Newsletter date: 18 August 2012
Contents:
Aboriginal NT Intervention and the NT Elections:
* Amy McQuire: All eyes turn to bush seats as NT election gets underway
* Daniel Fejo: First Nations NT candidate: 'Things have been taken away'
* NIT: Japarta Ryan’s plan to stop Intervention
* NT Greens: Barbara Shaw stands up for Alice Springs
* Press TV: Indigenous intervention dominates Australia NT election campaign
'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws:
* Chris Graham: Who put the con back in consultation?
* Geraldine Fela: Unions, Labor members say no more Income Management
* Aunty Daphne & Sue Gillett - Back to the Future: NT Intervention & Income Management (Building Bridges 2012)
* Graeme Mundine: Stronger Futures? (Building Bridges 2012)
* More 'Stronger Futures' Legislation related articles
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
Use of Aboriginal languages in NT schools:
* Emma Murphy: NT government quietly abandons bilingual ban
* Rosa McKenna: NT covertly drops 'the first 4 hours of each day English only' policy
* Background to the use of Aboriginal languages in NT schools
Amnesty International German Newsletter on Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples
* Other articles
ABORIGINAL NT INTERVENTION AND THE NT ELECTIONS:
* AMY MCQUIRE: ALL EYES TURN TO BUSH SEATS AS NT ELECTION GETS UNDERWAY
- Analysis / Opinion
agendaTracker: All eyes turn to bush seats as NT election gets underway
http://tracker.org.au/2012/08/all-eyes-turn-to-bush-seats-as-nt-election...
13 Aug 12: "NORTHERN TERRITORY: The Northern Territory will go to the polls on August 25. Will Aboriginal people finally have a voice, asks AMY McQUIRE*. ... There has even been mention in the news of the First Nations Party, lead by Kalkarinji man Maurie Japarta Ryan, and the impact it could have on Labor and CLP votes. Many Aboriginal people in remote communities have already made their feelings clear on a federal level. At the last federal election, the remote booths voted overwhelmingly for Greens candidate for Lingiari Barbara Shaw, a prominent anti-intervention campaigner." By Amy McQuire, a Darumbal and South Sea Islander woman, Editor of Tracker
* DANIEL FEJO: FIRST NATIONS NT CANDIDATE: 'THINGS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AWAY'
- Interview
Green Left: First Nations NT candidate: 'Things have been taken away'
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/51855
11 Aug 12: "Daniel Fejo is a candidate for the First Nations Political Party running for the seat of Blaine in the August 25 Northern Territory elections. Fejo is a Larrakeyah man and a home and community care worker in the Bagot community. Fejo spoke to Green Left Weekly’s Peter Robson. * * *
What does the First Nations Political Party say about the proposed nuclear waste dump in the NT? ...
What do you think about the NT intervention? ...
Housing is another serious issue in the NT. Are there specific issues for Aboriginal people? ...
What do you think about the level of support for the homelands? ... "
* NIT: JAPARTA RYAN'S PLAN TO STOP INTERVENTION
- News
National Indigenous Times: Japarta Ryan’s plan to stop Intervention
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1382-japarta-ryans-plan-to-stop-intervention....
6 Jul 12: " ... The First Nations Party plans to storm the upcoming Northern Territory election and seize the balance of power after announcing this week their first six candidates who will stand for election. The award-winning high profile musician and highly respected Warren H Williams has been joined by Ken Lichleitner, Ben Pascoe, Bill Risk, Valda Shannon and Daniel Fejo as First Nations Party candidates for the August poll. Party founder Maurie Japarta Ryan said he had high hopes the large Indigenous population in the Northern Territory would be enough to win the party enough seats to hold the balance of power in the new Territory parliament. ... "
- Related Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/am-5.7.12-update.mp3
[scroll down page] http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
5 Jul 12: "The co founder of Australia’s first Aboriginal political party says he is surprised with how many of his people want to represent themselves and their own political party at the upcoming Northern Territory elections."
- Related News
National Indigenous Radio Service: Barkly candidate wants community input into outstations
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7473-barkly-candidate-wants-comm...
17 Aug 12: "A candidate for the seat of Barkly in the August 25th Northern Territory election says she wants more Indigenous input into how homelands are funded. A forum hosted by the ABC questioned Barkly candidates on a range of topics, including homelands policy, the Super Shires policy and employment. ... The First Nations Political Party's Valda Shannon says Aboriginal Territorians should be running their homelands."
National Indigenous Times: Homelands backflip is just a bribe: Ryan
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1612-homelands-backflip-is-just-a-bribe-ryan....
