Newsletter date: 21 August 2011
Contents:
* Report: Women's experience of Income Management in the NT
* Homelands: Rosalie Kunoth-Monks's call to government
* Amnesty Online Petition: 'Don’t abandon Aboriginal homelands'
* Anti-Intervention campaigners back call for Homelands funding
* Online Petition: Save Ballerrt Mooroop College
* Federal Court dismisses Yindjibarndi appeal
* Submission: Children of the Intervention
* More on Kimberley gas plant
* Other Northern Territory (NT) Intervention articles
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Other articles
* REPORT: WOMEN'S EXPERIENCE OF INCOME MANAGEMENT IN THE NT:
Equality Rights Alliance: Women's Experience of Income Management in the Northern Territory
http://www.equalityrightsalliance.org.au/projects/womens-experience-inco...
"During May and June 2011, Equality Rights Alliance documented women's experiences of Income Management in the Northern Territory. We want the views of women living with Income Management to be heard in public discussion of Income Management policy. The report is available for download below. ... This report does not make any policy recommendations. ERA does not have a policy position on Income Management. It is intended to document women’s experience, and was written for a general audience rather than being an academic report. ... "
* HOMELANDS: ROSALIE KUNOTH-MONKS'S CALL TO GOVERNMENT:
- Appeal
Aboriginal homelands: Rosalie Kunoth-Monks's call to government
tumblr: [scroll down page] http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/amnesty
Perth Indymedia: http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=155240
The Guardian: http://www.cpa.org.au/guardian/2011/1514/10-life-culture-home.html
11 Aug 11: "My name is Rosalie Kunoth-Monks. I am an Amntayerr and Alyawerr woman born by a creek bed in a small community called Utopia in 1937.
Today I am fighting for that community's survival, and I am asking for your help.
My homelands, the place where my family and community have lived for generations, could soon be lost. The government is stripping funding for essential services on our homelands; effectively forcing us into larger towns and cities like Alice Springs. ... "
See:
Petition: Amnesty International Australia: Don’t abandon Aboriginal homelands
http://www.amnesty.org.au/action/action/26475/
Amnesty International Australia: A message from Rosalie, Alyawarr/Anmatyerr elder (5 Jul 11)
http://www.amnesty.org.au/indigenous-rights/comments/26142
WGAR News: Amnesty International Australia: Aboriginal Peoples' right to homelands in the NT (12 Aug 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/08/12/wgar-news-amnesty-international-austr...
See more about Rosalie Kunoth-Monks OAM:
Aboriginal Elders' Statement, signed by Rosalie Kunoth-Monks along with six other elders (7 Feb 11)
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/media/Elders-statement-7-2-11.pdf
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
Rosalie Kunoth on CAAMA Radio (10 Feb 11)
http://caama.com.au/rosalie-kunoth-on-caama-radio
WGAR News: A further conversation with Elders - impacts of living under the Intervention (25 Feb 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/02/25/wgar-news-a-further-conversation-with...
WGAR News: Elders speak out on the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention (21 Apr 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/21/wgar-news-elders-speak-out-on-the-nor...
WGAR News: Interview with Rosalie Kunoth-Monks about the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention (15 Jul 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/07/15/wgar-news-say-no-to-government%E2%80%...
* AMNESTY ONLINE PETITION: 'DON'T ABANDON ABORIGINAL HOMELANDS':
Amnesty International Australia: Don’t abandon Aboriginal homelands
http://www.amnesty.org.au/action/action/26475/
"Right now the government is stripping funds for essential services from traditional Aboriginal homelands. This will effectively force families into larger towns and cities like Alice Springs.
We know Aboriginal families are strongest when they can stay connected to their homelands. With proper services like health, education, water and shelter, people can be healthier, live longer and continue their cultural traditions.
Sign our visual petition and tell the government: respect Aboriginal country and culture!
Each name is represented as an individual tile. The picture will be complete once we reach 10,000 names. Add yours now and ask the government not to abandon homelands. We’ll deliver your message directly to the Utopia community to show Australia’s support for homelands."
