Newsletter date: 25 May 2012
Contents:
* Amnesty: Global failure of human rights leadership extends to Australia
* Amnesty: Tell your Senators: scrap Stronger Futures
* Greens: Amnesty report emphasises need for homelands investment
* Jon Altman: Another decade for homelands policy debacle
* Tracker: Intervention laws need scrutiny: Gooda
* Greens seek further scrutiny for NT Intervention
* Greens: Government & Coalition should heed UN concerns on NT Intervention
* Interview with Matthew Dhulumburrk Gaykamangu & Paddy Gibson on Stronger Futures laws
* Terry Priest & Eva Cox: Evidence-Free Policy Making? The Case of Income Management
* Zoe Edwards: Labor’s racist Intervention set to continue
* Darren Coyne: Senators adjourn debate until June
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* ABC: Barkly candidates united against Muckaty
* Background to the proposed Muckaty nuclear waste dump
* AMNESTY: GLOBAL FAILURE OF HUMAN RIGHTS LEADERSHIP EXTENDS TO AUSTRALIA
- Info about the 2012 Report
Amnesty International Australia: Global failure of human rights leadership extends to Australia
http://www.amnesty.org.au/report/comments_2012/28699
22 May 12: "Amnesty International today launched its 50th review, which scrutinises the state of the world’s human rights in 153 countries, including Australia. ... The Government continues to violate the rights of Aboriginal Peoples, excluding traditional homelands from essential services and implementing a chain of policies that is further disenfranchising Aboriginal Peoples in the Northern Territory. "The Stronger Futures Bills are about to be debated in the Senate. If passed, they signal a continuation of a dark era for Aboriginal Peoples in the Northern Territory. ... "
Amnesty International Australia: Human rights in Australia
Australia’s failed leadership exposed
by Claire Mallinson, National Director of AIA
http://www.amnesty.org.au/report/comments_2012/28734/
22 May 12: "Australia may not have a reputation as a country where gross human rights violations are taking place on a large scale. But as we launch our 50th Amnesty International Report today, we can reveal that Australia does not have a squeaky clean record that it likes to think it has. ... Aboriginal Peoples have also continued to fare poorly as the Government pushes ahead with policies in the Northern Territory echoing the failed assimilation era of the 1930s and 1960s. The government claims to be supporting Aboriginal Peoples living on their ancestral homelands, but policies do not match these claims."
- Related Analysis / Opinion
ABC The Drum Opinion: Fear in the face of change
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4030894.html
"But for examples of failed leadership closer to home, one doesn't need to look beyond Australia's shores. In 2011, the Government's attempts to repackage failed policies of the past displayed desperation and a lack of vision to deal with pressing human rights challenges. ... The Stronger Futures Bills are about to be debated in the Senate. If passed, they signal a continuation of the intervention in the Northern Territory. Aboriginal communities have widely condemned the punitive measures contained in the legislation and the Government's consultations held with communities were shambolic." Claire Mallinson, National Director of Amnesty International Australia
- Related News
SMH: Stronger Futures continues dark era for Aborigines, says Amnesty
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/stronger-futures-continues-...
25 May 12: "AMNESTY International has sharply criticised Australia's treatment of its indigenous people and asylum seekers in its annual world review of the state of human rights. Many of the organisation's criticisms centred on the Gillard government's so-called Stronger Futures proposals, which would extend elements of the federal intervention in the Northern Territory for a further 10 years. ... The proposals are expected to pass Parliament with the support of the Coalition, but Amnesty said this would "signal a continuation of a dark era for Aboriginal peoples in the Northern Territory"."
Koori Mail: Aust gets an 'F’ on human rights
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
24 May 12: "AI Australia's National Director Claire Mallinson says the Government's Stronger Futures Bills signal a continuation of 'a dark era' for Aboriginal people in the NT. FAILED leadership demonstrated around the globe in relation to human rights is also apparent in Australia, according to Amnesty International (AI). The human rights group today launched its 50th review, scrutinising human rights in 155 countries, including Australia. It says the Australian Government is continuing to violate the rights of Aboriginal peoples by excluding traditional homelands from essential services and pursuing its Stronger Futures policies, currently before the Senate. Australia was also criticised for its refugee policies."
newsTracker: Amnesty singles out Indigenous rights abuses in world report
http://tracker.org.au/2012/05/amnesty-singles-out-indigenous-rights-abus...
24 May 12: "NATIONAL: Australia has been scolded by an international human rights group for violating the rights of Aboriginal people and trying to send asylum seekers offshore for processing. Amnesty International has criticised the government for limiting funding for housing and services like water and sanitation for Aboriginal people living in traditional homelands in the Northern Territory in its 2012 report into the state of human rights around the world. ... "People need to realise the first peoples of Australia are being treated in an appalling manner," she [Amnesty International national director Claire Mallinson] told reporters at a briefing of the 400-page report in Sydney."