9 Aug 12: "By National Indigenous Times reporter Geoff Bagnall. The Northern Territory Labor Party is offering a $20,000 cash bribe to remote area Aborigines to vote for them in the upcoming election to retain power and bolster Julia Gillard's federal re-election chances, the founder of the First Nations Political Party, Maurie Japarta Ryan has claimed."
* NT GREENS: BARBARA SHAW STANDS UP FOR ALICE SPRINGS
- Media Release
NT Greens: Barbara Shaw stands up for Alice Springs
http://nt.greens.org.au/content/barbara-shaw-stands-alice-springs
9 Aug 12: "The NT Greens have selected Alice Springs local Barbara Shaw for the electorate of Braitling in the upcoming NT elections.
Over the last 15 years of Barbara’s life and especially the last 7, politics for her have really hit home. She ran in the 2010 federal election for the electorate of Lingiari for the Greens, resulting in a sizeable swing towards her.
Barbara has been an active member of the Alice Springs community in the area of human rights in relation to policies from both tiers of government. ...
Barbara shares the same concerns about issues that have arisen over this time. She says she is committed to being the people’s person to deliver what they want in relation to human rights and social justice.
Barbara wants to build the capacity of the community by working together for a stronger community.
"More social inclusion and better engagement between government and the people to rebuild from the ground up is vital.""
- Related Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
Barb Shaw is Greens Candidate for Braitling
http://caama.com.au/barb-shaw-is-greens-candidate-for-braitling
16 Aug 12: "Barb Shaw running candidate for Braitling spoke to Paul wiles about the upcoming NT elections."
* PRESS TV: INDIGENOUS INTERVENTION DOMINATES AUSTRALIA NT ELECTION CAMPAIGN
- Video
Press TV: Indigenous intervention dominates Australia NT election campaign
http://presstv.com/detail/2012/08/14/256163/indigenous-australia-nt-elec...
14 Aug 12: "The Northern Territory goes to the polls on August 25th and in addition to major issues like Crime and Law and Order, the controversial Northern Territory Intervention is once again being noticed. ... Despite the Intervention being a Federal Issue, it’s likely to have some impact in a possibly tight NT election, between the current Territory Labor Government led by Paul Henderson and Country Liberal’s Leader, Terry Mills. Both parties have 12 seats in the NT Parliament, with Labor surviving thanks to support from a lone Independent MP. But that balance could shift if either party loses a single seat, ... "
'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:
* CHRIS GRAHAM: WHO PUT THE CON BACK IN CONSULTATION?
- Analysis / Opinion
newsTracker: Who put the con back in consultation?
http://tracker.org.au/2012/08/who-put-the-con-back-in-consultation/
15 Aug 12: "NATIONAL: There are at least three reasons why the federal government’s consultations on the Stronger Futures legislation should be condemned. Firstly, the government never really intended to consult in any meaningful way with Aboriginal people. Secondly, when they were shamed into doing it, the consultation process they delivered was a sham. And finally, Aboriginal people never needed to be consulted in the first place – they’d already made their views known on the NT intervention at two federal elections, and in terms that were unmistakeable. CHRIS GRAHAM analyses the farce that was the Australian democratic process on the passage of the Stronger Futures laws." By Chris Graham, managing editor of Tracker magazine
* GERALDINE FELA: UNIONS, LABOR MEMBERS SAY NO MORE INCOME MANAGEMENT
- News
Solidarity: Unions, Labor members say no more Income Management
http://www.solidarity.net.au/uncategorized/unions-labor-members-say-no-m...
August 2012: "A COMMITMENT to organising with unionists has paid off for the campaign against the NT Intervention and the rollout of Income Management into Bankstown. Child protection workers in the Public Service Association (PSA) in New South Wales have put an industrial ban on participating in the implementation of Income Management and on referring their clients to Centrelink. The PSA’s action is a powerful antidote to Indigenous Affairs’ Minister Jenny Macklin’s line that Income Management "helps families" and is "in the interests of children." By Geraldine Fela
* AUNTY DAPHNE & SUE GILLETT - BACK TO THE FUTURE: NT INTERVENTION & INCOME MANAGEMENT (BUILDING BRIDGES 2012)
- Upcoming Event
Event: 22 August 2012: Parramatta, Sydney, NSW
Building Bridges 2012
NT Intervention & Income Management
Presenters: Aunty Daphne & Sue Gillett
Koori Radio: Indig. Voices for Info & Culture
Presenter: Lily Shearer
Organised by Reconciliation for Western Sydney
Event details: http://indymedia.org.au/building-bridges-2012-aunty-daphne-sue-gillett-b...
