Newsletter date: 22 December 2012
Contents:
* The Wilderness Society: Wilderness Society takes WA EPA to Court
* ABC AM: Wilderness Society launches legal action against JPP gas hub environmental approval
* SBS World News Video: WA government taken to court over gas hub approval
* Greens MP Chapple calls on EPA Chief to resign
* Hands Off Country: EPA's Deception of Community
* Law Below the Top Soil, by Dr. Peter Botsman - a concise history of the flawed proposal to develop Browse Gas at James Price Point
* News re legal action against environmental approval of JPP gas hub
* Background to the Save The Kimberley Campaign - James Price Point, north of Broome, WA
* Let's Talk Tiga Bayles interviews Aunty Mary Graham & Aunty Lila Watson on the 40th Anniversary of the Canberra Aboriginal Tent Embassy
* Background to the Aboriginal tent embassies
* Graeme Mundine's speech at Brisbane launch of 'A Decision to Discriminate'
* Greens Senators Penny Wright and Rachel Siewert: Time for a new approach to juvenile justice
* ABC PM: Calls for bail reform to reduce juvenile jail rate
* Background to Aboriginal imprisonment and Deaths in Custody
* 3CR Community Radio, Anarchist World: Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheener [Indigenous Freedom Fighters]
* Other articles
* THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY: WILDERNESS SOCIETY TAKES WA EPA TO COURT
- Advocacy
The Wilderness Society: Wilderness Society takes WA EPA to Court
http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/kimberley/wilderness-society-take...
19 Dec 12: "The Wilderness Society will join with Goolarabooloo Traditional Custodian, Richard Hunter, in taking both the West Australian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and the state's Environment Minister to the Supreme Court over gross mishandling of conflicts of interest in relation to assessment of the proposed Kimberley gas hub.
This enormous project, covering an area 20 times the size of the Melbourne CBD, is a proposal of the West Australian Department of State Development and is being assessed by another government agency, the EPA. The West Australian Premier, Colin Barnett, is the Minister for State Development, and thus the proponent.
As evidenced by a long list of blunders, the government has repeatedly failed to display any sense of procedural competence or scientific rigour in relation to environmental and cultural assessments of this highly contested project. One of it's most spectacular failings has been its improper handling of conflicts of interest declared by four of its five board members (dating back to 2009) revealed in mid 2012."
See:
The Wilderness Society: The Kimberley
http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/kimberley
"The Kimberley region of northern WA is one of the world’s great natural and Indigenous cultural regions. Its vast savannah landscapes, wild rivers, extensive wetlands, spectacular coast and rich marine environments provide a multitude of habitats that are home to an extraordinary diversity of species. Incredibly, the far north-west Kimberley sub-region is the only part of Western Australia, and one of very few in Australia, that appears to have retained its complete native fauna species diversity without extinction since European settlement."
* ABC AM: WILDERNESS SOCIETY LAUNCHES LEGAL ACTION AGAINST JPP GAS HUB ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL
- Audio
ABC AM: Wilderness Society launches legal action against JPP gas hub environmental approval
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2012/s3658100.htm
20 Dec 12: "HEIDI NORE: The Wilderness Society and Goolarabooloo traditional owner Richard Hunter are commencing legal proceedings against the Environmental Protection Authority and against the Environment Minister Bill Marmion for the way they have handled the James Price Point gas hub assessment.
DAVID WEBER: What are the particular problems with the way that the EPA and the Environment Minister have handled this?
HEIDI NORE: The EPA has acknowledged that four out of its five board members had conflicts of interest while they were assessing the James Price Point gas hub."
* SBS WORLD NEWS VIDEO: WA GOVERNMENT TAKEN TO COURT OVER GAS HUB APPROVAL
- Video
SBS World News: WA government taken to court over gas hub approval
Source: Brooke Boney, NITV News
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1722151/WA-government-taken-to-court-...
20 Dec 12: "A Goolarabooloo traditional owner and the Wilderness Society are taking the West Australian government to court over the proposed Woodside gas hub at James Price Point in the Kimberley. They say approval of the site was flawed because some of the Environmental Protection Authority board members, who were a part of the decision making process, had conflicts of interest. Brooke Boney from NITV reports."
* GREENS MP CHAPPLE CALLS ON EPA CHIEF TO RESIGN:
- News
Robin Chapple MLC: Greens MP Chapple calls on EPA Chief to resign
http://www.robinchapple.com/greens-mp-chapple-calls-epa-chief-resign
20 Dec 12: ""The Conservation Council of WA was quite correct to criticize WA’s deficient approvals process. I have many more examples of these practices. One only needs to look at what has taken place within the EPA this year regarding approvals for the development of the Browse LNG processing plant at James Price Point. "If Mr Vogel is serious about the role of the EPA as 'facilitating ecologically sustainable development' then he has a completely different idea of this concept than what is regarded as acceptable by forward-thinking people elsewhere in the world. ... " ... Mr Chapple said."