9 News: Aust violates indigenous rights: Amnesty
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8472510/aust-violates-indigenous-rig...
24 May 12: "Australia has been scolded by an international human rights group for violating the rights of Aborigines and trying to send asylum seekers offshore for processing. "Australia continued to violate rights of Indigenous People," Amnesty International said in its annual report on global human rights in 2011. ... Amnesty International national director Claire Mallinson said Amnesty had been told some indigenous people in the Northern Territory were living without toilets, showers, electricity or garbage collection."
ABC Indigenous: Policy driving Indigenous from lands: Amnesty
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-24/australia-criticised-in-latest-amn...
24 May 12: "Amnesty International has issued a scathing assessment of Australia's policies on Indigenous affairs and refugees in its latest report on human rights around the world. Amnesty's 2012 human rights report says Australia continues to violate the rights of Indigenous people, and is driving them from their homelands. "The [Australian] Government continued to limit funding for housing and municipal services such as water and sanitation to Aboriginal peoples living on traditional homelands in the Northern Territory," the annual report says."
SMH: Amnesty slams UN peace failures, Malaysia solution
http://www.smh.com.au/world/amnesty-slams-un-peace-failures-malaysia-sol...
24 May 12: "Amnesty also said the Stronger Futures Bill - currently before the Senate and which would extend by a decade the Northern Territory Intervention first introduced by the Howard government - would marginalise and disenfranchise indigenous Australians."
- Related Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA News 25-05
http://caama.com.au/caama-news-25-05
25 May 12: "A new Amnesty International report has noted the detrimental impact of the NT Intervention on homelands and the long term health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people."
* AMNESTY: TELL YOUR SENATORS: SCRAP STRONGER FUTURES
- Action
Amnesty International Australia: Tell your Senators: scrap Stronger Futures
http://www.amnesty.org.au/action/action/28676/
"Stronger Futures is a package of legislation before the Senate that will extend some of the most controversial elements of the Northern Territory Intervention for the next decade - stripping Aboriginal people of their dignity, and taking away their right to control their own lives. ...
Write to your Senators today and tell them to scrap Stronger Futures
The former the Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, the Yolngu Nations Assembly, the National Congress of Australia's First People, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Pacific, the Human Rights Law Centre and the Australian Council of Social Services are all united in their criticism of Stronger Futures. ... Let's send a clear message to politicians that it's time to listen."
See:
- Call to Action Kit
UnitingJustice Australia: Stronger Futures Call to Action
http://www.unitingjustice.org.au/justice-for-indigenous-australians/info...
"The Stronger Futures debate in Parliament will resume 18th June. This gives us a few more weeks to voice our opposition to the introduction of the legislation.
The Stronger Futures legislation is a series of Bills that will determine what programs the Government implements for Indigenous communities for the next 10 years. The Bills are an extension of the Northern Territory Emergency Response Act 2007 (the Intervention), and will extend the discriminatory measures by up to a decade.
If passed, some of the discriminatory measures that would be introduced through the Stronger Futures legislation include: ...
You can download the Call to Action Kit which includes: background material on the Stronger Futures legislation; advocacy strategies; information postcards to distribute; and a form letter to complete and send to politicians."
- Petition
Human Rights Petition: Australian Government: Stop Stronger Futures and support Aboriginal self-determination in the NT
https://www.change.org/petitions/australian-government-stop-stronger-fut...
- Action
Stand for Freedom - Take Action
http://standforfreedom.org.au/take-action/
"The Stronger Futures legislation is opposed by Aboriginal people across the Northern Territory and civil society across the nation. We need to generate a mass movement to make the Government listen to their concerns. That Aboriginal people have the right to control their own futures; that freedom is the right of ALL Australians.
Let’s come together and stop Stronger Futures! ... "
* GREENS: AMNESTY REPORT EMPHASISES NEED FOR HOMELANDS INVESTMENT
- Media Release
Greens: Amnesty report emphasises need for homelands investment
http://greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/amnesty-report-emphasises...
24 May 12: "Amnesty International’s State of the World's Human Rights report underlines the detrimental impact of the NT Intervention on homelands and the long term health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the Australian Greens said today.
