August | 2009

Archive for August, 2009

UN Special Rapporteur James Anaya Speaks at National Library Australia 28/08/2009

Posted in NEWS on 30/08/2009 by D

This is an audio only recording of the event.

26/08/09: INTERVENTION WALK-OFF COMMUNITY SEEKS UN SUPPORT

Posted in NEWSLETTER on 26/08/2009 by D

Contents:
Intervention Walk-off Community seeks UN support
Welcome to the Ampilatwatja walk off blog site
Updated NT Intervention complaint sent to United Nations
Visit by UN Expert, James Anaya
Alice Springs Aboriginal Town Camps takeover
Stolen Wages Campaign – Petition of Support
Other Aboriginal articles

INTERVENTION WALK-OFF COMMUNITY SEEKS UN SUPPORT:

– Media Release

Intervention walkoff’s Blog:
We are refugees in our own country
http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/media-releases/
23 Aug 09: “Formal request made to the United Nations
Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Rights to register us as
refugees with the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner,
under the International Refugee Convention. … Aboriginal
people had no other option but to walk off the Prescribed
Area, thereby removing them from being subject to the NTER
legislation, and which additionally accords them the status
of being internally displaced refugees. “We no longer have
any rights to exist as humans in our own country and are
outcasts in our own community”, says Richard Downs,
spokesperson for the Alyawarra elders. … ”

– Letter

Intervention walkoff’s Blog:
Dear Professor Anaya
[scroll down page] http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/statements/
20 Aug 09: “Dear Professor Anaya. Today, across the
Northern Territory, and since 2007, Indigenous people are
facing a path of destruction through the denial of our
basic human rights under the Federal government’s
intervention. The Aboriginal people of Ampilatwatja,
comprising 30 elders and members of the Alyawarra nation,
walked off their community in July in protest against, and
to remove themselves from, the Australian governments
Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) legislation,
which has subjected them to martial law, exercised by a
military junta, since its enactment in 2007. … ” Richard
Downs

– Statement

Intervention walkoff’s Blog:
Richard Downs, August 23, 2009
[scroll down page] http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/statements/
23 Aug 09: “We seek the support of the UN Special
Rapporteur, Prof. James Anaya, and other international
human rights bodies, to advise the Australian Government to
recognize that, under Article 1, Indigenous people have the
rights to the full enjoyment, as a collective or as
individuals, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms
as recognized in the charter of the United Nations, the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international
human rights law; and Article 27, … ”

– Radio

CAAMA Radio afternoon news
(Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association):
http://caama.com.au/radio/caama-radio-afternoon-news-25th-of-august-2009/
25 Aug 09: “Aboriginal people in the N.T. claiming refugee
status”

– News

ABC: Aboriginal people seek refugee status
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/26/2667066.htm
26 Aug 09: “A group of Aboriginal people has asked the
United Nations to register them as refugees, saying the
Northern Territory intervention has made them outcasts in
their own country. Richard Downs, a spokesperson for the
Alyawarra Nation, which represents about 4000 people in
central Australia, says the request was handed to the
United Nations special rapporteur, who was visiting the
Northern Territory last week.”

Reuters [US]: Australia Aborigines ask UN for refugee status
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSSYD414720
25 Aug 09: “A group of Australian Aborigines asked the
United Nations on Wednesday for refugee status, claiming
special emergency laws to curb alcohol and sexual abuse in
the remote outback have turned them into outcasts at home.
… “We’ve got no say at all. We feel like an outcast in
our community, refugees in our own country,” Downs told
state radio.”

WELCOME TO THE AMPILATWATJA WALK OFF BLOG SITE:

– New website

Intervention walkoff’s Blog
http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/
August 24, 2009: “This blog will be continually updated,
so keep checking for more news and information, including
photos and video of the walk off camp.”

– Support Alyawarr people’s walk-off at Ampilatwatja

Intervention walkoff’s Blog: Support us
http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/support-us/
August 24, 2009: “We’re writing to you from our protest
camp in the desert, asking for your support in our struggle
for basic services and rights that many in the cities take
for granted. … ”

UPDATED NT INTERVENTION COMPLAINT SENT TO UNITED NATIONS:

National Indigenous Times:
NT intervention complaint sent to United Nations… again
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=18483
20 Aug 09: “A group of Aboriginal people have again taken
their fight overseas, this time condemning the federal
government for its deceit on its intervention consultations
and Alice Springs town camp takeover in an updated
complaint to the United Nations. … Written on behalf of a
group of Aboriginal people living in prescribed areas under
the intervention, it says that the promised consultations
had been limited and inadequate, that there had been
“little progress” in drafting the redesigned intervention
measures and that the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA)
remains suspended. It also mentions the Rudd government’s
compulsory acquisition of the Alice Springs town camp,
saying that it is obvious the Commonwealth would have been
unable to stage the move after the RDA is reinstated.”

VISIT BY UN EXPERT, JAMES ANAYA

– Background

WGAR News:
UN Expert visits Australia to report on Aboriginal Human Rights (18 Aug 09)
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=145907

WGAR News:
UN Expert James Anaya to examine NT Intervention (19 Aug 09)
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=145947

WGAR News:
UN Rapporteur visits Aboriginal communities (23 Aug 09)
http://indymedia.org.au/2009/08/23/wgar-news-un-rapporteur-visits-aboriginal-communities-23-aug-09

– Statement and Press Conference coming up

[Dear All, James Anaya’s press conference is primarily for
media but we spoke with the UN organisers and its OK for
others to attend if you RSVP to Ms Francesca Wollaston
02 6270 9200. They are just a bit concerned too many will
turn up!!]

United Nations Information Centre:
Invitation – Statement and Press Conference
by UN Expert on Indigenous People
Professor James Anaya – UN Special Rapporteur on the
situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of
indigenous people
When: 2:15 pm – 3:15 Thursday 27 August
Where: National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Canberra
RSVP: Ms Francesca Wollaston,
United Nations Information Centre Canberra (02) 6270 9200

– Radio

CAAMA News Radio: CAAMA Radio Exclusive!
(Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association):
http://caama.com.au/radio/caama-radio-exclusive/
26 Aug 09: “The United Nations special rapporteur on
Indigenous rights says he has heard both good and bad
reports about the treatment of Aboriginal people in central
Australia. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the
Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples
speaks exclusively to Central Australian Aboriginal Media…
Steve Gumerungi Hodder spoke with Professor James Anaya,
Apache/Putachupa decendant about similarities in the
conditions of Indigenous Peoples, as well as limitations and
aims of the United Nations. Professor Anaya visited Central
Australia as part of a fact finding mission focused on
Human Rights concerns for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islanders of Australia.”

Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane
Let’s Talk – Indigenous presented talkback:
http://989fm.com.au/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29
24 Aug 09: “Barbara Shaw –
Tiga Bayles spoke with Barbara Shaw, Northern Territory
Intervention Rollback Action Group. They spoke about the
Northern Territory Intervention.” [includes discussion of
James Anaya’s visit to Central Australia]
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasting/get.php?web=98fm-podcast-2009-08-24-70641.mp3

CAAMA News Radio
(Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association):
http://caama.com.au/radio/caama-news-24th-aug-2009/
24 Aug 09: “Fed.Indigenous Affairs Minister drops out of
N.T visit with U.N delegate due to “personal reasons”.”

– News

UPI.com: Australia to reinstate its anti-racist act
http://www.upi.com/Emerging_Threats/2009/08/24/Australia-to-reinstate-its-anti-racist-act/UPI-87101251127570/
24 Aug 09: “Australian government has reiterated its
intention to bring back the Racial Discrimination Act
within the Northern Territory after it was suspended two
years ago. The comments come as a U.N. special rapporteur
on indigenous human rights is touring some of the country’s
most disadvantaged aboriginal communities investigating
people’s claims of racial discrimination by the territorial
and federal governments.”

Voice [UK]: AUSTRALIA:
Aboriginal allegations against government investigated
http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=16123
23 Aug 09: “THE UNITED Nations’ special rapporteur on
indigenous human rights is looking into claims from
Aborigines that the country’s government has breached their
human rights by suspending anti-discrimination laws to
investigate them for child abuse. James Anaya, a US
professor of human rights law, reportedly arrived in the
country on August 16.”

National Indigenous Times:
RDA bypass discriminatory: UN Indigenous expert
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=18482
20 Aug 09: “Suspending the Racial Discrimination Act to
enable the Northern Territory intervention to proceed was –
on the face of it – itself discriminatory, the United
Nations’ Special Rapporteur on Indigenous rights says.”

ALICE SPRINGS ABORIGINAL TOWN CAMPS TAKEOVER:

– Media Release

The Hon Jenny Macklin MP with Warren Snowdon MP:
Alice Springs town camps
http://www.jennymacklin.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/jennymacklin.nsf/content/jm_m__alice_camps_24august2009.htm
24 Aug 09: “The Government will extend the period for
consultations and submissions on the possible acquisition
of the Alice Springs town camps until 27 October 2009. In
the meantime, we will embark on an enhanced information
campaign aimed at providing all town camp residents with
further information on the effects of a possible compulsory
acquisition of the camps.”

– Radio

CAAMA Radio morning news
(Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association):
http://caama.com.au/radio/caama-radio-morning-news-26th-august-2009/
25 Aug 09: “Macklin’s methods under fire.”
[includes comments by Barbara Shaw]

Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane
Let’s Talk – Indigenous presented talkback:
http://989fm.com.au/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29
24 Aug 09: “Barbara Shaw –
Tiga Bayles spoke with Barbara Shaw, Northern Territory
Intervention Rollback Action Group. They spoke about the
Northern Territory Intervention.”
[includes discussion of Alice Springs Aboriginal Town Camps
takeover and the Federal Court injunction]
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasting/get.php?web=98fm-podcast-2009-08-24-70641.mp3

– News

National Indigenous Times: Alice Springs town camp
residents to receive notice of takeover: Macklin
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=18491
25 Aug 09: “The Rudd government will deliver notices about
a possible compulsory takeover of Aboriginal town camps to
every tin shed and outdoor mattress in Alice Springs, says
Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin. The move comes
after a court found Labor’s previous consultation efforts
were inadequate.”

