121127 – Don’t abandon us as you did in other Royal Commissions (By NIT reporter Geoff Bagnall)

Contents:
* Geoff Bagnall:
Don’t abandon us as you did in other Royal Commissions
* Gerry Georgatos:
Conflict allegations surface in Yindjibarndi, Fortescue battle
* Background to the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC)
* SBS World News Australia:
Indigenous domestic violence concerns UN
* Speech by Muriel Bamblett at Melbourne launch of
‘A Decision to Discriminate’
* Adelaide CBD Book Launch
to mark International Human Rights Day:
‘A Decision to Discriminate’
* More ‘Stronger Futures’ Legislation related articles
* Background to ‘Stronger Futures’ new NT Intervention laws
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Tracker: Native title is flawed: activists
* Background to Mabo and Native Title
* Jon Altman: Evidently: Rudd’s quiet revolution gets noisier
* Other articles

* GEOFF BAGNALL:
DON’T ABANDON US AS YOU DID IN OTHER ROYAL COMMISSIONS

– Analysis / Opinion

Don’t abandon us as you did in other Royal Commissions
Courtesy of The National Indigenous Times: http://www.nit.com.au/
Indymedia Australia: http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/25/don%E2%80%99t-abandon-us-as-you-did-in-other-royal-commissions-0
NIT: http://www.nit.com.au/your-say.html
NIT: http://www.nit.com.au/news/2282-dont-abandon-us-as-you-did-in-other-royal-commissions.html
25 Nov 12: “Indigenous leaders have welcomed the
announcement by the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard of a wide
ranging Royal Commission into child abuse but warned they
will demand any recommendations by the Commission are not
abandoned by government as they were with the findings into
the Royal Commissions into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and
the Stolen Generations. Such a wide ranging inquiry could
take up to 10 years to complete and Indigenous leaders fear
victims of child abuse will be left to suffer and potential
victims will be left exposed to the danger … ”
By National Indigenous Times reporter Geoff Bagnall

See:

WGAR News: The Wire: Call for indigenous commissioners to
head up abuse investigation
[Interview with Tjanara Goreng Goreng] (22 Nov 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/21/wgar-news-the-wire-call-for-indigenous-commissioners-to-head-up-abuse-investigation

* GERRY GEORGATOS:
CONFLICT ALLEGATIONS SURFACE IN YINDJIBARNDI, FORTESCUE BATTLE

– Analysis / Opinion

Conflict allegations surface in Yindjibarndi, Fortescue battle
Published in the National Indigenous Times, 21 November 2012
YAC: http://yindjibarndi.org.au/yindjibarndi/?p=2855
NIT: http://www.nit.com.au/news/2278-conflict-allegations-surface-in-yindjibarndi-fortescue-battle.html
21 Nov 12: “The National Native Title Tribunal and West
Australian State Government may be left with no option but
to launch a full inquiry into Fortescue Metals Group’s
relationship with the Wirlu-murra Yindjibarndi Aboriginal
Corporation following claims an executive of the National
Native Title Tribunal failed to declare her association
with the Wirlu-murra group at the time the Tribunal was
issuing rulings relating to Fortescue and Wirlu-murra’s
claims against the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation.”
By National Indigenous Times reporter Gerry Georgatos

* BACKGROUND TO THE YINDJIBARNDI ABORIGINAL CORPORATION (YAC):

– Homepage

Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation
http://yindjibarndi.org.au/yindjibarndi/

– Analysis / Opinion

WGAR News: Mining Deal Bombshell
– Fortescue and the Yindjibarndi
(by Gerry Georgatos) (20 Nov 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/20/wgar-news-mining-deal-bombshell-fortescue-and-the-yindjibarndi-by-gerry-georgatos

– Videos

WGAR News: ABC: Fortescue accused of rigging land rights deal
(By Bronwyn Herbert) (25 Nov 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/24/wgar-news-abc-fortescue-accused-of-rigging-land-rights-deal

* SBS WORLD NEWS AUSTRALIA:
INDIGENOUS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONCERNS UN

– Audio

SBS World News Australia:
Indigenous domestic violence concerns UN
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1714813/Indigenous-domestic-violence-concerns-UN
26 Nov 12: “A top United Nations official has expressed
concern over the levels of domestic violence being
experienced by Indigenous women in Australia. … The
Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women was invited to
Australia by groups wanting to bring international
attention to the issue. Earlier this year, United Nations
Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, Rashida
Manjoo, made a study tour of Australia. She attended
community meetings across the country. …
Ms Manjoo says a common concern raised by Indigenous
communities was that they often were not given enough
control of their community’s domestic violence programs.”

