Newsletter date: 14 June 2012
Contents:
* Background to support for the Yolngu statement
* Gurindji People of Daguragu and Kalkarinji call on government to get rid of 'Stronger Futures' laws
* Tangentyere CEO, Walter Shaw, calls for help from 'fair-minded' Australians
* WCC appeals to Government of Australia to respect the wishes of Yolngu Nations Assembly
* FATSILC statement regarding Stronger Futures Bill and Northern Territory Policies
* NCSMC stands in union with Yolngu Nations and opposes Stronger Futures Bill
* FoE supports Yolngu Elders call for senate to reject Stronger Futures Bill
* ESORA express our full support for the Yolngu Elders statement
* Older Women's Network - Aboriginal Support Circle stands in solidarity with the Yolngu Makarr Dhuni
* Socialist Alliance stands in solidarity with the Yolngu Nations Assembly
* STICS: From the Bush to Bankstown - communities prepare to fight 'Stronger Futures' implementation
* Amnesty International: Senate must oppose deeply flawed Stronger Futures legislation
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
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...
'concerned Australians' compilation:
Churches, Religious, Organisations and Reconciliation Groups
http://concernedaustralians.com.au/Stronger_Futures_Yolngu_supporters.html
"Calls to Abandon the Stronger Futures Legislation, and Calls to Support the Yolngu Nations Assembly Statement"
Respect and Listen compilation:
http://www.respectandlisten.org/nt-intervention/stronger-futures.html
"Statements and Media Releases ... calling to abandon the Stronger Futures Legislation and supporting the Yolŋu Nations Assembly Statement"
[Includes Further Statements from:
* National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission (NATSIEC)
* Solidarity]
* BACKGROUND TO SUPPORT FOR THE YOLNGU STATEMENT:
Last updated: 13 June 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/06/10/background-to-support-for-the-yolngu-...
* GURINDJI PEOPLE OF DAGURAGU AND KALKARINJI CALL ON GOVERNMENT TO GET RID OF 'STRONGER FUTURES' LAWS:
- Statement
Statement by the Gurindji People of Daguragu and Kalkarinji
'concerned Australians': http://concernedaustralians.com.au/media/stronger_futures_yolngu/Gurindj...
11 Jun 12: "The Gurindji people at Daguragu and Kalkaringi are today calling on the government to get rid of the 'Stronger Futures' laws.
This Intervention must be abolished, not extended for another 10 years. It is racist and has caused so much suffering in our community. We have lost everything and have no control.
We are supporting the statement of the Yolngu nations calling for an end to the Intervention, the Shires and the policies which deny funding to Aboriginal homelands. Like the Yolgnu we are strongly demanding self-determination and proper funding our communities.
We can not sign any leases with government over Daguragu. This is Aboriginal land, handed back by Gough Whitlam to Vincent Lingiari forever. Not to be taken away again by leases. We say
no to the bribe being offered for a 40-year lease. We want control of our land. ...
We call on the unions who have helped us in the past and all supporters of Aboriginal rights around the country to keep fighting to get rid of the Stronger Futures laws and to win self-determination for our people."
See:
WGAR News: Gurindji tell consultations meeting: 'stop the Intervention immediately' (30 Jul 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/07/30/wgar-news-gurindji-tell-consultations...
WGAR News: 45th anniversary of Gurindji Wave Hill walk-off - Kalkarindji NT - 26-28 August 2011
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/08/28/wgar-news-45th-anniversary-of-gurindj...
* TANGENTYERE CEO, WALTER SHAW, CALLS FOR HELP FROM 'FAIR-MINDED' AUSTRALIANS:
- Statement
Tangentyere CEO calls for help from 'fair-minded' Australians
'concerned Australians': http://concernedaustralians.com.au/media/stronger_futures_yolngu/Tangent...