See:
Welcome to Robin Chapple MLC's website...
http://www.robinchapple.com/welcome-robin-chapple-mlcs-new-website
"Robin Chapple was first elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council on February 10, 2001. He is the first member of the Greens (WA) ever elected for the vast Mining and Pastoral Region."
* HANDS OFF COUNTRY: EPA'S DECEPTION OF COMMUNITY
- Analysis / Opinion
Hands Off Country: EPA's Deception of Community
http://handsoffcountry.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/normal-0-false-false-fals...
20 Dec 12: "What is the purpose of the National Heritage register? The 'heritage value of fossilised dinosaur track sites that occur in Broome Sandstone is recognised and is listed as a National Heritage site. Who do these faceless trans-nationals think they are? It is one thing for corporations wanting to exploit resources that have no impact in their own back yard, but for the state government to disregard not only the social mandate of the Broome community, but also State and Commonwealth laws, treaties and agreements and are activity aiding and abetting the wilful destruction of our national heritage. This is appalling."
* LAW BELOW THE TOP SOIL, BY DR. PETER BOTSMAN - A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE FLAWED PROPOSAL TO DEVELOP BROWSE GAS AT JAMES PRICE POINT:
- Report
Save The Kimberley: "Law Below the Top Soil" - Just Released
Law Below the Top Soil, by Dr. Peter Botsman - a concise history of the flawed proposal to develop Browse Gas at James Price Point
http://www.savethekimberley.com/2012/10/11/law-below-the-top-soil-just-r...
"The "Botsman report" explores the interconnected roles of the WA government, Woodside Petroleum and the Kimberley Land Council that have resulted in a proposal for a massive gas hub at James Price Point. The report outlines the major meetings and dealings of the parties involved, revealing major flaws in the process. Moreover, the report provides a compelling case for the proposed development at JPP to be permanently shelved and for the ultimate protection of that country."
See:
About Save The Kimberley
http://www.savethekimberley.com/about-us/
"Save The Kimberley is an independent awareness organisation. We are a not-for-profit, 100% volunteer run group which is made up of a diverse and passionate group of individuals - traditional custodians, local Kimberley community, and other committed Australians from all parts: we are business owners, administrators, entrepreneurs, artists, musicians and media professionals."
* NEWS RE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL OF JPP GAS HUB:
- Audio
ABC PM: WA Govt cool on Wilderness Society legal action
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2012/s3658768.htm
20 Dec 12: "The West Australian Government has given a cool reaction to the latest legal challenge to a proposed gas hub near Broome. The Wilderness Society has launched the action against the State's Environmental Protection Authority and the Environment Minister. The group is focusing on the EPA's (Environmental Protection Authority) approval, which only happened after four of the five board members were excluded due to conflicts of interest."
- News
ABC: More legal action launched over JPP
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-20/more-legal-action-launched-over-jp...
20 Dec 12: "A Supreme Court challenge has been lodged against the Environmental Protection Authority's approval of the LNG hub, north of Broome. The Wilderness Society has joined forces with traditional owner, Richard Hunter, to allege that the decision making process breached the Environmental Protection Act. Earlier this year the EPA Chairman Paul Vogel was forced to assess and ultimately approve the project on his own, because the other four board members had conflicts of interest. The Society's Heidi Nore has told AM the legal action will allege that three of the board members still had some input."
Koori Mail: Court action over gas hub
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
20 Dec 12: "THE Wilderness Society WA and Goolarabooloo traditional custodian Richard Hunter have launched proceedings in the WA Supreme Court against the WA Environment Protection Authority and Environment Minister Bill Marmion over the approval of the controversial James Price Point gas processing complex. The parties want a judicial review of the decisions made around the proposal to locate the Browse LNG Precinct at James Price Point, alleging the decision-making process was flawed because of conflicts of interest and improper delegations."
The West: Legal action threatens Browse LNG project
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/regional/kimberley/a/-/news/15687273/le...
20 Dec 12: "Woodside's proposed Browse LNG project has come under renewed threat with Green and indigenous groups launching legal action against the approval process for the controversial gas processing hub at James Price Point. The Wilderness Society WA announced that the conservation group and traditional owner, Goolarabooloo elder Richard Hunter, had commenced Supreme Court legal proceedings against the State's Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Environment Minister Bill Marmion over his approval in July."
Australian: Browse hit by more litigation
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/browse-h...
20 Dec 12: "WOODSIDE'S $35 billion Browse development has been hit with fresh legal action to overturn environmental approvals for the project because of conflicts of interest on the West Australian Environmental Protection Agency board. Traditional owner Richard Hunter and the Wilderness Society of Western Australia have launched action in the Supreme Court seeking a judicial review of decisions taken by the EPA and state government to allow construction of the Browse gas processing facilities at James Price Point."