ABC Alice Springs: Forced acquisition of camps back on cards
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/25/2665911.htm?site=alicesprings
25 Aug 09: “Indigenous Affairs Minister, Jenny Macklin, is
once again considering the compulsory acquisition of
Aboriginal town camps in Alice Springs.”

Koori Mail: More talks on town camps: Macklin
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
25 Aug 09: “THE FEDERAL Government will deliver notices
about a possible compulsory takeover of Aboriginal town
camps to every tin shed and outdoor mattress in Alice
Springs, according to Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny
Macklin. The announcement comes on the eve of a Federal
Court hearing on 31 August and 1 September which will
examine Labor’s previous consultation efforts.”

Age: More talks on camps takeover
http://www.theage.com.au/national/more-talks-on-camps-takeover-20090824-ewjl.html
25 Aug 09: “A COURT order has forced the Federal Government
to embark on an ”information campaign”, telling residents
of dilapidated town camps around Alice Springs of an
intended takeover. Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny
Macklin said she was disappointed by the Federal Court
injunction, which delayed the handover of control of the
camps. Yesterday she extended the period for public
feedback to October 27.”

STOLEN WAGES CAMPAIGN – PETITION OF SUPPORT:

– Petition of support

Queensland Council of Unions: Stolen Wages Campaign
http://www.qcu.asn.au/223.html
“Send a message to Premier Bligh telling her it’s time for
her government to honour the promises made on stolen wages.
… IT’S TIME TO SETTLE! The Bligh Government’s failure to
honour its promise to pay $55.4 million in reparations to
the stolen wages claimants is incomprehensible.”

– Media Release

Queensland Council of Unions:
Unions ramp up Stolen Wages campaign: it’s time to settle
http://www.qcu.asn.au/224.html
19 Aug 09: “Unions will step-up their campaign for full
recovery of the $55.4 million Stolen Wages reparations,
originally promised in 2002 by former Premier, Peter
Beattie. Litigation will commence in the District Court
today with proceedings to commence on behalf of claimant,
Uncle Conrad Yeatman from Yarrabah.”

OTHER ABORIGINAL ARTICLES:

– Coming up on Television

ABC1: National Press Club Address – Tom Calma: Aboriginal
And Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/netw/200908/programs/NC0906H012D27082009T123000.htm
12:30pm Thursday, 27 Aug 2009

Koori Mail: Calma to reveal rep body model
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
25 Aug 09: “THE outcomes of year-long community
consultations on a proposed new national representative
body for Indigenous Australians will be revealed on
Thursday when Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma hands
the Federal Government a report, including details of the
preferred model for such a body.”

– Opinion

National Indigenous Times:
Editorial: Before you condemn…
http://www.nit.com.au/opinion/story.aspx?id=18457
20 Aug 09: “Before Alison Anderson walked away from the
Labor party, the Strategic Indigenous Housing and
Infrastructure Program (SIHIP) was barely getting any press
writes NIT’s acting editor AMY McQUIRE*. A few media
outlets were beginning to question whether the expensive
intervention housing program was actually doing its job.
The fact that the $672 million project had not built any
homes for Indigenous Territorians was starting to do the
rounds.”

National Indigenous Times:
BLACK&WHITE: A future on country
http://www.nit.com.au/community/story.aspx?id=18449
20 Aug 09: “At Gulkula in east Arnhemland, GRAHAM RING
catches up with Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy
Research (CAEPR) Director, Professor Jon Altman, for a yarn
about the future of homelands.”

– News

National Indigenous Times:
Minister slammed over lack of consultation on dump site
http://www.nit.com.au/breakingNews/story.aspx?id=18486
24 Aug 09: “Environmentalists are outraged federal
Resources Minister Martin Ferguson will not consult before
deciding on the location of a nuclear waste dump site and
have accused him of seeking a “short-term political fix” to
the issue. A letter from about 60 traditional owners of
Aboriginal land at Muckaty Station, 120km north of Tennant
Creek, was tabled in federal parliament earlier this week.
The land was controversially nominated as a possible site
for a waste dump by the Northern Land Council last year.
But the letter, which calls for a meeting with Mr Ferguson,
details widespread opposition to a waste facility.”

Brisbane Times: Macklin ‘should quit over report delay’
http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-national/macklin-should-quit-over-report-delay-20090825-exch.html
25 Aug 09: “Jenny Macklin should be sacked from the federal
indigenous affairs portfolio, says a Northern Territory
senator [Liberal Senator Nigel Scullion] who is calling for
the immediate release of a report into a bungled housing
scheme.”

ABC Indigenous: DOCS accused of overzealous child removal
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/26/2667130.htm?site=indigenous&topic=latest
26 Aug 09: “The New South Wales Ombudsman will consider
whether the Department of Community Services (DOCS)
followed correct procedure in removing dozens of children
from their families in Lightning Ridge in the state’s west.
… [Ombudsman] Mr Barbour says he will examine whether
DOCS is making a sufficient effort to join in partnership
with Indigenous communities.”

Koori Mail: Aboriginal bust auction sparks protest
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
24 Aug 09: “A DELEGATION of Tasmanian Aboriginal people,
including Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre Secretary Nala
Mansell-McKenna, is in Melbourne for a protest tonight at
Sotheby’s. The world-renown auctioneers are offering two
busts of Aboriginal people – Truganini and Woureddy – which
the delegation says depicts the myth of extermination. Full
story in our 9 September edition.”

National Indigenous Times: Sothebys defends Aboriginal
stance and withdraws Tasmanian works
http://www.nit.com.au/story.aspx?id=18496
26 Aug 09: “Sothebys auction house has defended its respect
for Aboriginal Australians after withdrawing two
controversial busts from sale. Sothebys initially ignored
calls from Aboriginal activists to pull the 1836 busts of
Tasmanian Aboriginal leaders Woureddy and his wife
Truganini. The activists, led by lawyer Michael Mansell,
say the busts perpetuate the racist myth that Truganini was
the last “full-blood” Tasmanian Aboriginal person.”

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23/08/09: UN RAPPORTEUR VISITS ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES

Posted in NEWSLETTER on 23/08/2009 by D

Contents:
UN Rapporteur, James Anaya, visits Aboriginal communities
Aboriginal Housing in the NT
Other NT Intervention articles
Other Aboriginal articles

UN RAPPORTEUR, JAMES ANAYA, VISITS ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES:

– Background

WGAR News:
UN Expert visits Australia to report on Aboriginal Human Rights (18 Aug 09)
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=145907

WGAR News:
UN Expert James Anaya to examine NT Intervention (19 Aug 09)
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=145947

– Video

CAAMA Radio Online News: U.N. visits Mparrentwe Alice Springs
(Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association):
http://caama.com.au/radio/un-visits-mparrentwe-alice-springs/
21 Aug 09: “U.N. takes a look at the human rights of
Australian Aboriginal people.”
[includes interview with UN Special Rapporteur]

– Radio

CAAMA News
(Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association):
[scroll down page] http://caama.com.au/category/radio/
21 Aug 09: “U.N. special rapporteur on Indigenous rights
Professor James Anaya speaks with Aborignal people in
Mparrentwe / Alice Springs.”

– News

ABC: Macklin backs out of UN envoy visit
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/22/2663496.htm
22 Aug 09: “Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny
Macklin has cancelled a visit to a remote Northern
Territory community with the United Nations rapporteur on
indigenous rights. … Today he [Professor James Anaya] is
expected to meet with representatives from the Northern
Land Council and the Laynhapuy Homelands Association in
Yirrkala.”

BBC: UN envoy in Aboriginal assessment
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8213366.stm
21 Aug 09: “The United Nation’s special rapporteur on
indigenous human rights has toured some of Australia’s most
disadvantaged Aboriginal communities. Professor James Anaya
is investigating complaints that government measures to
fight child abuse in remote settlements are racially
discriminatory. More than 70 indigenous townships in
Australia’s Northern Territory have been taken over by
federal authorities.”

Radio New Zealand: UN envoy looks at treatment of Aborigines
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/08/21/1245c242a944
21 Aug 09: “The United Nations special rapporteur on
indigenous human rights has toured some of Australia’s most
disadvantaged aboriginal communities to investigate claims
of racist federal government policy. … He has travelled
to the heart of Australia, Alice Springs, to learn more
about the unrelenting poverty that makes Aborigines by far
the country’s most disadvantaged people.”

ABC: UN briefed on prison van death
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/21/2662988.htm
21 Aug 09: “The United Nations has been briefed on the
death of an Aboriginal man in the back of a prison van in
Western Australia’s Goldfields. … The Deaths in Custody
Watch Committee’s chairman, Marc Newhouse, met the UN’s
Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous People,
James Anaya, this week.”

Uniting Church in Australia – National Assembly:
Territory Intervention Highlighted for UN Rapporteur
http://assembly.uca.org.au/media-centre/50-mediareleases09/506-mr-ntintervention.html
20 Aug 09: “The Uniting Church in Australia has taken its
vehement opposition to the Northern Territory Emergency
Response to the United Nations. The Uniting Church has
written to the United Nations special rapporteur on the
Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of
Indigenous People, currently visiting Australia, to draw
his attention to the concerns being expressed by Indigenous
members of the Uniting Church.”

Koori Mail: Church flags intervention concerns with UN
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
20 Aug 09: “THE Uniting Church has told a UN Special
Rapporteur on human rights that the Northern Territory
intervention is the nation’s most pressing human rights
concern. The church has written to James Anaya, currently
touring Australia, about its ‘vehement’ opposition to
suspension of the racial discrimination act and ‘inadequate
consultation’ with communities under the intervention.”

ABC Alice Springs: UN rapporteur hears Indigenous concerns
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/20/2662107.htm?site=alicesprings
20 Aug 09: “The United Nations special rapporteur on
Indigenous rights says he has heard both good and bad
reports about the treatment of Aboriginal people in central
Australia. Professor James Anaya held talks with
organisations and government agencies in Alice Springs this
morning. He later met with about 40 people, many of whom
were from Aboriginal town camps and remote communities.”

ABC: Alice hosts UN Indigenous rights visit
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/20/2661777.htm?site=news
20 Aug 09: “The United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on
Indigenous Rights will meet Aboriginal organisations and
government and welfare agencies in Alice Springs today. …
A resident of the Mount Nancy Aboriginal town camp, Barbara
Shaw, says she hosted a dinner for Professor Anaya at her
house last night. … He will tour the town camps this
afternoon.”

