
Speakers include:
- Marie Ellis (Amoonguna, NT)
- Lee Rhiannon (Greens Senator Elect)
- Jack Johnson (Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council, South-West Sydney)
- Rebel Hanlon (CFMEU)
It has been four years of racism and devastation for Aboriginal communities under the NT Intervention. Rather than ‘Closing the Gap’ punitive measures designed to ‘assimilate’ Aboriginal people have made shocking social conditions even worse. ... "
Poster: http://stoptheintervention.org/uploads/files_to_download/Past%20Events/2...

- Analysis / Opinion

Solidarity: Four years too long - time to scrap Intervention laws
http://www.solidarity.net.au/35/four-years-too-long%E2%80%94time-to-scra...
June 11: "In July 2012, NT Intervention powers, such as compulsory 5-year leases and management powers over all assets and organisations within Aboriginal communities, will reach their sunset clause. Federal funding for smaller dispersed settlements known as Homelands, currently capped at $20 million, is also set to run out next year. The question, "What comes next?" has again thrown debate about the future of the NT Intervention into the national spotlight. ... Attacking Aboriginal rights: The Intervention has choked Aboriginal communities, forcing people to move and assimilate into "mainstream Australia". ... Alternative: The campaign against the NT Intervention will use the June 21 Darwin rally marking the Intervention’s fourth anniversary to launch a statement called "Rebuilding from the ground up: An alternative to the NT Intervention". ... " Paddy Gibson

PROBLEMS WITH NATIVE TITLE:

- Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration delivered by former prime minister Paul Keating

Australian: Time to revisit native title laws
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/commentary/native-title...
1 Jun 11: "This onerous burden of proof has placed an unjust burden on those native title claimants who have suffered the most severe dispossession and social disruption. It has substantially slowed the right of redress by Aboriginal people to adequate recognition of their rights in respect of land, water and other natural resources. In fact, after fifteen years’ operation of the Native Title Act 1993, there have been 1300 claims lodged, arriving at 121 native title determinations, covering just over 10% of the land mass at a cost to the taxpayer of over $900million." Paul Keating

- Media Releases

ANTaR - Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation:
Mabo Day: A reminder that Native Title reform is still needed
http://www.antar.org.au/mabo_day_a_reminder_that_native_title_reform_is_...
3 Jun 11: "The National President of ANTaR says Mabo Day is a reminder that improvements are still needed in our Native Title laws and processes.
Dr Peter Lewis said Native Title reform would deliver significant opportunities not only for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, but also for the wider Australian community.
"Making the system fairer and less onerous, and providing the right for Native Title holders to have genuine control over what happens on their land will deliver practical benefits as well as proper recognition of rights," Dr Lewis said.
"The recent address by former Prime Minister Paul Keating pointed out some of the flaws and injustices in the current Native Title regime. His is just the latest call for improving fairness in this area. ...
"ANTaR has also long campaigned for reform in this area. This should include reversing the onus of proof on Native Title claimants by introducing a presumption of continuity, clarifying the obligation to negotiate in good faith, and redefining the meaning of 'traditional' to better recognise the inevitable evolution of laws and customs over time." [said Dr Lewis]"

Greens Native Title Bill would lead to simpler, fairer system
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/greens-nati...
3 Jun 11: "The Australian Greens are encouraged by renewed public discussion around Native Title legislation as a Senate Committee prepares to examine important Greens legislation which seeks to make simple and effective changes to our native title system.
Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander issues says the Inquiry into the Native Title Amendment (Reform) Bill 2011 will provide the opportunity for consultation and discussion about changes to native title.
"Our Bill sets out to make a constructive contribution to the native title process and ultimately lead to simpler, fairer and more effective legislation.
"The move to an Inquiry is an important step and I am confident there will be widespread interest in discussing both the native title system and the Australian Greens legislation.
"This legislation makes responsible and considered changes to native title law. Justice Michael Kirby has previously described this area as an 'impenetrable jungle', and we're looking to change that. Our legislation is a strong start for further native title reforms." [Senator Siewert said]"