* BACKGROUND TO THE SAVE THE KIMBERLEY CAMPAIGN - JAMES PRICE POINT, NORTH OF BROOME, WA
Last updated: 16 December 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/22/wgar-news-background-to-the-save-the-...
* LET'S TALK TIGA BAYLES INTERVIEWS AUNTY MARY GRAHAM & AUNTY LILA WATSON ON THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CANBERRA ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSY:
- Audio Interviews
Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane:
Let's Talk Tiga Bayles interviews Aunty Mary Graham & Aunty Lila Watson
http://www.989fm.com.au/category/podcasts/lets-talk/
20 Dec 12: "Also featured audio from the 1982 Commonwealth Games Documentary, when people took to the streets to protest against the QLD acts."
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasts/lets-talk/aunty-mary-graham-aunty-lila-...
[Includes discussion of the 40th Anniversary of the Canberra Aboriginal Tent Embassy.]
- Related News
National Indigenous Radio Service: Tent Embassy founder encourages UN registration
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7715-tent-embassy-founder-encour...
21 Dec 12: "The head the First Nations Interim National Unity Government says he's encouraging Indigenous embassies around the country to maintain their stand. It comes while the Brisbane Aboriginal Sovereign Embassy is being subject to attempts by the Brisbane City Council to be removed. Founder of the National Unity Government, Michael Anderson, who also co-founded the original Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra, says embassies must formally register to the United Nations. Mr. Anderson says the Embassies are representing displaced peoples."
- Related Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/am-21-12.mp3
21 Dec 12: "A group of Aboriginal people from South Australia’s south east, Coorong and River Murray regions say they have been forced to apply for sovereignty status in United Kingdom Privy Council because their claims for recognition are being ignored by the Sate Government."
* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSIES:
Last updated: 19 December 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* GRAEME MUNDIN'S SPEECH AT BRISBANE LAUNCH OF 'A DECISION TO DISCRIMINATE':
- Speech
'concerned Australians': A Decision to Discriminate - Speeches and pictures from the book launches
[scroll down page] http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/ADTD_launchspeeches.html
Brisbane launch: Graeme Mundine (PDF)
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/media/ADTD_launch_speech_Graeme_M...
"Executive Officer, ACM Sydney Archdiocese
I am very happy to be here to support this book and to continue to help voice opposition to what is happening in the Northern Territory. In doing so I am mindful that it is not only in the NT that we have issues with the way Aboriginal people are being treated. ... I think it’s a national shame, for example, that here in Queensland as in my home state of NSW the rate of incarceration of Aboriginal people is increasing year after year but hardly anyone seems to care about that. ... In conclusion then I urge you to buy A Decision to Discriminate it is one of the most accessible and comprehensive ways to hear the voices of those who are directly affected by the Intervention."
- Photos
'concerned Australians': A Decision to Discriminate - Speeches and pictures from the book launches
[scroll down page] http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/ADTD_launchspeeches.html
Brisbane launch:
* Graeme Mundine
* Lilla Watson
* Les Malezer"
- Event
Event: Wed 12 December 2012: South Brisbane, Qld
Brisbane Book Launch: 'A Decision to Discriminate'
- Aboriginal Disempowerment in the Northern Territory
Launched by: Graeme Mundine, respected Aboriginal leader
and Executive Officer of Australian Catholic Ministry in Sydney
Supporting the launch will be two special guests:
* Aunty Lilla Watson, Birrigubba and Gungalu woman,
leader, teacher and advocate in the Murri community
* Les Malezer, Butchulla and Gubbi Gubbi man,
Co-Chair, National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples
"Through the use of direct quotations,
this new book is an important historical record
that focuses on the Senate Committee Inquiry
into the Stronger Futures legislation. It shows
how the Government decision-making process
chose to ignore the views and ideas expressed
by many Aboriginal people of the Northern Territory
communities in much the same way as has
happened since colonisation."
Sponsored by:
* Amnesty International QLD http://www.amnesty.org.au/qld
* and ANTaR Queensland http://antarqld.org.au/
A 'concerned Australians' publication: http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/
Brisbane flyer: http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/media/ADTD_launch_flyer_Brisbane.pdf
Event details: http://www.amnesty.org.au/qld/event/30572/
Event details: [scroll down page] http://antarqld.org.au/node/207
Event details: http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/ADTD_booklaunches.html#Brisbane
Event details: http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/#ADTD
Flyer: http://www.respectandlisten.org/uploads/downloads/ca/ADTD-flyer-final.pdf
Order Form: http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/media/ADTD_Order_Form.pdf
Book reviews:
http://acmsydney.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/review-of-a-decision-to-discri...
http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2012/2012115_91.shtml
http://overland.org.au/blogs/loudspeaker/2012/10/stronger-futures-and-ab...