China Post – Taiwan:
UN probes Aboriginal discrimination allegations
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/australia/2009/08/17/220873/UN-probes.htm
17 Aug 09: “Anaya, an American professor of human rights
law, said suspending anti-discrimination laws to apply the
measures appeared to be a discriminatory act. “On its face
yes, but I’m not expressing a conclusion about whether or
not that’s justified at this time,” Anaya told reporters.
“I’ll talk about my views at the conclusion of my visit.” “

BreakingNews.ie – Ireland:
UN probing claims child-abuse measures breached Aboriginal rights
http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/un-probing-claims-childabuse-measures-breached-aboriginal-rights-422854.html
17 Aug 09: “A United Nations representative is visiting
Australia to investigate complaints that a government
crackdown on child abuse in Outback settlements is
violating Aborigines’ human rights. … Activists say these
measures violate human rights because they target
Aborigines only.”

Koori Mail: Town camps to host UN rights advocate
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
13 Aug 09: “THE United Nations Special Rapporteur on the
situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of
Indigenous Peoples will visit the Alice Springs town camps
next week as part of his visit to Australia. Prof James
Anaya will also meet with government representatives,
Indigenous communities and civil rights groups in Adelaide,
Perth, Darwin, Groote Eylandt, Cairns, Sydney and Brisbane.”

ABORIGINAL HOUSING IN THE NT:

– Background

WGAR News:
Government failure over Northern Territory Aboriginal housing (24 July 09)
http://wgar.info/240709-government-failure-over-northern-territory-aboriginal-housing/

– Video

CAAMA: Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association
The Forgotten Place
http://caama.com.au/radio/the-forgotten-place/
20 Aug 09

– Media Release

Australian Human Rights Commission:
Native title should be protected at all costs
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/about/media/media_releases/2009/74_09.html
13 Aug 09: “Claims by the West Australian Government that
native title legislation will ‘block’ it from building new
houses were false and misleading, Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma said
today. Commissioner Calma said he was disappointed to read
in today’s media that the WA Government was blaming native
title for holding up housing under the $496 million funding
agreement with the federal government. “The Native Title
Act does not block the building of homes for anyone –
Indigenous or non-Indigenous,” Commissioner Calma said.”

– Opinion

Australian: Slice of pie for building is shrinking by the day
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25954870-7583,00.html
20 Aug 09: “WHEN it was revealed Northern Territory
ministers had been warned that less than half the promised
750 houses would be built under the $672 million Strategic
Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program, federal
minister Jenny Macklin went on the attack. “That report is
completely wrong,” she said on national radio the morning
after the July 23 article in The Australian.” Natasha
Robinson

– News

Green Left: Indigenous housing program head sacked
http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/808/41574
22 Aug 09: “Jim Davidson was sacked as the head of the
Northern Territory’s Strategic Indigenous Housing and
Infrastructure Program (SIHIP) on August 18. Davidson was
fired after revelations that SIHIP’s administration costs
would absorb a great deal of the program’s $672 million
budget. The program was launched 18 months ago with the
promise to build 750 houses for remote Aboriginal
communities. So far, no houses have been built.”

Australian: Jenny Macklin’s go-slow ‘to fix errors’ on housing
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25959162-5013404,00.html
21 Aug 09: “INDIGENOUS Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin has
insisted she will not rush into delivering housing to
Northern Territory indigenous communities without securing
land leases and agreements for proper payment of rent.”

Koori Mail: SIHIP review report expected next week
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
21 Aug 09: “FEDERAL Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny
Macklin has promised to make public the report from a
review of the embattled $672 million Strategic Indigenous
Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP). Ms Macklin says
she expects to receive the report next week.”

Australian: Macklin ‘seeking to save her political skin’
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25955127-601,00.html
20 Aug 09: “THE former head of a $700 million Aboriginal
housing project [Jim Davidson] claims Indigenous Affairs
Minister Jenny Macklin made unrealistic promises to build
750 houses in remote communities because of poor advice and
a lack of basic budget analysis by senior commonwealth
bureaucrats.” Natasha Robinson and Nicola Berkovic

Koori Mail: Release housing report straight away, says Opp
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
20 Aug 09: “THE Federal Opposition has called on the Rudd
Government to release straight away a report from a review
of the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure
Program (SIHIP). The program has failed to build even a
single remote house in 18 months. The review report is
expected soon, possibly tomorrow.”

Canberra Times: Indigenous housing scheme under fire
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/indigenous-housing-scheme-under-fire/1601156.aspx
20 Aug 09: “Money earmarked for desperately needed homes in
remote communities across Australia could be used to prop
up an embattled housing scheme in the Northern Territory.
Hobbled by soaring costs and ”appalling mismanagement”,
the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program
is yet to produce a single new home in almost 18 months.”

ABC: ‘Pie in the sky’ house costs worry Wood
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/20/2661516.htm?site=news
20 Aug 09: “The independent Northern Territory politician
Gerry Wood says he is concerned the original budget for the
Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program was
out of touch with reality. … Mr Wood also wants a faster
review of the program.”

ABC: Housing Minister lets rip at previous failures
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/19/2660951.htm?site=news
19 Aug 09: “The Northern Territory Housing Minister, Rob
Knight, has launched a stinging tirade against previous
housing projects to defend his handling of a controversial
$672 million Aboriginal housing program. … Mr [Jim]
Davidson says the promised houses will not eventuate unless
the budget goes up to $1 billion.”

ABC: One fifth of housing funds allocated so far
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/19/2660857.htm?site=news
19 Aug 09: “The Northern Territory Government says only
about $120 million dollars of the controversial $672
million Aboriginal housing program have been allocated so
far and the project will still build the 750 new homes it
promised. … The Northern Territory Housing Minister Rob
Knight says the program is being remodelled to make sure
all promises are met within budget.”

OTHER ABORIGINAL ARTICLES:

– Radio

Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane
Let’s Talk – Indigenous presented talkback:
http://989fm.com.au/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29
19 Aug 09: “Ron Monaghan – Tiga Bayles spoke with
Queensland Councils of Unions General Secretary Ron
Monaghan. They spoke about Queensland Councils of Unions
Stolen Wages campaign, legal action and how to get
involved.”
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasting/get.php?web=98fm-podcast-2009-08-19-75864.mp3

– News

ABC Australia Network News:
No payments for Australian Stolen Generations
http://australianetworknews.com/stories/200908/2662630.htm?desktop
21 Aug 09: “Australia’s government says it will not comply
with a United Nations recommendation to compensate
indigenous victims of the so-called Stolen Generations. …
The Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement submitted a formal
complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee in March,
highlighting the lack of funding for Aboriginal legal aid
in Australia.”

National Indigenous Times:
Aboriginal elder sues government for stolen wages
http://www.nit.com.au/story.aspx?id=18431
20 Aug 09: “An Aboriginal elder has launched a legal battle
for the return of wages he claims were stolen by the
Queensland government. Conrad Yeatman lodged a claim in the
Brisbane District Court on Thursday seeking the return of
money he earned while working as a carpenter and labourer
in the north Queensland community of Yarrabah, where he was
born in 1940.”

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18/08/09: UN EXPERT VISITS AUSTRALIA TO REPORT ON ABORIGINAL HUMAN RIGHTS

Posted in NEWSLETTER on 18/08/2009 by D

Contents:
UN Expert visits Australia to report on Aboriginal Human Rights
Aboriginal Housing in the NT
Other Aboriginal articles

UN EXPERT VISITS AUSTRALIA TO REPORT ON ABORIGINAL HUMAN RIGHTS:

– Media Releases

UN Official to Report on Aboriginal Human Rights
http://www.antar.org.au/media/un-official-to-report
17 Aug 09: “Prof. James Anaya, the UN Special Rapporteur on
Indigenous Human Rights is visiting various centres in
Australia over the next two weeks. His task will be to
report back to the UN. Several thousand Aboriginal people
from across the Northern Territory and other parts of
Australia, indigenous organisations, church leaders and
local parishes, community and church social justice groups,
Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR)
and other organisations, as well as many ordinary citizens
have signed a letter to the UN Special Rapporteur. The
visit coincides with Government efforts to convince
Aboriginal communities through a flawed consultation
process, that special measures to restrict their human
rights are acceptable.”

United Nations – Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights:
UN Expert on Indigenous People to visit Australia
http://www.un.org.au/files/files/MEDIA%20ADVISORY_ANAYA_AUSTRALIA%20fINAL.pdf
11 Aug 09: “The Special Rapporteur on the situation of
human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people,
James Anaya, will visit Australia, 17 to 28 August, at the
invitation of the Government. “During my the twelve-day
mission, I will investigate and report on the major
challenges faced by indigenous peoples of the country in
the enjoyment of their human rights,” said Professor Anaya,
“with a view toward contributing to steps to address those
problems, as well as to identify good practices,” The
Special Rapporteur will travel to Canberra and to Adelaide,
Perth, Alice Springs, Darwin, Groote Eylandt, Cairns,
Sydney, and Brisbane to hold discussions with government
representatives, indigenous communities and civil society
groups on the human rights of indigenous peoples. A press
conference will be held in Canberra at the conclusion of
the Special Rapporteur’s visit – on Thursday, 27 August,
with additional information to follow. Professor Anaya
will present the visit’s findings in a forthcoming session
of the Human Rights Council.”

Wiktionary, the Free Dictionary definition:
rapporteur – a person appointed by a deliberative body to
investigate an issue or a situation, and report back to
that body.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rapporteur

– Submissions to UN Rapporteur

Australia gets bad rap to UN rapporteur over Aborigines
http://linksunten.indymedia.org/de/node/9757
http://indymedia.org.au/2009/08/17/australia-gets-bad-rap-to-un-rapporteur-over-aborigines
17 Aug 09: “A northwest NSW Aboriginal leader has put a
submission to a visiting high United Nations official on
indigenous rights, alleging that Australian governments are
trying to wipe out Aboriginal identity. Michael Anderson,
leader of the Euahlayi Nation of northwest NSW and
southwest Queensland and elected spokesman of the 16 tribes
in the Gumilaroi nation had a meeting scheduled in Canberra
today with Professor James Anaya, UN Special Rapporteur on
the situation of human rights and freedoms of Indigenous
Peoples. … Recommendations: That the UN Special
Rapporteur investigate all Acts of the Australian Federal
Parliament that deal with and impact upon Aboriginal
Peoples and report all violations within to the CERD,
CESCR and any other UN treaty body whose articles are
violated.”