Australian Human Rights Commission: There must be zero tolerance for abuse in the native title context
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/about/media/media_releases/2011/47_11.html
2 Jun 11: "‘Lateral violence’ is the name given to aggressive, bullying or harassing behaviour within communities that is often the result of disadvantage, discrimination and oppression and arises from working within a society that is not designed for ‘our way of doing things’, Commissioner Gooda will tell a native title conference in Brisbane today.
Commissioner Gooda says that lateral violence can also be exacerbated by governments through a lack of recognition and engagement with Indigenous people and by relying on processes that pit groups against each other.
"Rage, anger and fear vented by oppressed people on those closest to them can often be the by-product of government policy and law-making and the existing native title system is one such example," Commissioner Gooda says.
"All of us who are involved in native title claims or agreement-making know that at every step of the process, the requirement to legitimise our claims and our birth rights creates conflict and tension within our communities, and effectively results in lateral violence," he says.
"But whether the lateral violence theory is sustainable or not, this is abuse and there’s no excuse for it. We must have a zero tolerance policy for any type of abuse.""

- Audio

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA Radio News 03-06-2011
http://caama.com.au/caama-radio-news-03-06-2011
3 Jun 11: "The Aborignal and Torres Strait Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda has told a native title meeting in Brisbane that there should be a reversal in the proof of connection to county process which would then put the onus on government to prove that the claimants are not the true traditional owners."

- News

Koori Mail: Senate to scrutinise native title bill
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
3 Jun 11: "AUSTRALIAN Greens legislation that seeks to make changes to the native title system has been referred to a Senate committee, with submissions closing on 29 July. Greens spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert said the Inquiry into the Native Title Amendment (Reform) Bill 2011 would provide the opportunity for consultation and discussion about changes to native title."

National Indigenous Radio Service: Conference hears of problems with Native Title laws
http://www.nirs.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5845...
3 Jun 11: "Frustrations with long running problems with native title law have dominated Australia's largest annual conference on the issue. Former Prime Minister Paul Keating's call for a reverse of onus of proof earlier this week was enthusiastically embraced by many of the 650 delegates in Brisbane."

National Indigenous Radio Service: Native title laws "increasing violence"
http://www.nirs.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5837...
3 Jun 11: "The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner says Native title laws are driving a wedge through Indigenous communities and contributing to increased violence and bullying."

National Indigenous Radio Service: Native Title burden of proof should swap: Keating
http://www.nirs.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5834...
2 Jun 11: "Former Prime Minister Paul Keating has criticised Australia's progress in settling native title claims. In a speech in Adelaide this week, Mr Keating called on the Federal Government to change the Native Title Act to address the burden on traditional owners to prove a continued connection to the land."

Brisbane Times: Native title onus unjust: Keating
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/native-title-onus-unjust-keatin...
1 Jun 11: "THE former prime minister Paul Keating has backed an overhaul of native title legislation to shift the presumption in favour to indigenous claimants who he says carry an unjust burden in proving their continued connection to land. The difficulty in proving continued connection to native land meant the rights of redress for Aborigines were occurring far too slowly, he said, delivering the annual Lowitja O'Donoghue address in Adelaide last night."

Koori Mail: Support for ex-PM's native title stance
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
1 Jun 11: "ABORIGINAL native title campaigners have agreed with former Paul Keating’s calls for an overhaul of native title legislation to shift the presumption of ongoing connection in favour of Indigenous claimants. Speaking at the 2011 Native Title Conference in Brisbane today, Chairperson of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Professor Mick Dodson said the move could lead to more native title determinations. National Native Title Council CEO Brian Wyatt also supported Mr Keating’s stand."

Koori Mail: Keating: Reverse 'unjust' burden of proof
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
1 Jun 11: "FORMER Prime Minister Paul Keating has backed proposals before the Federal Parliament to reverse an 'unjust' burden of proof currently imposed on native title claimants to establish their ongoing connection to land. Mr Keating says it should be up to claim respondents to prove that such connections don’t exist, rather than the other way around. In the 15 years since the Native Title Act 1993 was passed, there’ve been just 121 native title determinations at a cost of $900 million."

- Background Videos

YouTube: FMG Great Native Title Swindle Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w_fB7e0WCY&feature=related

YouTube: FMG Great Native Title Swindle Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xa1eX_E0p8&feature=related

YouTube: The True Yindjibarndi Story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGZ_H_SWiQM

NEWCASTLE RALLY: NO WASTE DUMP AT MUCKATY, 11 JUNE 2011

- Event

KANUGUBA: Newcastle Rally: No Waste Dump at Muckaty
http://kanuguba.org/AnnouncementRetrieve.aspx?ID=51245
31 May 11: "10 am, Civic Park, Saturday June 11th. Walk to the tram sheds in the foreshore park for BBQ, speakers and music.
People in Newcastle are rallying in support of Muckaty community in refusing an international nuclear waste dump on their land. We believe in self-determination and we share the concerns of many in Australia and worldwide about the transport and storage of nuclear waste. We don't want to see a new site contaminated in addition to those already poisoned by tailings from uranium mines. The National Radioactive Waste Management Bill is due to be debated in the Federal Senate on the 14th of June."