"It is little surprise that Amnesty, like other international organisations, has found continued violations of the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples," Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
"The approach taken by Stronger Futures is completely contrary to that which has been recommended by experts and communities themselves. There is a strong body of opinion in favour of supporting services and programs based on collaboration and community involvement and partnership. [said Senator Rachel Siewert]"
* JON ALTMAN: ANOTHER DECADE FOR HOMELANDS POLICY DEBACLE
- Analysis / Opinion
newsTracker: Another decade for homelands policy debacle
http://tracker.org.au/2012/05/another-decade-for-homelands-policy-debacle/
25 May 12: "NATIONAL: The federal government recently announced funding over ten years for Homelands in the NT. But will it make a difference, asks PROF JON ALTMAN*. ... Homeland residents today are in a worse place than five years ago because any 'security and certainty' this policy pronouncement might deliver is more than offset by high insecurity and uncertainty about CDEP and the community-based resource organisations that have been at the very heart of their development prospects. ... Evidently, it has not yet occurred to the Australian government that neglect creates socioeconomic gaps, it does not close them." By Jon Altman, research professor in economic anthropology, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR), Australian National University
* TRACKER: INTERVENTION LAWS NEED SCRUTINY: GOODA
- News
newsTracker: Intervention laws need scrutiny: Gooda
http://tracker.org.au/2012/05/intervention-laws-need-scrutiny-gooda/
24 May 12: "NATIONAL: Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda says the federal government should subject its legislation extending the Northern Territory intervention to scrutiny by a new human rights committee. The United Nations this week challenged Labor to refer its Stronger Futures laws to the parliamentary joint committee on human rights. The legislation, currently before the Senate, was introduced to parliament before the committee was set up late last year. But Mr Gooda, the government’s Indigenous social justice commissioner, says the draft laws should be reviewed as a matter of urgency before they are passed."
See:
WGAR News: "NT intervention law must comply with Australia’s human rights obligations" M. Bogner (23 May 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/23/wgar-news-nt-intervention-law-must-co...
* GREENS SEEK FURTHER SCRUTINY FOR NT INTERVENTION:
- Media Release
Greens seek further scrutiny for NT Intervention
http://greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/greens-seek-further-scrut...
23 May 12: "The Australian Greens will ask Attorney General Nicola Roxon to refer the Stronger Futures legislation package to the newly established Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights.
"Stronger Futures, the legislation being used to extend the NT Intervention, was introduced before the joint committee was finalised, meaning the legislation will not be automatically scrutinised and does not need to include a human rights statement," Senator Siewert said today.
"However, terms of reference for the committee allows it to investigate any matter relating to human rights upon referral from the Attorney-General.
"Widespread concerns have been raised about the Intervention and the consultation processes that have been undertaken as part of Stronger Futures. [said Senator Rachel Siewert]"
- News
National Indigenous Radio Service: Greens call for human rights scrutiny of Stronger Futures
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7238-greens-call-for-human-right...
25 May 12: "The Australian Greens Indigenous Affairs Spokesperson Rachel Siewert is calling for a human rights review of the extension of the Northern Territory Intervention via the Federal Government's Stronger Futures legislation. ... "A lot of people see Stronger Futures for what it is, which is an extension of that discriminatory approach. "But because it was introduced just before the Joint Committee on Human Rights got started in Parliament, it didn't get referred to that Committee. ... "Therefore, many of us believe it should be referred to that committee.""
See:
WGAR News: "NT intervention law must comply with Australia’s human rights obligations" M. Bogner (23 May 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/23/wgar-news-nt-intervention-law-must-co...
* GREENS: GOVERNMENT & COALITION SHOULD HEED UN CONCERNS ON NT INTERVENTION
- Media Release
Greens: Government & Coalition should heed UN concerns on NT Intervention
http://greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/government-coalition-shou...
22 May 12: "Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert says comments made today by the Pacific representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights increases pressure on the Government over it’s expansion of the NT Intervention via the Stronger Futures legislation.
"Matilda Bogner has rightly raised a number of concerns about the intervention in the Northern Territory," Senator Siewert said today.
"This condemnation continues to grow and Australia’s international reputation continues to be tarnished.
"The Government needs to take notice of the calls coming from communities in the NT and from national and international organisations who recognised that the interventionist approach serves only to marginalise people. ... "
See:
WGAR News: "NT intervention law must comply with Australia’s human rights obligations" M. Bogner (23 May 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/23/wgar-news-nt-intervention-law-must-co...
* INTERVIEW WITH MATTHEW DHULUMBURRK GAYKAMANGU & PADDY GIBSON ON STRONGER FUTURES LAWS:
- Audio Interview
3CR Community Radio 855 AM - Podcasts
[scroll down page] http://www.3cr.org.au/podcast
Wednesday Hometime - 24 May 2012
[download this program] http://pod.3cr.org.au/pod/3CRCast-2012-05-23-95402.mp3
24 May 12: "Sue spoke to Paddy Gibson of the Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney and Matthew Dhulumburrk Gaykamangu an Indigenous elder from Ramingining about the Stronger Futures legislation to be debated in the Senate in June. Valerie interviewed Tabitha O’Shea, Solicitor for Seniors Rights Victoria, about elder abuse a subject she presented to a paracticioners forum for Law Week."