Indigenous People’s Organisations Network of Australia:
Submission to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of
human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people
– Australian mission
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/publications/srip_2009/index.html
17-28 Aug 09: “The Australian Human Rights and Commission
has made a submission on behalf of the Indigenous Peoples
Organisation Network (IPON) of Australia to Professor S.
James Anaya, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights and
fundamental freedoms of Indigenous Peoples, on the current
status of Indigenous human rights in Australia for his
Mission to Australia which is taking place from 17-28
August 2009. Additional information supplied by the
National Indigenous Youth Movement of Australia is included
as Appendix 3 of this submission.”

– News

National Indigenous Times:
UN Indigenous expert touches down to look at intervention
http://www.nit.com.au/story.aspx?id=18420
17 Aug 09: “Aboriginal groups, church leaders and social
justice groups have invited the United Nations to
investigate whether the intervention in the Northern
Territory is a violation of human rights. UN Special
Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples, Professor James Anaya, will
visit Aboriginal communities in the NT over the next two
weeks according to a statement by the groups on Monday. …
One of the groups, Australians for Native Title and
Reconciliation (ANTAR), says it wants Prof Anaya to insist
human rights principles as set out in the UN convention
against racial discrimination be applied. And that the
government re-instate the Racial Discrimination Act without
“special measures”.”

Economic Times: UN probes Aboriginal discrimination allegations
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/International-Business/UN-probes-Aboriginal-discrimination-allegations/articleshow/4901622.cms
17 Aug 09: “A United Nations indigenous rights expert said
Monday that Australian government policy to stamp out child
abuse in Outback communities appeared to discriminate
against Aborigines. But the U.N. special rapporteur on
indigenous human rights, James Anaya, said he would reserve
his judgment on the government’s intervention in Aboriginal
communities in the Northern Territory until the end of a
12-day fact-finding mission that officially began on
Monday.”

9 News: UN expert examines NT intervention
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/850997/un-expert-examines-nt-intervention
17 Aug 09: “Suspending the Racial Discrimination Act to
enable the Northern Territory intervention to proceed was,
on the face of it, itself discriminatory, the United
Nations’ special rapporteur on indigenous human rights
says. Professor James Anaya believes there’s a prima facie
case that suspending the act is discriminatory, but he’s
yet to make up his mind that if doing so is in the best
interests of Australia’s indigenous people.”

ABC: UN probes human rights in Aboriginal camps
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/17/2657545.htm
17 Aug 09: “Professor James Anaya, the UN’s special
rapporteur on Indigenous human rights, will visit a number
of town camps and Aboriginal communities across the
Northern Territory and other parts of Australia. It is
expected he will meet with a number of groups to raise
concerns about the Federal Government’s Northern Territory
intervention, as well as the Government itself, before
reporting back to the UN.”

Bloomberg: Aborigines Demand End to Controls as UN Envoy Visits
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aSV9IBlSpN2A
17 Aug 09: “Australian Aboriginal groups are demanding the
government lifts its control of dozens of Outback
communities as a United Nations envoy begins a 12-day
mission to probe human rights in the country. … More than
3,000 people have signed a letter to James Anaya, the UN
special rapporteur on indigenous human rights, decrying the
“discriminatory” policy, under which welfare payments are
held by government officials to ensure money is spent on
food.”

BBC: UN investigates Australia rights
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8204694.stm
17 Aug 09: “A senior United Nations official is in
Australia to investigate complaints by Aboriginal
communities that the government is violating their rights.
… A coalition of Aboriginal groups, church organisations
and human rights activists say that the government
intervention into Aboriginal communities, launched in 2007,
is racially discriminatory.”

Jerusalem Post:
UN rep visits Australia to probe Aboriginal discrimination claims
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1249418622902&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
17 Aug 09: “A United Nations representative is visiting
Australia to investigate complaints that a government
crackdown on child abuse in Outback settlements is
violating Aborigines’ human rights. … Activists say these
measures violate human rights because they target
Aborigines only.”

ABC Radio Australia News:
UN indigenous affairs inspector in Australia
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/200908/2657435.htm?desktop
16 Aug 09: “The United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on
Indigenous Affairs has begun a 12-day visit to Australia.
He will report to the UN Human Rights Council on the
situation of Australia’s indigenous people. Professor
James Anaya will travel to urban and remote areas to meet
government and indigenous representatives, as well as civil
society groups.”

– Radio

ABC AM: United Nations to report on Aboriginal communities
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2009/s2657510.htm
17 Aug 09: “A special investigator from the United Nations
today begins a two-week examination of Aboriginal
communities in Australia. Professor James Anaya the UN
special rapporteur will report back to the United Nations
after his tour which will take in a number of town camps
and Aboriginal communities across the Northern Territory as
well as other parts of Australia. … More than 3,000
letters from Indigenous people and community groups will
be presented to the United Nations special rapporteur on
Indigenous human rights. The letters detail their concerns
that the Northern Territory intervention is racially
discriminatory.”
[includes comments by David Cooper of ANTaR]

ABORIGINAL HOUSING IN THE NT:

– Photo stories

Australian: Frank Anderson’s story
http://media.theaustralian.com.au/multimedia/2009/08/15-anderson/index.html
15 Aug 09: “Frank Anderson and Mary Johnny live in a tin
shack at the back of the Wuppa Town camp in Tennant Creek,
NT”

Australian: Helen Limbiari’s story
http://media.theaustralian.com.au/multimedia/2009/08/15-limbiari/index.html
15 Aug 09: “Helen Limbiari can have up to 40 family family
members in her house on Marla-Marla Town Camp”

– News

Australian: Plenty of talk, but people still live in broken homes
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25931622-5006790,00.html
15 Aug 09: “AS she sits in her decrepit house holding a
baby, Ruth Kerinauia is blissfully unaware of her terrible
poverty. For her, broken windows and faulty plumbing
systems are nothing new, and nobody ever comes to fix them.”

Australian: Town camp residents ‘happy’ to live in filth
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25931623-5013404,00.html
15 Aug 09: “GOVERNMENT and Aboriginal council officials
insist indigenous people living in filthy, overcrowded
“town camps” on the outskirts of remote Northern Territory
towns such as Tennant Creek are happy that there are not
any new houses for them. … the story on the ground, from
the people living in appalling conditions in seven town
camps around Tennant Creek, 500km north of Alice Springs,
is much different.”

OTHER ABORIGINAL ARTICLES:

– Video

that munanga linguist:
Another video – this time in Yolnu Matha – rather powerful
http://munanga.blogspot.com/
29 May 09: “Created in response to the Northern Territory
and Federal Government’s continued attempts to close down
Indigenous Homeland communities. Yolngu and other
Indigenous people have been living on their Homelands since
before Settlement. Since missionary days they have asserted
their desire to remain on their own traditional country.”

– Facebook

Facebook:
Supporters of Bilingual Education in the Northern Territory
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=35768410977&_fb_noscript=1
“On October 14, 2008, the then NT Minister for Education
Marion Scrymgour announced that the first four hours of
education in all NT Schools will be delivered in English.
This put an end to 34 years of Bilingual Education in the
Northern Territory by ending the 10 remaining programs. In
2009, hundreds of Indigenous Language speaking students
will be taught in a foreign language for almost all their
school day. The main platforms advocating for the continued
existence of Bilingual Education are: … “

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17/08/09: NT LABOR GOVERNMENT SURVIVES NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE

Posted in NEWSLETTER on 17/08/2009 by D

17 AUG 2009: NT LABOR GOVERNMENT SURVIVES NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE

WGAR website: http://wgar.info/

Contents:
NT Labor Government survives no-confidence vote
NT Intervention articles
Other Aboriginal articles

NT LABOR GOVERNMENT SURVIVES NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE:

– Background

WGAR News:
Will the NT Indigenous Policy Minister quit Labor? (29 Jul 09)
[scroll down page] http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=144926

WGAR News:
Will Alison Anderson leave NT Labor? (1 Aug 09)
[scroll down page] http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=145231

WGAR News:
Alison Anderson quits NT ALP, Marion Scrymgour to rejoin (6 Aug 09)
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=145472

WGAR News:
Alison Anderson quits NT ALP, Marion Scrymgour rejoins (8 Aug 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.info/2009/08/10/8-aug-2009-aboriginal-town-camps-takeover-delayed/

WGAR News:
NT Labor Government faces crisis
[scroll down page] http://wgar.info/2009/08/12/110809-aboriginal-housing-under-the-northern-territory-intervention/

– Radio

ABC The World Today:
NT Labor set to stay … with a little help
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2009/s2656050.htm
14 Aug 09: “To the Northern Territory where the Labor
Government is set to retain power by narrowly scraping
through a no-confidence vote today. The independent
politician who holds the deciding vote, Gerry Wood, has
just told the Legislative Assembly he’ll vote with Labor
and will also support the Government’s budget bills. The
political crisis was brought about by the failure of a
major Indigenous housing program to deliver any houses in
two years of operation. And today the Opposition has
attacked the Government on its Indigenous policy record.”
[includes comments by Gerry Wood, Alison Anderson,
Terry Mills and Paul Henderson]

– Alison Anderson’s no-confidence speech

Australian: Labor let down my people
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25930476-28737,00.html
15 Aug 09: “FORMER indigenous affairs minister Alison
Anderson sparked a survival crisis for the Northern
Territory Labor government last week when she quit its
ranks. Yesterday she formally explained her reasons to
parliament during a no-confidence debate. The Henderson
government retained power.”