See:
WGAR News: Amnesty International Australia: Aboriginal Peoples' right to homelands in the NT (12 Aug 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/08/12/wgar-news-amnesty-international-austr...
* ANTI-INTERVENTION CAMPAIGNERS BACK CALL FOR HOMELANDS FUNDING:
- Media Release
Anti-Intervention campaigners back Amnesty call for Homelands funding, raise concerns about leaked cabinet report
http://stoptheintervention.org/facts/press-releases/anti-intervention-ca...
15 Aug 11: "The Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney (STICS) has welcomed the release last week of The Land Holds Us, a report by Amnesty International. The report recommends the provision of government support and services for all Aboriginal Homelands and documents gross neglect and under-funding.
STICS is concerned that the government is moving towards total withdrawal of support for Homelands and smaller communities, citing the recommendations of a Finance Department report to Cabinet on Indigenous spending, released under FOI last week week.
STICS says that while the report talks of extensive "failure" in Aboriginal affairs, its recommendations are for further attempts to centralise Aboriginal populations in areas deemed "economically viable", an extension of disastrous approach taken through the NT Intervention. ...
"The report talks about engaging more with communities. But community leaders have made their demands clear in a recent program, Rebuilding from the Ground Up: An Alternative to the NT Intervention. A true break with the failures of the past would see this program adopted."
- News
Koori Mail: Policies 'a new wave of dispossession'
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
16 Aug 11: "THE Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney (STICS) has welcomed an Amnesty International report that recommends increased government support and services for Aboriginal homelands. STICS says communities across the Northern Territory are being destroyed by Federal and Territory government policies to establish a handful of 'economically viable' hub towns and growth towns, marking a return to the 'disastrous' assimilation era."
See:
WGAR News: Amnesty International Australia: Aboriginal Peoples' right to homelands in the NT (12 Aug 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/08/12/wgar-news-amnesty-international-austr...
WGAR News: Government 'Strategic Review of Indigenous Expenditure' made public (14 Aug 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/08/14/wgar-news-government-strategic-review...
STICS: Rebuilding from the Ground Up: An Alternative to the NT Intervention
http://stoptheintervention.org/alternatives-to-the-intervention/rebuildi...
Jumbunna: Rebuilding from the Ground Up: An Alternative to the NT Intervention
http://www.jumbunna.uts.edu.au/researchareas/alternatives.html
* ONLINE PETITION: SAVE BALLERRT MOOROOP COLLEGE:
- Event
Event: Ongoing protest: Glenroy, Melbourne, Vic
Save Ballerrt Mooroop College
This Koori Pathways School is under threat
"The Local Indigenous Community is campaigning to keep the
Glenroy Koorie Pathway School on Wurundjeri Country at its
current Hilton Street Glenroy site."
Campaign Updates: http://ballerrtmooroop.org/
- The Petition
Online Petition - Save Ballerrt Mooroop College
http://ballerrtmooroop.org/node/77
15 Aug 11: "To Martin Dixon, MP, Victorian Minister of Education ... "
- News
Green Left: Picket resumes defending Indigenous school
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/48552
18 Aug 11: "On August 10, a new picket line was set up to defend Melbourne’s only Indigenous school, Ballerrt Mooroop College (BMC) in Glenroy. The day before, electricity was cut to the school gym and the locks were changed as the Education Department announced that the school gym/community hall (which is a traditional gathering place), the spirit tree and the ceremonial grounds would be demolished to make way for the Glenroy Specialist School (GSS) to come on the site, leaving the BMC with only a few classrooms. The school’s supporters’ phone tree was activated and about 30 people turned up to defend the school."
FEDERAL COURT DISMISSES YINDJIBARNDI APPEAL:
- Media Release
Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation: FMG - Yindjibarndi fight over Solomon Hub far from over
http://yindjibarndi.org.au/yindjibarndi/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Fight...
15 Aug 11: "On Friday 12 August the Full Federal Court handed down its decision rejecting a challenge by the Yindjibarndi People against the grant of three mining leases to Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) for its Solomon Hub project. ...