4 Jun 12: "The head of one of the Northern Territory's largest Aboriginal organisations has made an impassioned plea for Australian around the country to unite in support of Aboriginal rights amid new legislation federally and at the Territory level which further disempowers Aboriginal people.
Walter Shaw, CEO of Tangentyere Council, which provides services to Aboriginal town camps in Alice Springs, says Aboriginal people in Central Australia are at breaking point. The federal government is planning to extend the Northern Territory intervention by another 10 years, and the NT Government is giving bureaucrats the power to enter Aboriginal homes under the guise of 'Public Housing Safety Officers'. ...
Mr Shaw said governments had not learned form the mistakes of the past, and were introducing legislation without the consent of Aboriginal people designed to specifically target them.
"It's hard to believe that in 2012, we see paternalism at its worst," Mr Shaw said. ... "
See:
ABC The Drum Opinion: Indigenous 'solutions' just disempower us further (6 Jun 12)
By Walter Shaw, resident of a Town Camp in Alice Springs NT, CEO of Tangentyere Council NT
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4055530.html
* WCC APPEALS TO GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA TO RESPECT THE WISHES OF YOLNGU NATIONS ASSEMBLY:
- Letter
World Council of Churches:
To: The Honorable Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia and Members of her Government
'concerned Australians': http://concernedaustralians.com.au/media/stronger_futures_yolngu/World_C...
11 Jun 12: "The World Council of Churches appeals to the Government of Australia to respect the wishes of the Yolngu Nations Assembly as they call on government not to pursue its interventionist
policies, and to foster a spirit of partnership based on the principles of Self-Determination. ... "
See:
WGAR News: World Council of Churches visit to NT Aboriginal communities (5 Oct 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/10/05/wgar-news-world-council-of-churches-v...
* FATSILC STATEMENT REGARDING STRONGER FUTURES BILL AND NORTHERN TERRITORY POLICIES:
- Statement
Federation of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Languages & Culture (FATSILC):
Statement regarding Stronger Futures Bill and Northern Territory Policies
'concerned Australians': http://concernedaustralians.com.au/media/stronger_futures_yolngu/Federat...
"The Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages Corporation (FATSILC) is the national peak body for community based Indigenous language programs in Australia. ...
We proudly, stand with the Yolngu Nations Assembly and strongly support the eight (8) points they made in their statement on 24 May 2012 to the leaders of the Australian Federal and Northern Territory Parliament.
As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people we do not consent to the laws proposed in the Stronger Futures Bills and we call on the Senate to heed our voice and reject the legislation.
These laws are not needed. They treat us like children and after five years of the Intervention they have done more harm than good to our brothers and sisters in the NT.
We also draw your attention to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples articles 46 ... "
See:
FATSILC: Federation of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Languages & Culture
http://www.fatsilc.org.au/
* NCSMC STANDS IN UNION WITH YOLNGU NATIONS AND OPPOSES STRONGER FUTURES BILL:
- Statement
National Council of Single Mothers and their Children (NCSMC):
The National Council of Single Mothers and their Children Inc stands in union with the Yolngu Nations and opposes the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Bill 2011
'concerned Australians': http://concernedaustralians.com.au/media/stronger_futures_yolngu/Nationa...
"The Northern Territory Intervention was developed without consultation with Australian citizens; most notably the absence of Indigenous Communities, their Leaders and their trusted Alliances. History has confirmed that government intervention which is 'top down' most likely results in long-term human damage. Unfortunately, Australia is peppered with such examples and it is then left to future governments and generations to acknowledge the harm and then to remedy those mistakes. This is a resource intense and expensive outcome and for the individuals who have had to endure such policies the cost is in-measureable.
NCSMC opposes Income Management and cites research undertaken by Equality and Rights Alliance regarding Women’s Experiences of Income Management in the Northern Territory. ...
We can and must do better than the Northern Territory Intervention."