- Related Analysis / Opinion

Pandanus: The Territory, too good to waste (dump)
[scroll down page] http://www.ecnt.org/pdf/Pandanus%20May%202011%20WEB.pdf
May 11: "2011 is crunch time in the battle to stop Federal Resource Minister Martin Ferguson imposing a national nuclear waste dump on Muckaty in the NT. In March - April 2011 a delegation of Muckaty Traditional Owners visited Darwin to attend a string of meetings and to spread a message that a waste dump at Muckaty is unwanted. The Territory faces a very big and a very real threat of becoming the home of Australia’s first national radioactive waste dump. The proposed dump would store low and intermediate level waste in below and above ground stores on Aboriginal land in a known earthquake region. ... " Cat Beaton, Nuclear Free NT Campaigner

- Related News

Trading Room: Land council quizzed over nuclear dump
http://www.tradingroom.com.au/apps/view_breaking_news_article.ac?page=/d...
3 Jun 11: "Northern Land Council (NLC) chief executive Kim Hill says he has not met with traditional owners of the area earmarked for Australia's first nuclear waste dump. The Gillard government plans a dump site for low-level nuclear waste, most of which will stem from nuclear medicine, at Muckaty Station, near Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory. Australian Greens senator Scott Ludlam asked Mr Hill and the council's principal legal officer, Ron Levy, in a Senate estimates hearing on Friday if either of them had visited Tennant Creek or the surrounding areas to discuss the dump."

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...

WGAR News: Gov't hopes Senate will debate nuclear waste dump in June (18 May 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/18/wgar-news-amnesty-international-repor...

WGAR News: Video: No to a dump in the NT - Darwin rally 11 May 2011
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/21/wgar-news-un-human-rights-high-commis...

WGAR News: Canberra Rally, June 14 2011: Don’t dump on the NT -No radioactive waste dump at Muckaty
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/28/wgar-news-canberra-rally-june-14-2011...

OTHER NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION ARTICLES:

- Analysis / Opinion

National Indigenous Times: The outstanding value of the outstation movement in homelands
http://www.nit.com.au/opinion/story.aspx?id=21965
31 May 11: "Rosalie Kunoth Monks is a respected elder in the Utopia Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory, a group of 16 central desert outstations set up by the elders of that community in the 1980s. Best known as the child star in the controversial film Jedda she was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald of 21-22 May as saying, amongst other things, that the loss of the homelands would be the last straw for her people. "If we are going to be passive and sit back and allow ourselves to be removed from our homelands it would be better for the government people to come out here and shoot us….wipe us out" she said."

- Related Audio

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA Radio News 02-06-2011
http://caama.com.au/caama-radio-news-02-06-2011
2 Jun 11: "* Residents of an Alice Springs town camp have expressed concern that new housing and renovations promised by the federal indigenous affairs minister Jenny Macklin will no longer be built.
* A push to atrtract Aborignal people to Territory growth centres could create an unintended problem according to a leading health researcher."

- Related Video

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
Old Timers Town Camp Housing Drama
http://caama.com.au/old-timers-town-camp-housing-drama
3 Jun 11

- News

Solidarity: Welfare Quarantine spreads
http://www.solidarity.net.au/35/welfare-quarantine-spreads/
June 11: "Income Management (IM), first applied to Aboriginal communities through the NT Intervention, will be extended to five “disadvantaged areas” from July 2012 following an announcement in the May budget. The areas targeted will be Bankstown (NSW), Shepparton (Vic), Playford (SA), Logan and Rockhampton (Qld). ... The Stop the Intervention Collective is organising a forum in Bankstown to oppose the spread of IM. The Bankstown Aboriginal women’s group is preparing a statement of protest." Paddy Gibson

PSnews: NT police presence calms communities
http://www.psnews.com.au/Page_psn267f7.html
3 Jun 11: "The Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) had led to police being stationed in 18 remote Aboriginal communities that didn’t have them, according to the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin. Ms Macklin said the stronger police presence was helping improve the wellbeing and safety of Indigenous people in the communities."