– Opinion

ABC Blog: NT Politics… could it get any more extraordinary.
http://blogs.abc.net.au/nt/2009/08/nt-politics-could-it-get-any-more-extraordinary-.html
16 Aug 09: “The first line of Gerry Wood’s speech to
Parliament on Friday was, “After the last two weeks I now
know there must be a heaven, I’ve just finished my
purgatory.” … Gerry Woods managed to capitalise on that
situation in a way that had many stunned: he now basically
IS the NT Government.” Michelle Crowther

Crikey Blog: It was a close run thing – but Gerry Woods
made the right decision
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/2009/08/15/it-was-a-close-run-thing-but-gerry-woods-made-the-right-decision/
15 Aug 09: “I also have a PDF file of the statement made by
Gerry Wood that attaches a copy (unsigned) of the agreement
between Wood and Henderson (note, not between Wood and the
Labor party) and an annexure of the details of the deal.
I’ll try to get this to a server somewhere so you can
download it there if you want – otherwise send me a note
and I’ll forward it by email.” Bob Gosford in the NT

Off Air: Indigenous policy at heart of NT political crisis
http://blogs.abc.net.au/offair/2009/08/indigenous-policy-at-heart-of-nt-political-crisis.html
14 Aug 09: “The Independent Gerry Wood – a former chicken
farmer and UFO spotter – has become the new kingmaker in
the Northern Territory and today he announced his decision
to keep Labor in power. … But another factor has been
playing out in Northern Territory politics. It was
Indigenous issues that brought the Government to its knees
and Indigenous policy is playing an increasingly important
role in politics in the north.” Sara Everingham

Crikey: Gerry Woods saves “peace, order and good
government” in the NT
http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/14/gerry-woods-saves-peace-order-and-good-government-in-the-nt/
14 Aug 09: “Henderson’s government has been riddled by
infighting and defections since it was re-elected with the
slimmest of margins in an unnecessary and ill-advised
election almost a year ago to the day. This latest – and
almost fatal – disaster was wholly the fault of Henderson
and his poor management of Aboriginal issues.” Bob Gosford,
Alice Springs

Crikey Blog: A new NT Government by Friday — the fix is in
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/2009/08/10/a-new-nt-government-by-friday-the-fix-is-in/
10 Aug 09: “And the most important reason for the major
parties to avoid an election — and for mine the best reason
for having one — is that the Greens and independents could
very likely spring a few surprises, win more than a few
seats and — surprise, surprise — hold the balance of
power.” Bob Gosford in the NT

Club Troppo: Troppo season comes early to the NT
http://clubtroppo.com.au/2009/08/10/troppo-season-comes-early-to-the-nt/
10 Aug 09: “As many Troppo readers will have noticed, the
Henderson Labor government seems to be in the process of
self-destructing just 12 months after it scraped back into
government by 74 votes with a majority of just one seat
after “Hendo” called an opportunistic election almost 12
months early.” Ken Parish

– News

National Indigenous Times: Intervention housing failure
biggest scandal in politics: Anderson
http://www.nit.com.au/story.aspx?id=18418
15 Aug 09: “Labor in the Northern Territory has squandered
“rivers of money” earmarked for Aboriginal people, says an
Aboriginal MLA who quit Labor in disgust. Alison Anderson,
who plunged the Northern Territory government into crisis
when she walked out last week, says the mishandling of a
remote Indigenous housing scheme is the biggest political
scandal she has witnessed.”

ABC: Aboriginal Chief Minister ‘within 2 years’
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/15/2656859.htm
15 Aug 09: “Lhere Artepe CEO Darryl Pearce says the recent
developments in Northern Territory politics are a sign the
two-party system is dead. “What we are going to be seeing
is the fact that Aboriginal politicians of whichever
political persuasion will not necessarily vote along party
lines but may vote as a collective, as independents or more
importantly what we may see is a number of Aboriginal
people who come together as independents,” he said.”

Northern Territory News: How Gerry rules the roost
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/08/15/75631_ntnews.html
15 Aug 09: “A FORMER chicken farmer has become the most
powerful man in the Territory. Independent politician Gerry
Wood now has input in every major policy and the Budget. He
will hold monthly meetings with the Chief Minister to
ensure his list of demands are being met.”

National Indigenous Times: Northern Territory Independent
throws Labor – and Henderson – a life-line
http://www.nit.com.au/breakingNews/story.aspx?id=18414
14 Aug 09: “The Henderson government will retain power in
the Northern Territory after independent Gerry Wood told
parliament this morning he would not support a ‘no
confidence’ motion in the government put forward by the
Opposition.”

Koori Mail: Wood saviour for Territory Labor Govt
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
14 Aug 09: “SUPPORT from one of two NT independents appears
to have saved Paul Henderson’s Labor Government. Gerry Wood
today indicated that he would back the government in a
no-confidence motion, staving off an early election or the
possibility of a CLP government with support from he and
fellow independent Alison Anderson.”

Koori Mail: Anderson delivers fresh tongue-lashing
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
14 Aug 09: “NT independent MP Alison Anderson maintained
her criticism of her former Labor colleagues today, during
parliamentary debate of a no confidence motion in the
Territory Government. Ms Anderson told the Legislative
Assembly that Labor lived on the Aboriginal vote while
squandering ‘rivers of money’ intended for Aboriginal
communities.”

ABC: Rebel MLA ignoring us: community
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/14/2656149.htm?site=indigenous&topic=latest
14 Aug 09: “Members of a central Australian community have
retracted their support for their local member, Alison
Anderson. The residents of Ampilatwatja, 325 kilometres
north of Alice Springs, walked off their community a month
ago protesting against their living conditions. … A
spokesman for the Ampilatwatja community, which is in Ms
Anderson’s electorate, says it is disappointed they have
not heard from the politician. “Nothing,” Richard Downs
said.”

WAtoday: UFO-spotting chook farmer keeps Labor in power
http://www.watoday.com.au/national/ufospotting-chook-farmer-keeps-labor-in-power-20090814-ekl8.html
14 Aug 09: “Labor has survived a parliamentary showdown in
the Northern Territory after cornering a crucial vote in
what could have been its final hours in government.
Independent Gerry Wood, from Darwin’s rural seat of Nelson,
has backed the government in a no confidence motion before
the NT Legislative Assembly.”

Australian: Independent Gerry Wood sides with Labor to
avert Northern Territory poll
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25928059-5006790,00.html
14 Aug 09: “LABOR will hold on to power in the Northern
Territory after independent member for Nelson Gerry Wood
sided with the Government in a no-confidence motion brought
in parliament this morning.”

Age: Labor survives no-confidence vote in NT
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/labor-survives-noconfidence-vote-in-nt-20090814-ek79.html
14 Aug 09: “A UFO-spotting former chicken farmer has won a
swag of almost 50 commitments from the Northern Territory
Labor government in exchange for ensuring its hold on
power.”

Northern Territory News: Henderson holds on
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/08/14/75521_ntnews.html
14 Aug 09: “INDEPENDENT politician Gerry Wood will continue
to support the Labor Government so long as Paul Henderson
remains in the top job. In exchange for his support, Mr
Wood was given a range of concessions, including a
bi-partisan Council of Territory Co-operation, major
parliamentary reforms and the inside running on Budget
talks.”

news.com.au: NT vote on no-confidence motion
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25927359-29277,00.html
14 Aug 09: “IT’S D-day for Labor in the Northern Territory
but the parliamentary showdown looks set to end with a
whimper and not a bang. After a three-day recess, the NT’s
25 MPs will gather in the Legislative Assembly today to
vote on a no-confidence motion in the Government.”

Northern Territory News:
CLP denies cooking plot for Anderson to walk
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/08/14/75271_ntnews.html
14 Aug 09: “CLP leader Terry Mills denied that he had talks
with new independent Alison Anderson about her quitting the
Labor Government.”

Northern Territory News:
You’ve told us what you want … a poll
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/08/14/75281_ntnews.html
14 Aug 09: “Independents Gerry Wood and Alison Anderson
last week asked the public to write letters to the paper to
help them decide how to use their balance of power. Of the
332 letters published in the Northern Territory News, 18
per cent called for an election to sort out the crisis.”

National Indigenous Times:
Anderson left hanging; Wood will not back ‘no confidence’
vote in Henderson government, sources reveal
http://www.nit.com.au/story.aspx?id=18407
13 Aug 09: “Alison Anderson – the former Labor Minister for
Indigenous Policy who last week quit the party and threw
the Territory government into chaos – has been
out-manoeuvred by her former colleagues, with Labor set to
defeat a ‘no confidence’ motion in parliament tomorrow.”

news.com.au: Chief Minister says no beer on ice
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25923823-29277,00.html
13 Aug 09: “NORTHERN Territory Chief Minister Paul
Henderson said he’s still in the dark about whether Labor
will be dumped from government.”

ABC: Territory on knife edge as vote looms
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/13/2655122.htm?section=justin
13 Aug 09: “The Northern Territory Chief Minister, Paul
Henderson, says he is a “nervous man” who has struggled to
sleep during more than a week of political turmoil that
threatens to destroy his Government.”

ABC: Wood’s judgement day vote not ‘watertight’
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/13/2654477.htm?section=australia
13 Aug 09: “One day out from political judgement day in the
Northern Territory, the man who holds the balance of power
says he has virtually made up his mind but it is not yet
“100 per cent watertight”.”

Sunshine Coast Daily: NT Labor may nab surprise victory
http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2009/aug/13/aap-nt-labor-may-nab-surprise-victory/
13 Aug 09: “Labor could well emerge as the surprise victor
in the battle for government in the Northern Territory.”

Australian: Labor rebel considers cabinet post with opposition
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25917838-5006790,00.html
12 Aug 09: “FORMER Northern Territory government minister
Alison Anderson has ruled out suggestions she could return
to Labor but left open the option of accepting a cabinet
post with the opposition.”

ABC: Kingmaker ‘at peace’ with voting intention
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/12/2653919.htm
12 Aug 09: “The man who holds the political fate of the
Northern Territory in his hands says he is close to
deciding which political party will get his support.”

ABC: Scullion condemns Labor’s Indigenous record
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/12/2653268.htm?section=justin
12 Aug 09: “Northern Territory Country Liberal Senator
Nigel Scullion has lambasted the Federal Government’s
record on Indigenous affairs and applauded Alison
Anderson’s decision to quit the Labor Party.”

ABC: Indigenous political party plan resurrected
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/11/2652275.htm?site=alicesprings
11 Aug 09: “The Central Land Council’s deputy chairman,
Maurie Ryan, says the current state of Northern Territory
politics has inspired him to again try to launch his own
Indigenous political party. … He says his First Nations
Indigenous party will aim at ensuring money allocated for
Aboriginal services actually hits the ground.”