See:
National Council of Single Mothers and their Children Incorporated (NCSMC)
http://www.ncsmc.org.au/
* FoE SUPPORTS YOLNGU ELDERS CALL FOR SENATE TO REJECT STRONGER FUTURES BILL:
- Media Release
Friends of the Earth: Friends of the Earth supports Yolngu Elders call for senate to reject Stronger Futures Bill
FoE: http://foe.org.au/articles/2012-06-11/friends-earth-supports-yolngu-elde...
'concerned Australians': http://concernedaustralians.com.au/media/stronger_futures_yolngu/Friends...
8 Jun 12: "“By attempting to impose the Stronger Futures legislation, which will effectively extend the NT intervention by a decade, the Australian Government is ignoring Indigenous rights to be self-determining,” said Dr Alyssa Vass, Friends of the Earth spokesperson.
The Federal Government has failed to produce convincing evidence of success achieved by the NT intervention, which received significant criticism from the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the High Commissioner for Human Rights. ...
Yolngu nations have clearly not given consent to these measures and have repeatedly put forward alternative solutions that are culturally appropriate and Indigenous-led. Friends of the Earth therefore calls on the Senate to reject the Stronger Futures legislation outright and instead begin genuine consultative processes and support for Indigenous aspirations."
See:
Friends of the Earth (FoE) Australia
http://foe.org.au/
* ESORA EXPRESS OUR FULL SUPPORT FOR THE YOLNGU ELDERS STATEMENT:
- Statement
Eastern Suburbs Organisation for Reconciling Australia (ESORA):
'concerned Australians': http://concernedaustralians.com.au/media/stronger_futures_yolngu/Eastern...
9 Jun 12: "Eastern Suburbs Organisation for Reconciling Australia has been an active group since 1997 working to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aspirations for justice and human rights and recognition in Australian society. We have contact with people in the Northern Territory affected by the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) ...
Hereby we express our full support for the Yolŋu Elders statement. We cannot stand by and allow this legislation to go forward when it clearly does not have the free, prior and informed consent of
the people it will affect. ...
We watched the Prime Minister’s apology and his promise never to repeat the injustices of the past with great hope for the opportunity to reset the Government’s relationship (and by inference the
Australian People’s relationship) with our First Peoples. We now feel we are witnessing policies that are the world’s worst practice which is hard to believe could still happen in the 21st century. ... "
See:
Woollahra Municipal Council: Community information database
Eastern Suburbs Organisation For Reconciling Australia (ESORA)
http://www.datadiction.com.au/bin/dd.dll/Lincs?xpsRec&MBR=WLRH&SID=32526
* OLDER WOMEN'S NETWORK - ABORIGINAL SUPPORT CIRCLE STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE YOLNGU MAKARR DHUNI:
- Statement
Older Women's Network - Aboriginal Support Circle
'concerned Australians': http://concernedaustralians.com.au/media/stronger_futures_yolngu/Older_W...
11 Jun 12: "The Older Women's Network - Aboriginal Support Circle stands in solidarity with the Yolngu Makarr Dhuni and other Northern Territory communities in opposition to the proposed
Stronger Futures Bill.
We call on the Australian Government to scrap the bill and undertake meaningful conferences with all traditional owners and Land Councils where their objections are listened to.
The affected communities in the Northern Territory need to be supported to live and thrive on their homelands and their languages and cultures should be incorporated in to the teaching of their children. The proposed Stronger Futures Bill is not in accordance with human rights. The First Peoples of Australia deserve to be treated with dignity and respect in contrast to the hurt and despair that they feel at present.
The only way forward is for the Government and Indigenous Australians to work in partnership with each other. ... "
See:
Older Women's Network (OWN) Aboriginal Support Circle
http://www.own.org.au/aboriginalsupport.php
* SOCIALIST ALLIANCE STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE YOLNGU NATIONS ASSEMBLY:
- Statement
Socialist Alliance: Socialist Alliance stands in solidarity with the Yolngu Nations Assembly
Socialist Alliance: http://www.socialist-alliance.org/page.php?page=1199
Green Left: http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/51290
'concerned Australians': http://concernedaustralians.com.au/media/stronger_futures_yolngu/Sociali...