Event details: http://reconciliation4westernsydney.org/index.php/building-bridges-2012
Event details: http://www.nswreconciliation.org.au/events-1/buildi ng-bridges-forum
Brochure: http://reconciliation4westernsydney.org/images/downloads/building_bridge...
See this link for lots more info:
http://indymedia.org.au/building-bridges-2012-aunty-daphne-sue-gillett-b...
* GRAEME MUNDINE: STRONGER FUTURES? (BUILDING BRIDGES 2012)
- Speech
Aboriginal Catholic Ministry: Graeme Mundine: Stronger Futures?
Speech to Building Bridges – R4WS
http://www.reconciliation4westernsydney.org/index.php/building-bridges-2...
8 Aug 12: "So what’s the problem with all of this? Shouldn’t we be happy that the Government is trying to fix the problems in the NT? Well yes and no! It’s fantastic that the Government recognizes there is a need to direct resources and commitment to the Northern Territory. But where they are failing woefully is how they are going about it. There are a few areas that we are most concerned about. One is the lack of proper and appropriate consultation. There has not been adequate consultation despite the Government’s claims. The Government has been widely criticized for the conclusions they have drawn from these consultations. ... " By Graeme Mundine, Aboriginal Catholic Ministry http://www.aboriginal.sydneycatholic.org/
* MORE 'STRONGER FUTURES' LEGISLATION RELATED ARTICLES:
- News
Australian: NT chief using Aborigines as pawns, accuses Brough
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/nt-chief-using-aborigin...
14 Aug 12: "NORTHERN Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson has claimed credit for benefits flowing to Aborigines from the intervention, despite his Labor candidates pledging to "finish" the program extended for 10 years by their federal colleagues. Mr Henderson's claim prompted a sharp rebuke from Howard government indigenous affairs minister Mal Brough, who said the NT Labor leader was rewriting history."
National Indigenous Times: 400 churchgoers deliver public lament over Intervention
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1610-400-churchgoers-deliver-public-lament-ov...
9 Aug 12: "Almost 400 Indigenous and non-Indigenous members of the Uniting Church in Australia joined forces on the steps of Parliament House in Adelaide to lament the Federal Government's 10 year extension of the Northern Territory Intervention through its Stronger Futures legislation and its damaging effects on Indigenous communities."
* BACKGROUND TO 'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:
Last updated: 16 August 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-stronger-futures-new-nt...
* BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
Last updated: 1 August 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-...
USE OF ABORIGINAL LANGUAGES IN NT SCHOOLS:
* EMMA MURPHY: NT GOVERNMENT QUIETLY ABANDONS BILINGUAL BAN
- News
newsTracker: NT government quietly abandons bilingual ban
http://tracker.org.au/2012/08/nt-government-quietly-abandons-bilingual-ban/
15 Aug 12: "NORTHERN TERRITORY: The Northern Territory government appears to have relaxed its controversial Compulsory Teaching in English for the First Four Hours of Each School Day policy, introduced in 2008 and seen as the end of bilingual education for Aboriginal children. The policy restricted teaching in home languages to the last few teaching hours, when children are generally tired and inattentive. It was announced in 2008 by then Education minister Marion Scrymgour, and prompted an immediate outcry from Aboriginal and human rights organisations." By Emma Murphy, works with Yolngu people in Darwin and across North East Arnhem Land, a former editor of the Green Left Weekly
* ROSA MCKENNA: NT COVERTLY DROPS 'THE FIRST 4 HOURS OF EACH DAY ENGLISH ONLY' POLICY
- Analysis / Opinion
Indymedia Australia: NT covertly drops 'the first 4 hours of each day English only' policy
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/08/13/nt-covertly-drops-%E2%80%98the-first-...
13 Aug 12: " ... the NT Department of Education and Training have removed ‘the first 4 hours of each day English only’ phrase from their literacy policy ... However on its own this is not enough. It simply says we are not going to ban the use of Indigenous Languages at this important teaching time of the day but It does nothing to support and encourage the use of the children’s first languages in an academic context. For example if you are to develop literacy in the children’s mother tongue you need to be continually training new teachers and involving all such staff in appropriate professional development. ... " By Rosa McKenna
* BACKGROUND TO THE USE OF ABORIGINAL LANGUAGES IN NT SCHOOLS:
Last updated: 21 July 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/05/background-to-the-use-of-aboriginal-l...
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL GERMAN NEWSLETTER ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES:
RUNDBRIEF AUGUST 2012
THEMENKOGRUPPE
MENSCHENRECHTE UND INDIGENE VÖLKER
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
http://stoptheintervention.org/uploads/files_to_download/Stronger-Future...