YAC advises that it is seeking advice about appealing this decision by the Federal Court to the High Court of Australia.
"We are disappointed with the decision but it comes as no surprise. This confirms what we have known all along, that the Native Title Act is a bad piece of legislation that consistently works against the interests of the first Australians. What is worse is that the system gives us no chance against the teams of company lawyers, land access managers and FMG’s unlimited war chest. The deck has been stacked against us," Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation CEO, Michael Woodley, said. ... "
[Click on the above link to read the many more points made.]
- Letter
Fortescue Metals Group Limited: Full Federal Court Decision
http://www.fmgl.com.au/IRM/Company/ShowPage.aspx/PDFs/2363-50700952/Full...
12 Aug 11: "Fortescue Metals Group Limited (Fortescue) advises that the Full Bench of the Federal Court of Australia has today handed down its decision in relation to an appeal by the Yindjibarndi # 1 native title claim group against previous decisions of the National Native Title Tribunal and a single Judge of the Federal Court to grant mining leases to Fortescue for its Solomon Hub mining operation.
The Full Bench of the Federal Court has unanimously dismissed the Yindjibarndi # 1 native title claim group’s appeal against the previous grant of these mining leases to Fortescue. ...
"Fortescue now looks forward to completing construction of the Solomon Hub and continuing its close co-operation with the Yindjibarndi and Roebourne communities," Mr Power [Chief Executive Officer] said."
[Click on the above link to read the many more points made.]
- Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA Radio News 15-10-2011
http://caama.com.au/caama-radio-news-15-10-2011
15 Aug 11: "The full Federal Court of Australia in perth has dismissed an appeal by the Yindinjarndi Aboriginal Corporation, against the West Australian Government’s decision to grant three mining leases to Fortescue Metals Group."
- News
Koori Mail: Group may appeal FMG lease decision
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
16 Aug 11: "A ROEBOURNE-BASED group says it may appeal against Friday's Federal Court decision to reject its challenge against the grant of three leases to billionaire miner Andrew Forrest's Fortescue Metals Group (FMG). Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) CEO Michael Woodley described the decision as disappointing but 'no surprise'. YAC insists that compensation proposed by FMG over its Solomon Hub iron ore project – and endorsed by a breakaway Aboriginal group – is inadequate. Mr Woodley says bad native title legislation means 'the deck has been stacked against' his group."
National Indigenous Radio Service: Court dismisses Yinjibarndi appeal
http://www.nirs.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6142...
15 Aug 11: "An appeal by a Native Title claimant group against the West Australian government's decision to grant three mining leases to Fortescue Metals Group has been dismissed. The leases form part of the miner's Solomon project, currently under development about 200km south of Roebourne in the Pilbara region, and are mainly in Yindjibarndi country. Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) objected to the leases being granted on cultural grounds. ... A YAC spokesperson said it was likely the decision would be appealed in the High Court."
Australian Mining: Federal court decision on Fortescue native title deal
http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/federal-court-decision-on-fortesc...
15 Aug 11: "The Federal Court has dismissed the appeal by the Yindjibarndi native title claim group. The court unanimously dismissed the group’s appeal against the previous grant of mining leases to Fortescue for its Solomon Hub operation. The appeal is part of along running saga between Fortescue and the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation, which lodged the claim."
See:
Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation:
http://yindjibarndi.org.au/yindjibarndi/
Fortescue Metals Group Ltd: The new force in iron ore
http://www.fmgl.com.au/IRM/content/home.htm
* SUBMISSION: CHILDREN OF THE INTERVENTION:
‘concerned Australians’ June 2011:
CHILDREN OF THE INTERVENTION: Aboriginal Children Living in the Northern Territory of Australia
A Submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
Prepared by: Michele Harris OAM, Georgina Gartland
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/media/Children-of-the-Interventio...