ABC: ‘Strange things happen’: NT chief holds out hope
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/11/2652759.htm?section=australia
11 Aug 09: “The Northern Territory Government is still
holding out hope that renegade politician Alison Anderson
will have a “change of heart” and give support to the
Government, which risks losing its grip on power by the end
of the week.”

Australian: Countdown begins for Henderson
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25911654-5013945,00.html
11 Aug 09: “THE clock started ticking for Labor in the
Northern Territory yesterday after the opposition
introduced a no-confidence motion against the government in
parliament.”

Northern Territory News:
Angry Anderson no afraid of attention, good stoush
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/08/11/74011_ntnews.html
11 Aug 09: “ALISON Anderson is clearly unafraid of two
things – attention and a stoush. She’s getting plenty of
both nowadays and is enjoying every minute. The rebel Labor
Cabinet Minister will certainly vote against Paul
Henderson’s Government in the no-confidence motion on
Friday.”

Age: NT political kingmaker goes bush
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/nt-political-kingmaker-goes-bush-20090811-eg66.html
11 Aug 09: “One of the Northern Territory’s kingmakers has
“gone bush” to consider the political fate of the north.
Gerry Wood has admitted that he was offered the planning
portfolio in a Country Liberals government several weeks
ago. But the independent member for Darwin’s rural seat of
Nelson said he would not accept a ministry from either
political party.”

Age: Kingmaker ‘going bush’ to decide NT Govt
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/11/2652129.htm?section=australia
11 Aug 09: “The independent politician [Gerry Wood] who has
the future of Northern Territory politics in his hands says
he is “going bush” today to weigh up his options.”

ABC: Brough sees silver lining in NT ‘debacle’
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/10/2651560.htm?site=news
10 Aug 09: “The former federal Indigenous affairs minister
Mal Brough says the one positive thing to come out of the
past week’s political turmoil in the Northern Territory is
to give housing needs in remote communities a higher
profile.”

Australian: Aboriginal housing Labor’s greatest shame
http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/jacktheinsider/index.php/theaustralian/comments/aboriginal_housing_labors_greatest_shame/
10 Aug 09: “Tomorrow is a big day in the Top End. By the
end of it, we’ll know if Paul Henderson’s NT Labor
Government has survived a vote of no confidence.”

Australian: Labor does ‘not have parliament’s confidence’
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25909588-5006790,00.html
10 Aug 09: “LABOR has entered what could be its dying days
in power in the Northern Territory.”

– Media Release

Northern Land Council:
Alison Anderson must resign from Parliament
http://www.nlc.org.au/html/files/Alison%20Anderson%20must%20resign%20from%20Parliament.pdf
10 Aug 09: “The Northern Land Council’s (NLC) Chief
Executive, Kim Hill has today called on Alison Anderson to
immediately resign from the Northern Territory Parliament
which, he says, would be in the best interests of all
Territorians. Mr Hill said that NLC strongly believed in
the rule of law, the constitutional processes of the NT
Parliament, democracy and stable government, and questioned
Ms Anderson’s responsibility to Territorians to faithfully
fulfil her role as a Member of the Legislative Assembly.”

NT INTERVENTION ARTICLES:

– Background to Northern Territory Intervention

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Territory_intervention

Stop the Intervention website:
http://stoptheintervention.org/

Rollback the Intervention website:
http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/

Working Group for Aboriginal Rights website:
http://wgar.info/
[see WGAR NT Intervention e-newsletter archive]

– Video

Rollback the Intervention: Abbotts camp talks about Tangentyere
http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/video/
July 2009: “This is Our Land – Abbott’s Camp”

– Opinion

Australian: Refugees in their own land
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25930525-5013871,00.html
15 Aug 09: “ON lush islands off Australia’s tropical
northern coast and in the desert interior, three Aboriginal
communities live in hope. That is all they have, even
though they are awash with money; … Yet not one house has
been built and the pool of money available for building is
shrinking day by day.” Natasha Robinson, Tony Koch, and
Michael Owen

Australian: When responsibility is a two-way street
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25930483-16741,00.html
15 Aug 09: “INDIGENOUS housing in northern Australia is in
crisis. In Canberra, a new government with ambitions to
make a real difference battles to have any impact on an old
problem. In Darwin, a government is brought to the edge as
a senior minister resigns in protest.”

National Indigenous Times:
Time for another apology… over to you, Galarrwuy
http://www.nit.com.au/story.aspx?id=18406
12 Aug 09: “In The Australian today former Australian of
the Year and Arnhem Land Aboriginal leader Galarrwuy
Yunupingu dumps a bucket on a policy that only two years
ago had his imprimatur. “We hope there is not going to be
anything like the intervention ever again. It is
discriminatory, it’s a form of apartheid. It has never been
any good to us,” Yunupingu told The Oz. Which of course
bears no resemblance whatsoever to what this man said about
the intervention in 2007.” Chris Graham

– News

Australian: After a life of loss, a housing legacy of shame
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25931554-601,00.html
15 Aug 09: “A TINY, black-skinned woman on remote Groote
Eylandt, off east Arnhem Land, her shoulders slumped from
decades of pain and unimaginable hurt, looks shyly down as
she speaks in a whisper of “blame and shame”. … But the
hardship of life on the island is compounded by the empty
promises from government to indigenous Australians living
in remote communities in conditions that locals correctly
describe as “below Third World”.”

Koori Mail: Protesters unmoved by meeting
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
14 Aug 09: “PROTESTERS at Ampilatwatja in central Australia
say a meeting with government representatives has convinced
them to continue with a walk-off from their community. The
group want an end to the NT intervention, saying conditions
and services have declined since it began. They say
bureaucrats at Wednesday’s meeting weren’t interested in
listening to community concerns.”

ABC: Residents abandon housing, protesting welfare quarantines
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/14/2656132.htm?site=alicesprings
14 Aug 09: “Residents from a remote Central Australian
community have vowed not to return to their homes until the
Federal Government meets their demands of better living
conditions and an end to welfare quarantining. About 150
people are still living in a makeshift camp outside the
community of Ampilatwatja a month after they walked out in
protest.”

Australian: Indigenous housing dreams shattered again
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25926660-5006790,00.html
14 Aug 09: “A DISPUTE has arisen over a decision to not
build any new houses in the remote Northern Territory
township of Tennant Creek under a $672 million federal
government indigenous housing plan.”

Australian: Indigenous camps wait on civil works
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25926555-5006790,00.html
14 Aug 09: “CIVIL construction firm chiefs in the remote
Northern Territory community of Tennant Creek are fed up
with the strangling red tape hampering federal and
territory government intervention to improve Aboriginal
housing and combat black disadvantage.”

LIVENEWS.com.au: Labor looks to overhaul Native Title Act
to fast track housing
http://livenews.com.au/news/labor-looks-to-overhaul-native-title-act-to-fast-track-housing/2009/8/13/216097
13 Aug 09: “The federal government is looking to change
the Native Title Act, claiming it’s delaying the delivery
of housing and other building programs in remote indigenous
communities.”

Koori Mail: Yolngu form new authority
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
12 Aug 09: “A NEW authority established to guide the future
of north-east Arnhem Land clan nations has called for an
end to the Northern Territory intervention. The Dilak
Provincial Authority, formed along traditional ceremonial
lines, will represent Yolngu on issues such as recognition
of Aboriginal people in the Constitution, health, housing,
education and economic development.”

Australian: Yunupingu loses faith in intervention
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25917888-601,00.html
12 Aug 09: “ARNHEM Land leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu has
withdrawn his support for the federal government’s
intervention into remote Aboriginal communities and
condemned what he labelled as the federal and Northern
Territory governments’ joint inability to deliver
Aboriginal housing.”

Australian: Tiwi Islanders feel short-changed on housing package
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25917889-5013404,00.html
12 Aug 09: “THE alliance of building companies in charge of
delivering housing on the Tiwi Islands has told the
Aboriginal community of Nguiu it will receive fewer than
one-third of the houses originally promised by the federal
government.”

ABC: NT intervention ‘creating misery’: Yunupingu
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/12/2653839.htm
12 Aug 09: “The Indigenous leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu says
the Federal Government’s intervention in the Northern
Territory has failed to improve the lives of Aboriginal
people. Mr Yunupingu is among a group of senior traditional
owners from 36 clans who have formed a new federation
called the Dilak Provincial Authority.”

BigPond: NT Labor pressured over housing scheme
http://bigpondnews.com/articles/National-Regional/2009/08/11/NT_Labor_pressured_over_housing_scheme_361457.html
11 Aug 09: “The Northern Territory government is facing
demands to reveal how much Labor mates are being paid for
working on a remote Aboriginal housing scheme that has not
produced a single new home.”

ABC: UN assured Aboriginal communities will get compo
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/11/2652614.htm?site=news
11 Aug 09: “A Federal Government report to the United
Nations says compensation is due to be paid to Aboriginal
communities it took over as part of the Northern Territory
Emergency Response.”

OTHER ABORIGINAL ARTICLES:

– Media Releases

Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement:
South Australia’s Stolen Generation takes legal action
http://www.alrm.org.au/uploads/mediarelease/d86895c981443dc696697bd33a12b83a.pdf
8 Aug 09: “South Australia’s Stolen Generations victims
have taken legal action following continued refusal by the
State’s Attorney General to resolve a large number of
claims. ALRM CEO, Neil Gillespie says ALRM has recently
filed legal actions on behalf of six Stolen Generations
claimants and further actions will follow.”

– News

National Indigenous Times:
Labor looks to overhaul native title to fast track housing
http://www.nit.com.au/breakingNews/story.aspx?id=18411
14 Aug 09: “The federal government is looking to change the
Native Title Act, claiming it’s delaying the delivery of
housing and other building programs in remote Indigenous
communities.”

Koori Mail: Comments sought on native title amendments
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
13 Aug 09: “THE Federal Government has released a
discussion paper on possible amendments to the Native Title
Act, which it says are aimed at speeding up public housing
construction and infrastructure in remote Indigenous
communities. Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin and
Attorney General Robert McLelland say the proposals won’t
adversely impact on native title rights.”