* SPEECH BY MURIEL BAMBLETT
AT MELBOURNE LAUNCH OF ‘A DECISION TO DISCRIMINATE’:

– Speech

‘concerned Australians’:
A Decision to Discriminate
– Speeches and pictures from the book launches:
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/ADTD_launchspeeches.html
… Melbourne launch: …
Professor Muriel Bamblett AM,
CEO Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency
Audio (MP3): http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/media/ADTD_launch_speech_Muriel_Bamblett.mp3
Speech (PDF): http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/media/ADTD_launch_speech_Muriel_Bamblett.pdf
7 Nov 12: “A Decision to Discriminate by recording the
voices of dissent against this reaction in Indigenous policy
will show when we analyse the history of this period, that
not only were we right but that a great injustice was done
to all including the Aboriginal communities in the NT. That
much needed resources that could have addressed the crisis
in Aboriginal communities were wasted because of the way
things were done. An opportunity that could have
strengthened reconciliation became instead a means to divide
because of the decision to discriminate.
This book is about voice, empowerment and truth telling.
I hope you read it and hear both the strength of Aboriginal
people as well as our frustration.
And I hope one day the main political parties read it and
abide by its truth.”

– Melbourne Booklaunch

‘concerned Australians’:
Melbourne Booklaunch – Wednesday, 7th November, 12pm for 12:30pm
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/ADTD_booklaunches.html
“The Co-op Bookshop in the Baillieu Library Building
at Melbourne University
(Melways reference 2B C7)
Launched by:
* Hon Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC
* Elder Rosalie Kunoth-Monks OAM from Utopia, NT
* Professor Muriel Bamblett AM,
CEO Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency”

– The Launches

‘concerned Australians’:
A Decision to Discriminate
– Aboriginal Disempowerment in the Northern Territory
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/#ADTD

* ADELAIDE CBD BOOK LAUNCH
TO MARK INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY:
‘A DECISION TO DISCRIMINATE’

– Event

Event: Sun 9 December 2012: Adelaide CBD, SA
International Human Rights Day Book Launch
Note new date and venue!
The Women’s International League for Peace
and Freedom (WILPF) will be launching the book:
A Decision to Discriminate
– Aboriginal Disempowerment in the Northern Territory
released by ‘concerned Australians’
Launched by:
* Rev Dr Djiniyini Gondarra OAM,
representing the Yolngu Nations
* Rosalie Kunoth Monks OAM,
representing the Alyawaar Nations
“This is a rare opportunity to meet with
these two distinguished Elders and
to hear first-hand stories.”
New venue: Pilgrim Hall, 12 Flinders St, Adelaide CBD
“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.”
“Following the book launch
Amnesty International Australia
will have the regional launch of their
2012 Reconciliation Action Plan
at which the honoured guest will be
Kaurna Elder Lynette Crocker.”
Event details: http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/ADTD_booklaunches.html#Adelaide
Event details: http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/#ADTD
Event details: http://www.respectandlisten.org/nt-intervention/concerned-australians.html
Event details: http://www.respectandlisten.org/nt-intervention/concerned-australians/a-decision-to-discriminate.html
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:

Review of a Decision to Discriminate: Aboriginal Disempowerment in the NT

http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2012/2012115_91.shtml
http://overland.org.au/blogs/loudspeaker/2012/10/stronger-futures-and-aboriginal-disempowerment/
Audio Interviews: http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=9818
‘concerned Australians’ Homepage: http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/

* MORE ‘STRONGER FUTURES’ LEGISLATION RELATED ARTICLES:

– Analysis / Opinion

Australian: Racist reality evident in homes not fit for a dog
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/racist-reality-evident-in-homes-not-fit-for-a-dog/story-e6frg6zo-1226522864361
24 Nov 12: “WHEN it comes to delivering for indigenous
Australians the Gillard government is more about spin and
rhetoric and feel-good symbolism than results. In remote
communities it is content to apply lower standards and
lower expectations in health, housing and infrastructure,
and education than it would dare to adopt for other
Australians. It is not a term to be thrown around lightly,
as some do, but no other label can fit. Having a separate,
different and lower standard and lower expectations for
Aboriginal communities is racist.” By Nigel Scullion,
opposition spokesman for indigenous affairs

* BACKGROUND TO ‘STRONGER FUTURES’ NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:

Last updated: 11 November 2012

http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-stronger-futures-new-nt-intervention-laws

* BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:

Last updated: 26 November 2012

http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-nt-intervention

* TRACKER: NATIVE TITLE IS FLAWED: ACTIVISTS

– News

newsTracker: Native title is flawed: activists
http://tracker.org.au/2012/11/native-title-is-flawed-activists/
26 Nov 12: “QUEENSLAND: Mining companies are robbing
Indigenous communities of a decent share of the mineral
wealth because the native title system is flawed,
Aboriginal activists say. Up to 100 Aboriginal protesters
are planning to rally outside Brisbane’s Stamford Plaza
Hotel on Monday and Tuesday, as native title bureaucrats
hold talks with mining companies and the government. Wayne
Wharton, from the Kooma tribe in southwest Queensland, says
the talks are never fair but just a way for mining
companies discuss loopholes in an already weak native title
system.”

– Related Event

Event: 8:30am Mon 26 November 2012: Brisbane City, Qld
Rally against Native Title
Rally outside Native Title & Cultural Heritage
Conference & march back to Musgrave Park
“From 26 to 27 November, Native Title bureaucrats
will be sitting down with mining companies and
Government, at a $1000 a seat conference in the
posh Stamford Plaza Hotel, to discuss ways around
the already weak Native Title legislation.
This is not Land Rights, this is not justice for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
This does not address the illegal dispossession of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and
the ongoing violent occupation of our land.”
Event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/295153823919301/
Event details: http://www.greenleft.org.au/events/52704

* BACKGROUND TO MABO AND NATIVE TITLE:

Last updated: 14 July 2012

http://indymedia.org.au/2012/07/02/background-to-mabo-and-native-title

* JON ALTMAN: EVIDENTLY: RUDD’S QUIET REVOLUTION GETS NOISIER

– Analysis / Opinion

agendaTracker: Evidently: Rudd’s quiet revolution gets noisier
http://tracker.org.au/2012/11/evidently-rudds-quiet-revolution-gets-noisier/
26 Nov 12: “NATIONAL: Intergovernmental consensus on
Indigenous affairs is breaking down after the election of
conservative state and territory governments, writes PROF
JON ALTMAN*. In November 2007 when the Rudd government was
elected into office the country was coast-to-coast Labor.
The all-powerful new Prime Minister set out to do something
bold and unusual that others had tried to do, without
success, before: to coordinate intergovernmental
Commonwealth/State relations and make them consensual in
addressing Indigenous disadvantage.” By Prof Jon Altman,
a research professor in economics/anthropology,
Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research,
Australian National University

* OTHER ARTICLES:

– News

National Indigenous Times: 18,000 sign up for Briscoe justice
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2279-18000-sign-up-for-briscoe-justice.html
24 Nov 12: “More than 18,000 people have signed a petition
on Change.org calling for charges to be laid against the
Northern Territory police officers involved in the death of
Kwementyaye Briscoe in the Alice Springs police watch
house. The family of Mr Briscoe launched an online campaign
calling for justice and for charges to be laid against the
police officers involved in his… ”

National Indigenous Times: Tasering of 14 year old
“one of the worst cases of police brutality”, says solicitor
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2281-tasering-of-14-year-old-one-of-the-worst-cases-of-police-brutality-says-solicitor.html
24 Nov 12: “ABC Television’s 7.30 program has obtained
footage of a 14 year old boy being tasered by New South
Wales police in another case that raises questions about
whether police officers are adhering to operating
procedures in their use of the devices. Solicitor Kevin
Henshaw from the Kempsey Aboriginal Legal Service said the
Tasercam footage showed one of the worst cases of police
brutality he had seen in his long… ”