Audio Interviews: http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=9818
* GREENS SENATORS PENNY WRIGHT AND RACHEL SIEWERT: TIME FOR A NEW APPROACH TO JUVENILE JUSTICE
- Media Release
Greens Senators Penny Wright and Rachel Siewert: Time for a new approach to juvenile justice
http://penny-wright.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/time-new-app...
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/time-new-a...
20 Dec 12: "Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Issues ...
Increasing over-representation of Indigenous youth in juvenile detention shows the drastic need for a new approach to justice in Australia, say Australian Greens Senators Penny Wright and Rachel Siewert.
New figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show Indigenous young people account for 53 per cent of all youth in detention and were 31 times as likely as non-Indigenous young people to be in detention, up from 27 times as likely in 2008.
"Locking up young people today will simply condemn many of them to jail in the future," Australian Greens spokesperson on Legal Affairs Senator Penny Wright said.
"Shocking figures like these are why the Greens have been lobbying hard for a new Justice Reinvestment approach to crime which emphasises the need to strengthen communities and invest resources to prevent crime in the first place. ...
Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert says the way to reduce this alarming overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in detention is to address the underlying causes.
"More effective and better resourced investment is needed in order to improve health services, community support, education and the provision of employment opportunities," said Senator Siewert. ... "
* ABC PM: CALLS FOR BAIL REFORM TO REDUCE JUVENILE JAIL RATE
- Audio
ABC PM: Calls for bail reform to reduce juvenile jail rate
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2012/s3658724.htm
20 Dec 12: "Legal and Aboriginal activists say bail laws must be reformed to reduce the number of children being held without being sentenced. The latest report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that each night, more than a thousand children aged between 10 and 17 are in custody. The new figures also show that Aboriginal children are 31 times more likely to spend time in jail than non-Indigenous children, as Jennifer Macey reports. ...
JENNIFER MACEY: Former Human Rights Commissioner, Tom Calma, is an advocate for the Justice Reinvestment Now campaign. It aims to divert prison funding towards communities with a high concentration of young offenders."
* BACKGROUND TO ABORIGINAL IMPRISONMENT AND DEATHS IN CUSTODY:
Last updated: 21 December 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/12/17/background-to-aboriginal-imprisonment...
* 3CR COMMUNITY RADIO, ANARCHIST WORLD: TUNNERMINNERWAIT AND MAULBOYHEENER [INDIGENOUS FREEDOM FIGHTERS]
- Audio
3CR Community Radio 855 AM - Podcasts
Anarchist World - 20 Dec 2012
Presenter: Joseph Toscano
[scroll down page] http://www.3cr.org.au/podcast
[listen to this program online] http://pod.3cr.org.au/pod/3CRCast-2012-12-19-86092.mp3
20 Dec 12: "Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheener, obituary Rhonda Jankovic, it’s up to you and much much more"
See:
3CR Community Radio 855 AM - Who we are
http://www.3cr.org.au/about_3CR
"The radio station was established in 1976 to provide a voice for those denied access to the mass media, particularly the working class, women, Indigenous people and the many community groups and community issues discriminated against in and by the mass media."
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- News
National Indigenous Radio Service: Lowitja Institute looking for alternative funding
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7716-lowitja-institute-looking-f...
21 Dec 12: "A leading national Indigenous health research organisation is facing an uncertain future because it says it can no longer apply for a previous grant. Pat Anderson, Chairperson at Lowitja Institute, says the organisation has received three funding rounds, but now has to look at other sources of funding. Ms. Anderson says the institute has a unique approach to research that focuses on community engagement. She says while support is there, no financial commitment has been secured."
Koori Mail: Search for new commissioner
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
20 Dec 12: "Outgoing Race Discrimination Commissioner Helen Szoke. THE search is on for Australia's next Race Discrimination Commissioner, with incumbent Helen Szoke due to take up a post with Oxfam next year. Australian Human Rights Commission president Professor Gillian Triggs will act in the position while the recruitment process is undertaken. Attorney General Nicola Roxon said the position required a strong advocate for building fair and inclusive communities that reject racism."
- Audio
ABC The World Today: Calls to overhaul Indigenous education after poor NAPLAN results
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2012/s3657556.htm
18 Dec 12: "The poor results from Indigenous students in Australia's latest national education report have prompted calls for an overhaul of the way these students are taught in schools. The NAPLAN report shows that the results for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students haven't improved since standardised national testing was introduced four years ago. Indigenous educators say part of the problem is that too many schools are segregating Indigenous children into special education units where they're not getting the support that they need. Stephanie Smail has our report."
- - -
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 5 or 6 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 provides a point of contact and includes occasional activities and events.
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/