Newsletter date: 8 May 2012
Contents:
* Graeme Mundine, ACM: "Stronger Futures Legislation. Points Against"
* ACBC Media Blog: Stronger futures or stolen futures - Bishops and Religious question legislation
* Video: Jeff McMullen: "Stand for Freedom" campaign against "Stronger Futures" policy
* ANTaR: Time now critical to set new path in NT
* Congress: Stop and Listen on the Intervention
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Background to National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples
* Submissions to the Parliamentary Inquiry into language learning in Indigenous communities
* Background to the use of Aboriginal languages in NT schools
* Video: Aboriginal protestors and WA police clashing at Nyoongar tent embassy
* Background to the Aboriginal tent embassies
* Four Corners TV: Judgement Day [High Court's Mabo judgement]
* Other articles
* GRAEME MUNDINE, ACM: "STRONGER FUTURES LEGISLATION. POINTS AGAINST"
- Sydney launch
Respect and Listen:
http://www.respectandlisten.org/
"NT Consultations Report 2011: By Quotations" was launched by Graeme Mundine, Executive Officer, ACM Sydney Archdiocese
please click here for his speech
and Amy McQuire, Editor, Tracker Magazine
Published by 'concerned Australians' February 2012 http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/#NTCR2011 "
- Speech
ACM Sydney Book Launch Concerned Australians:
"Stronger Futures Legislation. Points Against"
[download speech] http://www.respectandlisten.org/uploads/downloads/ca/NTCR_launch_speech_...
4 May 2012: "There are many issues with Stronger Futures, both with regard to the intent as well as particular measures. As we (the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Sydney) submitted to the Senate Enquiry (Submission No. 350) our key concerns could be summarised as: ...
* The lack of recognition that Governments need to change the way they deliver services. The Government agenda and dialogue is all about changing Aboriginal peoples. Perhaps the most insidious of all the problems with this legislation is that the Government has failed to listen to Aboriginal peoples and continues to treat them as a problem to be solved. Further, that the only way to solve these 'problems' is by forcing people away from their own cultures towards the dominant White culture. This legislation is more than bad policy it is racist and assimilationist. It will hurry the demise of Aboriginal Cultures and will only succeed in debilitating and demoralising Aboriginal peoples."
See:
Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Sydney Archdiocese:
Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Committee:
Social Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2011 and Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Bill 2011
https://senate.aph.gov.au/submissions/comittees/viewdocument.aspx?id=634...
Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Bill 2011 and two related bills:
Submissions received by the Committee
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committee...
* ACBC MEDIA BLOG: STRONGER FUTURES OR STOLEN FUTURES - BISHOPS AND RELIGIOUS QUESTION LEGISLATION
- Media Release
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) Media Blog:
Stronger futures or stolen futures - Bishops and Religious question legislation
http://mediablog.catholic.org.au/?p=772
5 May 12: "The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) and Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) call upon all Federal Senators not to pass the legislation of the 'Stronger Futures Northern Territory 2011 Bill'.
In their meeting today in North Sydney, Archbishop Philip Wilson and Sr Anne Derwin RSJ on behalf of the ACBC and CRA released the following statement:
"We join with the many Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians who have already urged the government to consult Aboriginal people and their Elders in planning actions and developing policies that will affect their lives for many years."
The ACBC and CRA are concerned that the Stronger Futures Legislation expands the powers of the current legislation and will be set in place for 10 years.
"We urge the Federal Government to abandon this legislation and develop strategies based on trust and respect which will promote collaboration with the Aboriginal people of the Northern Territory in decision-making relating to their future", they said. ... "
- Related News
Churches call on Senate to block Stronger Futures
newsTracker: http://tracker.org.au/2012/05/churches-call-on-senate-to-block-stronger-...
SBS World News Australia: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1648295/Bishops-slam-NT-intervention-...
7 May 12: "Australia's Catholic bishops have urged the Senate to block daft legislation to extend the Northern Territory intervention in Aboriginal communities. Labor's Stronger Futures draft laws are likely to clear the upper house with bipartisan support when federal parliament resumes this week. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, which represents 42 bishops, has criticised the government's consultation process with indigenous people and called for the draft laws to be dumped. Archbishop Philip Wilson urged the Senate not to pass the legalisation and described the Stronger Futures laws as "stolen futures"."
Australian: Catholic bishops oppose intervention
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/catholic-bis...
8 May 12: "THE Catholic Bishops Conference has urged senators to reject the federal government's legislation to extend the Northern Territory intervention. The call echoes concerns by indigenous, church and welfare organisations, former prime minister Malcolm Fraser, former family court judge Alastair Nicholson, former Aboriginal affairs minister Ian Viner and former university chancellor and Supreme Court judge Frank Vincent who have all accused the government of listening to Aborigines but not hearing their concerns."
* VIDEO: JEFF McMULLEN: "STAND FOR FREEDOM" CAMPAIGN AGAINST "STRONGER FUTURES" POLICY
- Video
Vimeo: Stand for Freedom by Respect and Listen
http://vimeo.com/41649762
7 May 12: "This video is an excerpt from the "Our Generation" screening in Sydney at the Customs House on Sunday, 6.05.2012. Jeff McMullen talks about the urgent need to join the "Stand for Freedom" campaign against the "Stronger Futures" policy.