Jun 2011: "Introduction
Aboriginal children living in the prescribed areas of the Northern Territory live under legislation that does not affect Aboriginal children in any other parts of Australia, or any other children who live in Australia whatever their ethnic grouping. It is for this reason that we are providing a complementary report to the Australian NGO Report Listen to Children in order to draw specific attention to the situation of children living in the Northern Territory. ... "
See:
Listen to Children: 2011 Child Rights NGO Report Australia
By Child Rights Taskforce
http://www.unicef.org.au/downloads/Advocacy/Listening-to-children-single...
May 2011
* MORE ON KIMBERLEY GAS PLANT:
- Event
Event: Ongoing protest: James Price Point, Kimberley, WA
Kimberley gas plant protest
Save the Kimberley info: http://www.savethekimberley.com/
Kimberley gas plant threatens Aboriginal culture: http://ccr.uws.edu.au/2011/06/22/kimberley-gas-plant-threatens-aborigina...
Protest updates: http://www.savethekimberley.com/wp/blog/
Environs Kimberley: http://www.environskimberley.org.au/
Kimberley info: http://handsoffcountry.blogspot.com/
Kimberley Country and Culture: http://www.savethekimberley.com/wp/whats-the-fuss/country-culture/
- Audio
ABC AM: Elder says plans for gas hub 'rubbish'
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3296152.htm
18 Aug 11: "The huge Browse Basin gas project on the Kimberley coast here at Broome is bigger than the north-west shelf, with 14 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves. Passions are running high and in June protesters blocked a public road leading to the coast at James Price Point where the onshore gas processing plant is slated to be built. ... The oldest person there is Indigenous woman Elsta Foy. She's sitting in a plastic chair, under a tarpaulin, out of the hot sun.
TONY EASTLEY: Now people are saying they're staying here sort of 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Are you part of that band? ELSTA FOY: Yes (laughs) and I'll stay here 'til they decide to pull out."
[Includes comments by Aboriginal elder Elsta Foy at the anti gas protest camp.]
ABC AM: Other traditional owners talk up benefits of gas hub
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3296166.htm
18 Aug 11: "The compensation package offered to the local Goolarabooloo Jabirr Jabirr people involves assistance worth $1.5 billion over 30 years in areas such as education, housing and other initiatives. Traditional owners and native claimants Anthony Watson and Mary Tarran agreed to the deal after closely examining the Woodside and State Government offers. They say they did it with an eye to future generations."
[Includes comments by Anthony Watson and Mary Tarran.]
- News
National Indigenous Radio Service: James Price protesters drawing a line
http://www.nirs.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6165...
19 Aug 11: "The protest continues north of Broome at the site of a planned massive gas production hub at James Price point in the Kimberley. Traditional owners and anti-gas plant activists all say the decision to build the Woodside gas processing plant is an issue that has broader consequences for Australia. ... The oldest person among the protesters is Traditional Owner Elsta Foy whose been with the protest for 6 weeks and says she'll stay until the gas hub plans for James Price Point are scrapped."
[Includes comments by Traditional Owner Elsta Foy.]
- Media Release
Rachel Siewert: Greens: Government provides underwhelming response to JPP bilby concerns
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/government-...
17 Aug 11: "The Australian Greens have called on the Federal Government to end Woodside’s uncontrolled land clearing at James Price Point over concerns the action is threatening endangered species.
In today’s question time, Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on the Kimberley called the Government to account over new evidence showing the presence of endangered bilbies in the area.
"The Government’s response, that a compliance assessment would be undertaken at the site, is wholly underwhelming," said Senator Siewert.
"Clearing should be halted until the size and location of the bilby colonies in the area is established and a proper environmental impact assessment has been completed.""
-
Analysis / Opinion
ABC The Drum Opinion: Broome LNG project a source of opportunity
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2845258.html
18 Aug 11: "Woodside's proposed Browse LNG Development, 60 kilometres north of Broome, is a project that has the potential to deliver many benefits for all Australians. We believe that the Browse LNG Development will demonstrate that a world-class LNG development can deliver economic and social benefits to the local community and maintain the cultural and tourism values of the Dampier Peninsula." Dr Michael Hession, senior vice president, Browse LNG Development, Woodside Energy, based in WA
West Australian: Our gas hub hope
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/opinion/post/-/blog/theburningissue/pos...