National Indigenous Times: Intervention still racist: researchers
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=22030
31 May 11: "An independent group of researchers claim the changes made by the Federal Government to the laws, which enabled the Intervention into the Northern Territory to be enacted, had not stopped the Intervention being racially discriminatory. A group of law academics from the University of Queensland has examined the structure and powers of the Intervention from when it was introduced by the Howard government in 2007 and how it was altered by the Federal Labor Government last year."

See:

UQ News: UQ expert examines controversial NT Intervention
http://www.uq.edu.au/news/index.html?article=23119
11 May 11: "A University of Queensland public law expert has released a new collection of articles on the Commonwealth's controversial 2007 Intervention in parts of the Northern Territory and Labor's legislative redesign of the Intervention in 2010. ... "The purported ‘success' of current strategies appears overstated and the on-going departure from basic human rights standards serves to undermine the opportunity that increased funding and services brings." [said Dr Peter Billings]"

National Indigenous Times: The people have a voice at United Nations
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=22038
31 May 11: "The Federal Government’s Northern Territory Intervention and the right to water have been raised at the United Nations by a delegation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples attending the Tenth Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in New York. ... The Australian delegation, numbering around 40, was co-chaired by Janine Gertz and Brian Wyatt."

National Indigenous Times: Intervention facing UN criticism
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=22031
31 May 11: "The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay has been handed a petition containing 6500 names of people opposed to the Federal Government Intervention in the Northern Territory. ... Northern Territory Aboriginal leaders told Ms Pillay that things have got worse under the Intervention imposed by the Howard government in 2007. "There is greater discrimination against them," Ms Pillay said the leaders told her."

National Indigenous Times: Elder’s plea to the UN
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=22052
31 May 11: "Reverend Djiniyini Gondarra, an Aboriginal Elder and one of the leading critics of the Northern Territory Intervention, has told the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights the intervention is racist. Reverend Djiniyini Gondarra is a senior Elder and Dhurili clan leader of the Yolngu people of north-east Arnhem Land. He was in Geneva, Switzerland when he told the United Nations High Commissioner, Navi Pillay Aboriginal people were being victimised by some of the services delivered to them."

National Indigenous Times: Wage protest
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=22051
31 May 11: "Workers in the Northern Territory are demanding back pay for the renovation and construction work they completed for the government’s Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP) in a petition launched by lobby group Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney (SICS). The group, which has obtained more than 2000 signatures on the petition, launched the protest after claiming it discovered Indigenous workers in the Northern Territory were not being paid the correct wage rates. The petition has now been presented to the Federal Parliament by Greens Senator, Rachael Siewert."

National Indigenous Times: Macklin stays tough about grog
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=22039
31 May 11: "Indigenous Affairs Minister, Jenny Macklin has rejected calls for an easing of alcohol restrictions and said she remains committed to implementing tougher restrictions on alcohol in Northern Territory communities. The Federal Government is currently considering a number of options relating to the supply and availability of alcohol in remote communities and will not rule out proposals about alcohol management at this stage, but it has made it clear it will only support proposals that reduce harm and control supply."

Australian: Crime down, but so is school attendance
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/aboriginal-australia/crime-down...
1 Jun 11: "While the number of assaults recorded by police climbed in the first years of the intervention in the 73 targeted communities, the report shows aggravated assaults were now on the decline, Ms Macklin said yesterday. ... The update also showed that the average rate of school attendance has dropped from a high of 64 per cent in November 2009 to just under 54 per cent in August last year."

Australian: Violence in Northern Territory declines, but low school enrolments still concerning
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/violence-in-northern-te...
31 May 11: "Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin has said a new update on the Northern Territory Emergency Response, has shown aggravated assaults have dropped by about 30 per cent between 2009 and 2010 due to bolstered police numbers in remote communities. ... While the numbers of assaults recorded by police climbed in the first years of the intervention, Ms Macklin yesterday said aggravated assault incidents in communities targeted by the intervention, are now on the decline."

- Government Report

FaHCSIA: Closing the Gap in the Northern Territory Monitoring Report
http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/indigenous/pubs/nter_reports/closing_gap_NT...
Jul - Dec 10: "This Closing the Gap in the Northern Territory (previously the Northern Territory Emergency Response) Monitoring Report provides an analysis of data captured between 1 July and 31 December 2010. However, in many instances information is provided for the entire period 1 July 2007 to 31 December 2010."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.wordpress.com/