Green Left: Aboriginal language rescue: ‘cynical and false’
http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/807/41532
16 Aug 09: “Environment minister Peter Garrett announced on
August 10 that $9 million will be spent on rescuing 100
Aboriginal languages. However, the Tasmanian Aboriginal
Centre condemned the plan as “cynical and false”. “If this
really was a new initiative, then we would be excited”,
said Nala Mansell-McKenna, state secretary of the Tasmanian
Aboriginal Centre (TAC), on August 11.”

Koori Mail: Language policy ‘cynical’
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
11 Aug 09: “THE Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) has
criticised Federal Government claims that it is ramping up
efforts to support Indigenous languages. TAC State
Secretary Nala Mansell-McKenna says a weekend announcement
of a new, more coordinated approach to languages tried to
present the usual annual funding round as something more,
and was inadequate in any case.”

– Radio

Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane
Let’s Talk – Indigenous presented talkback:
http://989fm.com.au/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29
11 Aug 09: “Chris Graham – Tiga Bayles spoke Chris Graham,
Editor of the National Indigenous Times. They spoke about
Indigenous housing issues and the government.”
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasting/get.php?web=98fm-podcast-2009-08-11-96097.mp3

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11/08/09: ABORIGINAL HOUSING UNDER THE NORTHERN TERRITORY INTERVENTION

Posted in NEWS on 11/08/2009 by D

Contents:
Aboriginal Housing under the Northern Territory Intervention
NT Labor Government faces crisis
Other Aboriginal articles

ABORIGINAL HOUSING UNDER THE NORTHERN TERRITORY INTERVENTION:

– Background to Northern Territory Intervention

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Territory_intervention

Stop the Intervention website:
http://stoptheintervention.org/

Rollback the Intervention website:
http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/

Working Group for Aboriginal Rights website:
http://wgar.info/
[see WGAR NT Intervention e-newsletter archive]

– Analysis

National Indigenous Times:
The Big Read: Jenny’s House
http://www.nit.com.au/story.aspx?id=18383
6 Aug 09: “It’s not exactly clear when the rot began to set
in on Jenny Macklin’s black housing policies. Maybe it was
in March 2008, when the Minister for Indigenous Affairs was
warned by her own colleagues that the Northern Territory
intervention ‘national emergency housing program’ wouldn’t
actually build any homes for years, and would force the
price of construction sky-high. … Whenever it started,
however it started, it’s clear today that Jenny Macklin –
the Minister for Housing and the Minister for Indigenous
Affairs – has had a great deal of trouble actually building
houses for black people.” Amy McQuire

– Radio

ABC AM: Galarrwuy Yunupingu unveils Indigenous housing program
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2009/s2650020.htm
8 Aug 09: “The Federal Government is trying to fend off
growing criticism of its $700 million Indigenous housing
program, which hasn’t delivered a single house in two
years. The Arnhem Land Indigenous leader, Galarrwuy
Yunupingu, says he’s lost faith in governments to deliver
homes for Indigenous people. Yesterday he unveiled the
fruits of his own construction program in Arnhem Land.”
[includes comments by Galarrwuy Yunupingu, John Paterson
and Jenny Macklin]

ABC PM: Indigenous leader declares govts irrelevant in
improving Indigenous housing
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2649689.htm
7 Aug 09: “The Arnhem Land Indigenous leader Galarrwuy
Yunupingu has declared governments irrelevant when it comes
to improving housing in Indigenous communities. There’s
growing frustration in the Northern Territory that the $700
million federal Indigenous housing program is yet to
deliver one house after two years. The delays even led the
territory’s Indigenous Policy Minister Alison Anderson to
leave the Labor Party.”
[includes interview with Galarrwuy Yunupingu]

– News

National Indigenous Times:
Aboriginal leader lashes back-door assimilation
http://www.nit.com.au/breakingNews/story.aspx?id=18389
10 Aug 09: “Aboriginal people are not native animals and
building houses for them is only another attempt to
assimilate Indigenous Australians into white society,
Aboriginal activist and leader Rosalie Kunoth-Monks says.
Passions flared on Saturday at the Garma Festival of
Traditional Culture in Gulkula, eastern Arnhem Land, as
Indigenous leaders and academics spoke out against the
Northern Territory intervention.”

ABC: Desert community ‘unhappy’ with lease deal
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/10/2651041.htm
10 Aug 09: “The new president of the Central Desert Shire
says he does not believe his community wants to sign a
40-year lease with the Commonwealth. … Norbert Patrick
Jampijinpa from Lajamanu says his community is worried
about what the deal would mean for them.”

Green Left: Ampilatwatja walk-out stays strong
http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/806/41456
9 Aug 09: “As part of the federal government’s intervention
into Northern Territory Aboriginal communities, the
Aboriginal land on which Ampilatwatja stands has been
acquired by the government on a five-year lease.
Ampilatwatja residents believed the lease would mean they
would get new public housing and repairs to infrastructure
in exchange.” Peter Robson

See: WGAR News:
30 Aboriginal Elders Walk-off to Protest NT Intervention (20 Jul 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.info/2009/07/20/200709-attempt-to-takeover-alice-springs-aboriginal-town-camps/

Australian: Building their own homes is future
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25899079-5006790,00.html
8 Aug 09: “ABORIGINAL leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu has
questioned the federal and Northern Territory governments’
ability to achieve their ambitious goals in Aboriginal
housing and has urged indigenous people in northeast Arnhem
Land to build their own houses instead.”

National Indigenous Times:
Judge delays town camp deal again
http://www.nit.com.au/News/story.aspx?id=18375
6 Aug 09: “The federal government’s plan to take over the
management of the Alice Springs town camps has been put on
hold, after the Federal Court again delayed ruling on the
legality of Labor’s controversial 40-year leases. Camp
resident Barbara Shaw has sought an injunction to halt the
execution of the leases with 16 Northern Territory
Indigenous housing associations.”

National Indigenous Times:
Intervention film-maker accuses Macklin staff of standover tactics
http://www.nit.com.au/News/story.aspx?id=18374
6 Aug 09: “Ministerial L staffers used standover tactics to
try and intimidate media during consultations over the
compulsory acquisition of the Alice Springs town camps
earlier this month, a prominent film-maker has claimed.
Vincent Lamberti, the man behind [the film] The
Intervention, told NIT that after filming the community
meeting in Alice Springs in late June he was accosted by
government officials representing Minister for Indigenous
Affairs, Jenny Macklin.” Madelaine Sealey

National Indigenous Times:
Still no sign of Macklin 3 weeks after walk-off
http://www.nit.com.au/News/story.aspx?id=18378
6 Aug 09: “Almost three weeks after the nation’s media
reported dozens of Aboriginal people had abandoned their
sewage-soaked community in protest of the failing Northern
Territory intervention, residents have still not received a
visit from a single Territory or federal government
bureaucrat or politician.”

See: WGAR News:
30 Aboriginal Elders Walk-off to Protest NT Intervention (20 Jul 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.info/2009/07/20/200709-attempt-to-takeover-alice-springs-aboriginal-town-camps/

NT LABOR GOVERNMENT FACES CRISIS:

– Background

WGAR News:
Will the NT Indigenous Policy Minister quit Labor? (29 Jul 09)
[scroll down page] http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=144926

WGAR News:
Will Alison Anderson leave NT Labor? (1 Aug 09)
[scroll down page] http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=145231

WGAR News:
Alison Anderson quits NT ALP, Marion Scrymgour to rejoin (6 Aug 09)
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=145472

WGAR News:
Alison Anderson quits NT ALP, Marion Scrymgour rejoins (8 Aug 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.info/2009/08/10/8-aug-2009-aboriginal-town-camps-takeover-delayed/

– Media Monitoring

wot news: Alison Anderson News
http://wotnews.com.au/news/Alison_Anderson/

– Opinion

Geoff Robinson: Alison Anderson and the Maori Party
http://www.geoffrobinson.info/?p=519
9 Aug 09: “Could we compare the relation between indigenous
voters and Territory Labor to that between New Zealand
Labour and Maori? There the traditional alliance between
Labour and Maori seems to have broken down altogether. …
If Anderson aligns herself with the Country Liberal Party
she may follow in the unhappy footsteps of the Maori Party.”

Australian: Speaking truth to a machine
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25897612-5006790,00.html
8 Aug 09: “IN a Darwin mall, Alison Anderson sits behind a
table draped in the Australian flag. Her mobile phone is
running hot. In a visitors’ book set up in front of her,
disgruntled voters record their discontent with the
Northern Territory Labor government she has just spurned as
rotten.” Natasha Robinson

National Indigenous Times:
Editorial: Desperate times, desperate measures
http://www.nit.com.au/opinion/story.aspx?id=18355
6 Aug 09: “As this edition of NIT goes to press, Henderson
faces the possibility of losing government following the
resignation of Aboriginal policy minister Alison Anderson
on Tuesday. Anderson had been threatening to walk after a
media storm erupted over the success (or rather failure) of
the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program
(SIHIP), a $672 million joint Commonwealth-Territory
venture aimed at solving the Indigenous housing crisis. …
It comes two weeks after NIT published details of a private
memo between a Labor Senator and Minister for Indigenous
Affairs Jenny Macklin over SIHIP.” Chris Graham

National Indigenous Times:
The Box Seat: Alison in Wonderland
http://www.nit.com.au/opinion/story.aspx?id=18354
6 Aug 09: “Where there’s smoke there’s fire… and where
there’s Alison Anderson, there’s smoke, writes BRIAN
JOHNSTONE*. Will she stay? Or, will she go? These were the
burning questions pre-occupying anyone interested in the
tiny polity of the Northern Territory as I started writing
this column. The final answer, when it comes, is certain to
immediately determine the course of a one-year-old Labor
government, Aboriginal affairs policy and politics in the
Top End and Central Australia, both now and well into the
future.” Brian Johnstone

– Radio

ABC AM: Fears NT political turmoil to slow Indigenous housing
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2009/s2650843.htm
10 Aug 09: “Later today the Northern Territory’s
Legislative Assembly is expected to set the wheels in
motion for a possible change of government within weeks.
Already there’s speculation about what the turmoil will
mean for the rollout of a $700 million Federal Indigenous
housing scheme. The program has been running for two years
but is yet to deliver one house and there are fears a
change of government will even further slow it down.”
[includes comments by John Paterson and Leon White]

– News

ABC: Week of uncertainty begins in NT politics
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/10/2650904.htm?section=australia
10 Aug 09: “The Northern Territory Opposition today plans
to ask for a motion of no confidence in Paul Henderson’s
Labor Government to be voted on in Parliament this week.”