14 Aug 11: "I am a traditional owner of the land of the Jabirr Jabirr people, the group who have made the decision to support the proposed James Price Point liquefied natural gas hub development, 65km north of Broome. I am 40 years old this year, and one of the lucky ones. Many of the people I grew up with have not made it to 40, and like many Kimberley Aboriginal people, I have watched too many die far too young. The decision to support the James Price Point development was not made lightly." Anthony Watson
* OTHER NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION ARTICLES:
- Analysis / Opinion
The Conversation: Effective Indigenous policy reform: closing the right gap
http://theconversation.edu.au/effective-indigenous-policy-reform-closing...
15 Aug 11: "AFTER THE INTERVENTION: Chris Sarra from the Queensland University of Technology says white Australia must address its relationship with Indigenous people to truly close the gap. There has never seriously been a high expectations relationship in which the humanity of Indigenous Australians is acknowledged. From the very outset colonisers assumed we were 'non existent' or at the very best, savages."
- News
Koori Mail: Gurindji mob boycott Lingiari lecture
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
18 Aug 11: "DESCENDANTS of Gurindji Elder Vincent Lingiari have vowed to boycott the 12th annual Vincent Lingiari lecture at Charles Darwin University today because it is being delivered by Professor Marcia Langton. In a letter to CDU, they said they were opposed to Prof Langton delivering the lecture because she was a long-time advocate of the Northern Territory intervention. Maurie Japarta Ryan, a descendant of Vincent Lingiari, signed the letter to CDU"
Koori Mail: Langton to present Lingiari lecture
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
17 Aug 11: "ABORIGINAL scholar Marcia Langton will present the 2011 Vincent Lingiari Memorial Lecture at Charles Darwin University tomorrow. The Foundation Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies at the University of Melbourne will explore ways to involve family and community members in health interventions 'so they take responsibility for their own health and that of their children'. Professor Langton says Aboriginal babies continue to be the most vulnerable citizens of the Northern Territory."
See:
Event: Fri 26 - Sun 28 August 2011: Kalkarindji/Daguragu, NT
Gurindji Walkoff from Wave Hill
- 45th Anniversary Commemoration
Fri 26: Elders Day Focus - main day
Sat 27: Mid-generation Focus
Sun 28: Youth Day Focus
Event location and details: http://www.gurindjifreedomday.com/
Program: http://www.gurindjifreedomday.com/45th%20festival.html
28 July 11 media release from Gurindji spokespeople: http://rollbacktheintervention.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/mr-gurindji_s...
Video of Gurindji strike against NT Intervention: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guge6MI6cTA
WGAR News: Gurindji workers' strike protesting the NT Intervention: http://indymedia.org.au/2010/10/24/wgar-news-australia-a-continuing-geno...
* 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
The Conversation - After the Intervention: http://theconversation.edu.au/pages/after-the-intervention
'concerned Australians': Without Justice there can be no Reconciliation: http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/
Tracker - NT Intervention: http://tracker.org.au/tag/nt-intervention/
STICS (Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney): http://stoptheintervention.org/
IRAG (Intervention Rollback Action Group): Mparntwe - Alice Springs: http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/
The Greens: Rachel Siewert: Northern Territory Intervention: http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/category/issues/indigenous-rights...
Crikey - NT Intervention: http://www.crikey.com.au/topic/nt-intervention/
Treaty Republic - NT Intervention: http://treatyrepublic.net/search/node/NT%20Intervention
CAAMA (Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association) - NT Intervention: http://caama.com.au/?s=NT+Intervention
ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation) - NT intervention: http://www.antar.org.au/issues_and_campaigns/nt_intervention
Jobs with Justice: http://jobswithjustice.wordpress.com/
MAIC (Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective): http://maicollective.blogspot.com/
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/
Students For Indigenous Rights - UQ: The Northern Territory Intervention: http://uqsir.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/stir-uq-intervention-intro-fact...