National Indigenous Times:
74 years on Uncle Boydie Turner will deliver a message to
Germany in honour of the courage of his grandfather
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2277-74-years-on-uncle-boydie-turner-will-deliver-a-message-to-germany-in-honour-of-the-courage-of-his-grandfather.html
24 Nov 12: “There were so many shattered windows during the
murderous Nazi attack on German Jews on that night in 1938
it became known as Kristallnacht – night of broken glass.
The date was November 9 and it was an ominous indication of
what Adolf Hitler had in store for the Jewish people. Half
a world away in Melbourne, Aborigine William Cooper read in
outrage about the brutality.”

National Indigenous Times:
Vince Coulthard attacks SA Government for ignoring High
Court order over land rights
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2271-vince-coulthard-attacks-sa-government-for-ignoring-high-court-order-over-land-rights.html
24 Nov 12: “The South Australian Labor Government has
ignored a High Court ruling to pay Aboriginal landowners
costs of about $200,000 they incurred while fighting a
legal challenge over land rights. Aboriginal Affairs
Minister, Paul Caica has also failed to meet the two
Aboriginal groups Labor challenged in the courts as he was
ordered to by the Supreme Court more than 18 months ago.”

National Indigenous Times:
Aboriginal Kimberley experience receives international accolades
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2268-aboriginal-kimberleyexperience-receives-international-accolades.html
24 Nov 12: “By National Indigenous Times West Australian
reporter Gerry Georgatos. Uptuyu Adventures business
partners Neville Poelina and Jo Camilleri were over the
moon as their Aboriginal operated business won major awards
last week at the Western Australian Tourism Awards and also
at the Responsible Tourism Awards in London. The Kimberley
based outback travel experience venture has gone from… ”

National Indigenous Times:
20 years after Mabo battle for meaningful land rights goes on
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2270-20-years-after-mabo-battle-for-meaningful-land-rights-goes-on.html
24 Nov 12: “Two decades after the Mabo judgment made
fundamental changes to Australia’s Native Title landscape,
Indigenous leaders don’t know where the next round of
reform will come from. In fact, some grow weary talking
about the same issues 20 years on. On June 3, 1992, the
High Court handed down its decision in the Mabo case
overturning 200 years of the common law assumption of terra
nullius – the idea… ”

National Indigenous Times: Labor would lose Lingiari if
Liberals put up Indigenous candidate: Owen Carter
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2272-labor-would-lose-lingiari-if-liberals-put-up-indigenous-candidate-owen-carter.html
24 Nov 12: “The current Federal Labor Member for Lingiari,
Warren Snowdon would face a much more difficult task
retaining the seat at the next Federal election if the
Liberal National Party continued to put forward an
Indigenous candidate, Yuendumu Elder, Owen Carter said. Mr
Carter made the observation following the Federal Leader of
the Opposition, Tony Abbott’s attempt to convince the
Northern… ”

National Indigenous Times: Warrior Isabell Coe farewelled
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2276-warrior-isabell-coe-farewelled.html
24 Nov 12: “By National Indigenous Times reporter Geoff
Bagnall. Aunty Isabell Coe was farewelled in a moving
ceremony on Erambie Mission at Cowra in central west New
South Wales last Monday. Aunty Isabell’s family came from
across New South Wales and were joined by 2,000 of
Isabell’s friends, those who had fought beside her for
Aboriginal rights and activists who had… ”

Australian: Aboriginal leader quits ‘racist’ Labor in disgust
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/aboriginal-leader-quits-racist-labor-in-disgust/story-fn9hm1pm-1226523112203
24 Nov 12: “RESPECTED Aboriginal leader and former Labor
candidate Tauto Sansbury has resigned from the ALP because
he has lost faith in the party, which he says is dismissive
of indigenous affairs and has in it “a big element of
racism”. Mr Sansbury, who stood for two elections for Labor
in 2010, in the federal South Australian seat of Grey and
in the state seat of Flinders, yesterday said the ALP
needed a wake-up call. “The Labor government just pays
lip-service to Aboriginal people,” he said.”

– – –