* TERRY PRIEST & EVA COX:
EVIDENCE-FREE POLICY MAKING? THE CASE OF INCOME MANAGEMENT
- Research Paper
Evidence-Free Policy Making? The Case of Income Management
By Terry Priest and Eva Cox
Journal of Indigenous Policy
Read the full article here: http://www.jumbunna.uts.edu.au/researchareas/newmedia/AddendumtoJIP12FIN...
May 2012: "This paper argues that current evidence fails to support the extension of income management.
This paper is a new addendum to the Journal of Indigenous Policy Issue 12, which September 2011 and looked at the reports then available on the effectiveness or otherwise of the Federal Government’s income management program in the Northern Territory.
However, further government reports on the Northern Territory Emergency Response policies were published later last year. This addendum covers the additional studies, looking again at the quality of evidence being used to justify extending IM and other programs. ... "
* ZOE EDWARDS: LABOR'S RACIST INTERVENTION SET TO CONTINUE
- Analysis / Opinion
Socialist Alternative: Labor’s racist Intervention set to continue
http://www.sa.org.au/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=7337:labor%E2%...
21 May 12: "The NTER was originally to last for 5 years and was due to run out in August this year. The Labor Party, nervous to ensure continuing prosperity for the mining giants, has introduced new legislation - misnamed "Stronger Futures" - which aims to extend the intervention for a further ten years. ... But there’s more to it than this. The real intention of the government is to drive Aboriginal people of their land and continue the assimilation policies of the past. And there is a clear link between the mining boom and the Intervention." By Zoe Edwards
* DARREN COYNE: SENATORS ADJOURN DEBATE UNTIL JUNE
- News
Guardian: Senators adjourn debate until June - Spotlight on Stronger Futures legislation
http://www.cpa.org.au/guardian/2012/1548/05-senators-adjourn.html
23 May 12: "The Senate has adjourned its debate on the controversial NT Stronger Futures legislation, which would extend the Northern Territory intervention for up to another ten years. The legislation was listed for debate but has now been deferred until at least June 18 ... The deferral of the legislation follows intense lobbying in recent weeks from Indigenous groups and opponents of the legislation. Despite that opposition, opponents are fearful that the legislation will have bipartisan support, albeit with possible amendments from the Coalition and the Greens, when it next comes up." By Darren Coyne
* BACKGROUND TO 'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:
Last updated: 24 May 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-stronger-futures-new-nt...
* BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
Last updated: 24 May 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-...
* ABC: BARKLY CANDIDATES UNITED AGAINST MUCKATY
- News
ABC Alice Springs: Barkly candidates united against Muckaty
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/05/24/3510368.htm
24 May 12: "They're on opposite sides of the political divide but Member for Barkly, Gerry McCarthy and CLP candidate Bec Healy stand united on Muckaty. The CLP's candidate for the Barkly, Bec Healy says she does not want to see the proposed nuclear waste facility at Muckaty Station go ahead. ... Ms Healy stands united with current Member for Barkly, Gerry McCarthy who maintains his strong opposition to the proposal. ... Both candidates stand against their own parties federally on the issue."
* BACKGROUND TO THE PROPOSED MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:
Last updated: 24 May 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-proposed-muckaty-nu...
- - -
About WGAR News:
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/30/about-wgar-news-working-group-for-abo...
Subscription to 'WGAR News' is free.
'WGAR News' monitors the media, including alternative media, focusing on:
* the Australian Federal government intervention into Northern Territory (NT) Aboriginal communities;
* the Aboriginal sovereignty movement and tent embassies;
* other Aboriginal rights issues; and
* upcoming Aboriginal rights events around Australia.
'WGAR News' publishes information and opinions from a wide range of sources. These opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions of WGAR.
The e-newsletters include media releases, opinion pieces, news items and events. Subscribers can expect to receive about 4 e-newsletters each week.
To subscribe, email wgar.news@gmail.com and include the words "subscribe WGAR News" in the message header.
To unsubscribe, email wgar.news@gmail.com and include the words "unsubscribe WGAR News" in the message header.
- - -
You can also subscribe to our second list 'Contact WGAR' which focuses on activities and events and provides a point of contact.
To subscribe, email contactwgar@gmail.com and include the words "subscribe WGAR Contact" in the message header.
- - -
WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
WGAR Website: http://wgar.wordpress.com/