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/
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- Research
Croakey - the Crikey health blog: Some in-depth reading on Indigenous policy, plus some useful insights into health "policy windows" and effective advocacy
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/croakey/2011/08/17/some-in-depth-reading-on-i...
17 Aug 11: "If you’ve a concern for Indigenous affairs, there is some essential reading in the 470-page Strategic Review of Indigenous Expenditure (PDF alert) that was recently released under Freedom of Information legislation. The review, dated February, was not designed to produce savings, but to assess how well programs are meeting the objectives of COAG’s Closing the Gap targets, and to identify how funding could be redirected from low-value to high-value programs." Melissa Sweet
The Conversation: Australians back paying Indigenous people to manage land
http://theconversation.edu.au/australians-back-paying-indigenous-people-...
9 Aug 11: "Australians are willing to pay up to 50 times what they currently do for Indigenous people to manage their traditional land in northern Australia, researchers have found. Researchers performed a nationwide survey of the types of environmental management that people would be willing to pay for and how much they would pay. "We had nearly 1000 respondents and 70% said they would be willing to contribute to a conservation fund that pays Indigenous people to carry out conservation activities," the lead researcher said."
-
Analysis / Opinion
Alice Springs News: Amnesty replies
http://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/2011/08/18/amnesty-replies/
18 Aug 11: "Amnesty International Australia, through their Campaigns Director, Andrew Beswick, has made the following brief statement in response to KIERAN FINNANE’s analysis of their report, The Lands Hold Us. The report criticises changes in government policy, particularly since the NT Intervention, that have affected Aboriginal homelands and outstations, especially in the Utopia area."
Age: A Bran Nue Way ahead
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/a-bran-nue-way-ahead-20110816-...
17 Aug 11: "AUSTRALIANS, if they reacted at all, could be forgiven either furious exasperation or resigned disgust at news that the Commonwealth government spends $3.5 billion a year on indigenous programs, for which the outcomes have been "disappointing at best and appalling at worst". ... Indigenous Australians deserve an opportunity to help themselves. Some might want a mining job, most do not. Some welcome the ongoing industrialisation of their country, but many think there must be a better way. An impact bond is one way to offer more control to indigenous people over investments in their future." Patrick Dodson and Ian Gill
- Media Release
Reconciliation Australia: International Day of the World’s Indigenous People Highlights Issue of Recognition
http://rollbacktheintervention.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/110808-intern...
9 Aug 11: "Reconciliation Australia Co-Chair Professor Mick Dodson is calling on all Australians to get involved in the national conversation about recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in our Constitution.
As we celebrate International Day of the World’s Indigenous People today, Professor Dodson has reminded us that Australia is still lagging behind other countries.
"While Australia has now endorsed the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, we still need to bring this home - we need to abandon our settler past, reset the relationship and align it with global standards,” Prof Dodson said."
- Book Review
New Matilda: Getting The Homelands Wrong
http://newmatilda.com/2011/08/19/getting-homelands-wrong
19 Aug 11: "A new book by Diane Austin-Broos dangerously mischaracterises the debate about remote Aboriginal communities and the work of those who emphasise cultural development, writes Jon Altman"
- Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA Radio News 15-10-2011
http://caama.com.au/caama-radio-news-15-10-2011
15 Aug 11: "The federal Strategic Review of Indigenous Expenditure 2010 is a long awaited document that highlights the necessity for Aboriginal engagement in the development and delivery of government health policy and programs for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people across Australia."
- News
Australian: Green seeks Labor's help to strengthen Native Title Act
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/green-seeks-labors-help...
15 Aug 11: "A GREENS senator has foreshadowed a push to enlist Labor's support for radical changes to native title laws that would significantly widen the scope for claims and force miners to share profits and pay royalties to indigenous people. Rachel Siewert, Greens spokeswoman for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues, said she wanted to discuss her reform proposals with Attorney-General Robert McClelland and Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin, despite a backlash against her plan."
- - -
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WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
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