12 Jun 12: "The Socialist Alliance stands in solidarity with the Yolngu Nations Assembly in its unequivocal rejection of federal Labor’s Stronger Futures bills.
This proposed legislation continues the trauma of invasion, dispossession, paternalism, neglect and cultural destruction that Australia’s First Nations have withstood since colonisation began in 1788. ...
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders continue their strong and inspiring resistance to such attacks - through the recent ongoing Tent Embassy protests in various states, the vocal opposition to Stronger Futures at the shambolic 2011 community consultations, and the ongoing organised opposition, through the Yolngu Nations Assembly and campaigning groups around the country. ...
The Socialist Alliance pledges our continued solidarity to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We condemn the government's top-down approach which will further disempower some of Australia's most disadvantaged communities. ...
There will be no stronger futures without self-determination, and no reconciliation without justice."
See:
Socialist Alliance
http://www.socialist-alliance.org/
* STICS: FROM THE BUSH TO BANKSTOWN - COMMUNITIES PREPARE TO FIGHT 'STRONGER FUTURES' IMPLEMENTATION
- Statement
Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney Statement:
From the Bush to Bankstown - communities prepare to fight 'Stronger Futures' implementation
'concerned Australians': http://concernedaustralians.com.au/media/stronger_futures_yolngu/Stop_th...
11 May 12: "A growing movement in the south-western Sydney suburb of Bankstown has joined with remote NT communities in a pledge to challenge the implementation of 'Stronger Futures' legislation set to be debated in the Senate.
'Stronger Futures' will extend draconian NT Intervention powers for a further 10 years. The laws also facilitate the national expansion of income management, pioneered under the NT Intervention, beginning with Bankstown and four other "trial sites" across Australia.
'Stronger Futures' has faced fierce opposition from Aboriginal communities, churches and peak organisations. More than 36,000 people have signed the online 'Stand for Freedom' campaign calling for withdrawal of the legislation.
In an historic statement from Arnhem Land last week, Yolŋu Elders pledged to refuse to negotiate any leases, including mining exploration leases, while the government pushed ahead with 'Stronger Futures'. ... "
See STICS website:
Stop the Intervention
http://stoptheintervention.org/
* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: SENATE MUST OPPOSE DEEPLY FLAWED STRONGER FUTURES LEGISLATION
- Media Release
Amnesty International: Senate must oppose deeply flawed Stronger Futures legislation
AIA: http://www.amnesty.org.au/news/comments/28204/
'concerned Australians': http://concernedaustralians.com.au/media/stronger_futures_yolngu/Amnesty...
21 Mar 12: "Ahead of the scheduled debate of the Stronger Future Bills, Amnesty International is calling on all senators to withdraw their support in light of the woefully inadequate consultation process and overwhelming opposition to the flawed legislation.
If passed, the Stronger Futures Bills represent the continued disempowerment of Aboriginal Peoples in the Northern Territory and the Government’s blatant disregard for its human rights obligations.
"The Government is poised to push through these laws and ignored the overwhelming opposition expressed by Aboriginal communities and advocates," said Rodney Dillon, Indigenous Rights
spokesperson for Amnesty International.
Of more than 350 submissions made to the Senate Committee’s inquiry into the legislation, the overwhelming majority opposed the legislation.
"The consultation process can only be described as an outright sham which in no way, shape or form met international standards for free, prior and informed consent. ... ""
See:
Amnesty International Australia
http://www.amnesty.org.au/
Amnesty International Australia submission
https://senate.aph.gov.au/submissions/comittees/viewdocument.aspx?id=e46...
Direct Government link to view all uploaded submissions
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committee...
* BACKGROUND TO 'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:
Last updated: 10 June 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-...
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