Stronger Futures passed - "Sad day for democracy but the fight will continue"

Graeme Mundine, Executive Director of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, Sydney Archdiocese, has lamented the Senate's passing of the Stronger
Futures Legislation on Thursday evening (28 June). "This is a sad day for all
Aboriginal people in Australia and it is a sad day for democracy," Mr
Mundine said.

"The Stronger Futures legislation has now passed through both Houses of
Parliament despite comprehensive opposition from Northern Territory
Aboriginal Nations, community groups, Churches, welfare groups and others.
More than 43,000 people have signed a petition and more than 450 submissions
were made to the Senate inquiry. International Human Rights bodies have
criticized the legislation and countless letters have been sent to
Parliamentarians. Most importantly, Aboriginal people have made it clear
that issues can be better addressed through respectful partnerships rather
than through racist and discriminatory legislation.

"Civil society has played its part in our democratic process, but Government
and Opposition Parliamentarians have failed in their responsibilities. They
have ignored the voice of the people and pushed their own ill-informed and
racist agenda.

"Djiniyini Gondarra and Rosalie Kunoth Monks said in a statement this week
that if the Bills pass "it will be a day of mourning for all Aboriginal
peoples. This legislation will be the cause of great suffering in our
hearts". I share their pain as do so many other Australians, both Indigenous
and non-Indigenous, who have stood up for what is right. I say to everybody
in the Northern Territory you are not alone we feel immense sorrow about
this injustice and we won't give up.

"We may have lost this battle, but we will continue to seek justice. Even if
our domestic law and Parliamentary process fails to protect us Australia has
obligations under International Law and is signatory to several human rights
conventions. We must hold our Government accountable to those Conventions.
We have been fighting for our rights for over 200 years and we will continue
to fight for our rights for however long it takes," Mr Mundine concluded.

Dr Gabrielle Russell-Mundine

Research and Project Coordinator

Aboriginal Catholic Ministry

Sydney Archdiocese

PO Box 121

Alexandria NSW 1435

M: 0407 133 904

T: 02 9698 4265

Other initial responses

Indigenous leader Dr Djiniyini Gondarra from east Arnhem Land and Rosalie Kunoth Monks from central Australia have jointly declared a day of mourning for Aboriginal people following the passing of the laws.

"For those of us living in the Northern Territory the anguish of the past five years of intervention has been almost unbearable," Dr Djiniyini told AAP.

Greens senator Lee Rhiannon said Labor was trashing its proud history in indigenous affairs, particularly the goodwill from former prime minister Kevin Rudd's apology and Paul Keating's Redfern speech.

National Congress of Australia's First People spokeswoman Jody Broun was disappointed the government did not allow a parliamentary committee to subject the laws to a human rights test.

Australian Lawyers Alliance national president Greg Barns said the Stronger Futures laws were further disenfranchising indigenous communities.