This screening was part of the 30th Greek Festival of Sydney (greekfestivalofsydney.com.au/festival12/events/event_our_generation.htm)
For more information please visit:
http://www.standforfreedom.org.au/
http://www.ourgeneration.org.au/ "
* ANTaR: TIME NOW CRITICAL TO SET NEW PATH IN NT
- Media Release
ANTaR: Time now critical to set new path in NT
http://www.antar.org.au/time_now_critical_to_set_new_path_in_nt
7 May 12: "With the Stronger Futures bills listed for debate on Wednesday, ANTaR urges Senators and MPs not to support the bills in their current form.
"This is about respect, good faith and trust. It is a test of our willingness to listen, partner with and support Aboriginal organisations and communities to take control of their futures," said Jacqueline Phillips, ANTaR National Director.
"ANTaR calls on all MPs and Senators to consider the legacy these laws will leave in the history books and the damage they will do to relationships between Aboriginal people and governments."
"The bills would have long-term and far-reaching effects, including the risk of increased imprisonment rates and financial harm to families due to sanctions for poor school attendance. They must not be rushed through Parliament with minimal scrutiny amidst the focus on the Federal Budget. ...
Affected communities have strongly stated their opposition to the bills in submissions, Senate hearings and in the media. The latest to do so are Arnhem Land communities, with Yolgnu Elders representing 8000 traditional owners last week releasing a statement opposing the bills. ... "
See:
WGAR News: Yolngu Nations Assembly Statement concerning 'Stronger Futures' laws and NT policies (4 May 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/04/wgar-news-yolngu-nations-assembly-sta...
* CONGRESS: STOP AND LISTEN ON THE INTERVENTION
- Action
National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples:
Stop and Listen on the Intervention
[scroll down page] http://nationalcongress.com.au/
"Click here [ http://congressmob.good.do/stoplisten/ ] to send a letter direct to your representatives in Canberra about the Stronger Futures Bills to continue the Northern Territory Intervention."
* BACKGROUND TO 'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:
Last updated: 6 May 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-stronger-futures-new-nt...
* BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
Last updated: 29 April 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-...
* BACKGROUND TO NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST PEOPLES:
Last updated: 5 May 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/05/background-to-the-national-congress-o...
* SUBMISSIONS TO THE PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY INTO LANGUAGE LEARNING IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES:
"The 147 submissions to the Parliamentary Enquiry can be accessed at:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Represe...
(As well as the transcripts to the hearings).
Included are many very persuasive arguments in favour of a return to bilingual education and giving Aboriginal languages the status and dignity they deserve.
As with the Stronger Futures Senate Inquiry (where Aboriginal Australia's cry from the heart was ignored) I fear that the people that should be reading this material won't and the authorities (politicians and bureaucrats) will stick to their dogmatic assimilationist stance in relation to Aboriginal Languages as with just about everything else.
All the same that is no reason for us to remain silent. ... " Frank
http://groups.google.com/group/foblmail/browse_thread/thread/98685997689...
See:
Main Government webpage on the Inquiry into language learning in Indigenous communities:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Represe...
* BACKGROUND TO THE USE OF ABORIGINAL LANGUAGES IN NT SCHOOLS:
Last updated: 7 May 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/05/background-to-the-use-of-aboriginal-l...
* VIDEO: ABORIGINAL PROTESTORS AND WA POLICE CLASHING AT NYOONGAR TENT EMBASSY
- Video
YouTube: Nyoongar Sovereignty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHi1v6OzLEA
4 May 12: "SBSLivingBlack. Explosive footage of Aboriginal protestors and WA police clashing at the Nyoongar tent embassy earlier this year made headlines around the country.Today the embassy remains and the protestors are refusing to move. Living Black Sunday 4:30PM on SBS One http://www.sbs.com.au/livingblack "
* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSIES:
Last updated: 4 May 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* FOUR CORNERS TV: JUDGEMENT DAY [HIGH COURT'S MABO JUDGEMENT]
- Video
Four Corners: Judgement Day by Liz Jackson and Lisa McGregor
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2012/05/03/3494661.htm
Updated 3 May 12: "Liz Jackson reports on the impact of this historic judgement, the reaction it inspired and the inside story of the negotiations to create the law that would pave the way for Native Title. We hear from the power brokers who forced the nation to confront its history, and their critics. ...
"Judgement Day", reported by Liz Jackson and presented by Kerry O'Brien, goes to air on Monday 7th May at 8.30 pm on ABC1. It is replayed on Tuesday 8th May at 11.35pm. It can also be seen on ABC News 24 [ http://www.abc.net.au/news/abcnews24/ ] each Saturday at 8.00pm, on ABC iview [ http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/series/four%20corners ] and at abc.net.au/4corners [ http://abc.net.au/4corners/default.htm ]."
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- Analysis / Opinion
Indymedia Australia: Control bill pushed to target Aboriginal peoples and to erode civil liberties
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/06/control-bill-pushed-to-target-aborigi...
6 May 12: "Australia-wide Aboriginal organisations, communities and rights advocates are more than just apprehensive of the consolidated push by State and Territory governments for the introduction of Criminal Association Control Bills better known as anti-association laws - in Western Australia, the Criminal Organisation Bill 2012 appears that it will be passed and within days. Both the Liberal/Nationals coalition government and the Labor opposition will support it with only the Greens Giz Watson having called for a parliamentary inquiry into the Bill - a call which has been rejected." Gerry Georgatos
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