SEITE 23 / 46:
AUSTRALIEN
YOLŊUW MAKARR DHUNI (YOLŊU NATIONS ASSEMBLY) STATEMENT
"Das Statement der Versammlung der Yolngu Nationen wurde am 2. Mai 2012 vor der Verabschiedung der “Stronger Futures”-Gesetze veröffentlicht. Die Mehrheit der Ureinwohner lehnen diese Gesetze strikt ab, siehe das Yolngu-Statement als Beispiel."
SEITE 25 / 46:
ZUSAMMENSTELLUNG VON INFORMATIONEN
ÜBER DIE „STRONGER FUTURES“-GESETZE
"In der Nacht vom 28. zum 29. Juni wurden die „Stronger Futures“-Gesetze im Senat verabschiedet. Dies bedeutet weitere 10 Jahre massiver Menschenrechtsverletzungen an den Ureinwohnern des Nordterritoriums – sozusagen eine Fortsetzung der NT Intervention nur unter einem irrefuehrenden und schoeneren Titel. Income Management, ein Aspekt der 5-jaehrigen NT Intervention, wird auch in andere Bereiche Australiens erweitert."
SEITE 40 / 46:
PETITION "PUTTING AUSTRALIA TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS TEST"
"Die folgende Petition wurde noch vor der Verabschiedung der “Stronger Futures”-Gesetze kreiert. Die Regierung weigert sich jedoch bislang, die Gesetzgebung zu einer Überpruefung der Einhaltung internationaler Standards im Bereich der Menschenrechte beim Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights vorzulegen. Für eine Zusammenstellung der Aufrufe verschiedener Organisationen, die “Stronger Futures” einer Untersuchung zu durchlaufen, “Requests for Stronger Futures to be scrutinized for Human Rights compliance”, bitte hier klicken:
http://www.respectandlisten.org/nt-intervention/human-rights-review.html "
SEITE 44 / 46:
VORANKÜNDIGUNG DOWN UNDER
BERLIN – AUSTRALIAN FILM FESTIVAL
"Zum zweiten Mal findet das Down Under Berlin - Australian Film Festival in Berlin statt. Es ist das einzige Festival für australischen Film im deutschsprachigen Raum. Filme verschiedener Genres und aus verschiedenen Epochen werden vom 14.-16. September 2012 im Kino Movimiento in Berlin-Kreuzberg gezeigt.
In der Sektion „Indigenous Australia“ setzt das Festival seinen Schwerpunkt auf das indigene Kino Australiens. Neben Filmvorführungen wird es ein Begleitprogramm zum Beispiel mit Vorträgen und Diskussionen geben. Amnesty International wird mit zwei Vorträgen zu der Menschenrechtssituation der Aborigines und einem Stand auf dem Festival vertreten sein."
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- Analysis / Opinion
agendaTracker: All eyes turn to bush seats as NT election gets underway
http://tracker.org.au/2012/08/all-eyes-turn-to-bush-seats-as-nt-election...
13 Aug 12: "Aboriginal people may again be able to make their voices heard through the ballot box. That’s on issues like the amalgamation of the shires, the axing of bi-lingual education, and the underfunding of homelands. Which may explain why, earlier this month, Chief Minister Paul Henderson announced Labor would invest $300 million in 500 homeland communities across the Territory over the next 10 years. ... The NT government says the new funding does not mean it will abandon the Growth Towns policy." By Amy McQuire, a Darumbal and South Sea Islander woman, Editor of Tracker
- News
National Indigenous Times: Kim Hill welcomes homelands decision
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1611-kim-hill-welcomes-homelands-decision.html
9 Aug 12: "Northern Land Council (NLC) Chief Executive, Mr Kim Hill has welcomed the announcement by the Northern Territory Government of increased funding to maintain essential services to Territory homelands. The announcement by the Chief Minister will see the Northern Territory Government contribute a minimum $100 million over 10 years to service delivery for homelands. Alongside earlier Federal Government funding, this... "
Koori Mail: $100m promise for homelands
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php?page=Current+Edition
8 Aug 12: "THE Northern Territory Government has promised to spend $100 million to improve conditions on Aboriginal homelands. The funding would add to the Federal Government’s pledge of $200 million over ten years announced in March. With an election looming on 25 August, Chief Minister Paul Henderson’s Government appears to have backflipped on its earlier decision to freeze funding to homelands, concentrating instead on what it termed ‘hub towns’. Northern Land Council (NLC) chief executive Kim Hill welcomed the increased funding commitment, but expressed disappointment at both the Territory and Australian governments’ refusal to allow the funding to be used for roads and new houses."
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