Northern Territory News: Labor no certainty one year after poll
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/08/10/73681_ntnews.html
10 Aug 09: “A YEAR and a day after Territorians went to an
election called for “political certainty”, a motion of no
confidence in the Government will be introduced today.
Formal notice of the motion will be given to parliament by
Opposition Leader Terry Mills at 4pm today. Parliamentary
rules hold there must be three clear days before it is
voted on – with Friday looming as D-Day for Paul
Henderson’s Government.”

ABC: ‘Selfish’ NT politician must quit: NLC
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/10/2651362.htm
10 Aug 09: “In a statement released today, the Northern
Land Council’s chief executive, Kim Hill, described Ms
Anderson’s behaviour over recent weeks as selfish. “Ms
Anderson does not respect Territorians and does not trust
Territorians to govern,” Mr Hill said. “Ms Anderson’s
selfish actions and self-indulgence has delivered
instability and chaos, not peace, order and good
government. … “

Age: ‘Selfish’ rebel MP must quit: Northern Land Council
http://www.theage.com.au/national/selfish-rebel-mp-must-quit-northern-land-council-20090810-ef2j.html
10 Aug 09: “Australia’s most powerful indigenous
organisation today called on rebel Aboriginal MP Alison
Anderson to quit the Northern Territory Parliament in a
growing backlash against her attempt to bring down Paul
Henderson’s Labor Government.”

National Indigenous Times:
Clare Martin “very sad” about NT Labor
http://www.nit.com.au/breakingNews/story.aspx?id=18390
10 Aug 09: “Former Northern Territory chief minister Clare
Martin says she’s extremely sad about what’s happening to
the Labor Party in Australia’s far north. Asked if Labor
would retain government if an election were held now, Ms
Martin did not rate her former colleagues’ prospects
highly.”

SMH: Aborigines divided over MP’s split from Labor
http://www.smh.com.au/national/aborigines-divided-over-mps-split-from-labor-20090809-ee8w.html?skin=text-only
10 Aug 09: “THE defection of the Aboriginal MP Alison
Anderson from the Northern Territory Labor Government,
which could lose power as early this week, has divided
indigenous leaders and traditional clan groups.”

ABC: CLP blasts Labor’s jail negotiations
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/10/2651537.htm
10 Aug 09: “The Northern Territory Opposition says the
Government’s willingness to negotiate on its planned $300
million prison shows it is only interested in staying
power.”

Australian: NT independent leans to rebel side against Henderson
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25906816-5006790,00.html
10 Aug 09: “THE independent MP who will this week determine
the future of the Northern Territory government has “major
concerns” with the rollout of Aboriginal housing and has
accused Chief Minister Paul Henderson of failing to meet
basic standards of governance.”

Australian: Renegade Anderson accused of running her own agenda
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25906813-5006790,00.html
10 Aug 09: “FORMER Labor minister Alison Anderson has
called for GST grants to the Northern Territory to be tied
to indigenous outcomes.”

Age: NT parliament to decide govt’s fate
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/nt-parliament-to-decide-govts-fate-20090809-ee1q.html
9 Aug 09: “The former chief minister of the Northern
Territory appears to hold little hope of Labor holding onto
government in the north. The party will most likely be
dumped this week after the opposition introduces a
no-confidence motion on Monday.”

ABC: NT Labor may be ousted next week
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/07/2649483.htm?section=justin
7 Aug 09: “The Northern Territory Opposition appears to
have the numbers to push Labor out of government next week.
The Country Liberals and the two independents today wrote a
joint letter to the Speaker calling for Parliament to sit
on Monday, one day earlier than scheduled, so they could
vote on a motion of no-confidence next week.”

OTHER ABORIGINAL ARTICLES:

– Opinion

National Indigenous Times:
NIT Forum: Racism is a blanket in Alice Springs
http://www.nit.com.au/opinion/story.aspx?id=18348
6 Aug 09: ” … news emerged last week of new by-laws being
floated by the local town council, aimed at tackling
anti-social behaviour. My personal favourite is the one
that allows council rangers to dispose of blankets used by
homeless people.” Chris Graham, founding editor of NIT

– News

National Indigenous Times:
Sex abuse prosecutions from NT intervention limited: NLC
http://www.nit.com.au/breakingNews/story.aspx?id=18388
10 Aug 09: “The number of sexual abuse prosecutions since
the Northern Territory intervention has been less than
expected and many involve people outside communities under
government control, the Northern Land Council (NLC) says.
NLC Chief Executive Kim Hill has dismissed some of the
effects of the intervention and branded it a political
stunt by the previous Howard government.”

ABC: Garrett’s $9m life raft for Indigenous languages
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/10/2650659.htm
10 Aug 09: “Federal Arts Minister Peter Garrett has
announced a plan to rescue over 100 threatened Indigenous
languages across Australia. … He says the funding
recognises that Indigenous languages play an important role
in student learning, particularly in bilingual schools. …
But he will not weigh into the debate over the future of
bilingual education in the Northern Territory.”

Age: $9.3m to save indigenous languages
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/93m-to-save-indigenous-languages-20090809-edza.html
9 Aug 09: “The federal government has pledged $9.3 million
over the coming year to help take 113 indigenous languages
off the critically endangered list. … The policy will
also encourage the teaching of indigenous languages in
schools, although it is understood not to alter the course
in the Northern Territory, where bilingual education is set
to be scrapped in 2010.”

1 Comment »

08/08/09: ABORIGINAL TOWN CAMPS TAKEOVER DELAYED

Posted in NEWSLETTER on 08/08/2009 by D

Contents:
Alice Springs Aboriginal Town Camps Takeover Delayed
Alison Anderson quits NT ALP, Marion Scrymgour rejoins
Ampilatwatja residents maintain protest
Other NT Intervention articles
Other Aboriginal articles

ALICE SPRINGS ABORIGINAL TOWN CAMPS TAKEOVER DELAYED:

– Top Story

National Indigenous Times:
Alice Springs Town Camp Takeover Derailed:
Federal Court issues injunction against Macklin deal
http://www.nit.com.au/story.aspx?id=18325
6 Aug 09: “Jenny Macklin’s move to takeover the Alice
Springs town camps suffered another major blow with the
Federal Court issuing an injunction preventing the minister
from proceeding with the deal. Justice Alan Golberg this
afternoon issued injunctions against the compulsory
acquisition of the town camps, and against the execution of
a deal between the government and Tangentyere Council. The
matter will now proceed to the Federal Court for a full
hearing on August 28 to 31.” Chris Graham

– Opinion

Crikey: Alice camps injunction is down to Macklin
http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/07/alice-camps-injunction-is-down-to-macklin/
7 Aug 09: “Late yesterday, Federal Court Justice Alan
Goldberg issued an injunction preventing the Minister for
Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin from taking over the
Alice Springs town camps. The matter will now proceed to a
full hearing on August 28-31. Until then, minister Macklin
will have to sit on her hands.” Chris Graham

– Radio

CAAMA News Radio:
William Tells – Confessions of a Town Camp Director
(Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association):
http://caama.com.au/radio/william-tells-confessions-of-a-town-camp-director/
6 Aug 09: “As the federal government’s plan to takeover the
management of Tangentyere Aboriginal council in Mparntwe
(Alice Springs) was put on hold, CAAMA Radio News Senior
Journalist, Steve Gumerungi Hodder spoke exclusively to
Executive Director of the camps council, William Tilmouth.
The in depth exposée covers topics such as the continued
negative portrayal of the organisation, Aboriginal
residents of the camps & the town (as well as Indigenous
peoples as a whole), division created between our peoples
& new strategies for the future.”

ABC PM: Injunction stays on town camps purchase
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2648418.htm
6 Aug 09: “The Federal Government’s had another setback in
its plan to acquire compulsorily Aboriginal town camps in
the Northern Territory. A Federal Court judge ruled this
afternoon that a temporary injunction preventing the
acquisition should stay in force until the matter comes
before a judge again later this month. Justice Alan
Goldberg said there were some “serious issues” to be tried.
Samantha Donovan was at the Federal Court in Melbourne to
hear the decision. She outlined the background to me a
short time ago.”

– News

ABC: Mediation may resolve town camp standoff
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/07/2649877.htm?site=alicesprings
7 Aug 09: “No housing improvements will be able to start in
Alice Springs town camps under the Federal Government’s
$100 million offer until a court hearing later this month.
But the parties are also considering whether the matter can
be resolved earlier through mediation.”

Age: Court halts building in Alice town camps
http://www.theage.com.au/national/court-halts-building-in-alice-town-camps-20090806-ebi7.html
7 Aug 09: “THE Federal Government’s $100 million plan to
build housing in Alice Springs’ decrepit town camps has
been halted until at least the end of the month, after a
court ruled that the Government could not ignore the
concerns of indigenous residents. The delay is yet another
setback for the Government, … ”

ABC: Court action delays town camp takeover
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/07/2648918.htm?site=indigenous&topic=latest
7 Aug 09: “Government negotiations on taking over Alice
Springs town camps have once again been delayed, this time
by a camp resident who has launched a legal battle against
Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin. Barbara
Shaw claims the Minister has not properly communicated with
all involved about a possible compulsory Commonwealth
takeover of the land the camps are on.”

9 News: Government ordered to halt camp takeover
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=847024
6 Aug 09: “A judge has ordered the federal government to
halt its planned takeover of the management of Alice
Springs town camps until legal questions are determined at
trial. In a win for camp residents opposed to the move, the
Federal Court’s Justice Alan Goldberg ruled a court should
decide whether the government had been fair in matters
relating to landowners’ notification of the plan.”

ABC: Stay granted on town camp leases
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/06/2648266.htm?site=news
6 Aug 09: “Justice Alan Goldberg has ruled that a temporary
stay on the leases should remain until the case goes to
trial at the end of the month. He said there was a serious
question to be tried as to whether town camp tenants had
been given natural justice or procedural fairness.”

ABC: Macklin defends Alice town camps revamp deal
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/06/2647960.htm
6 Aug 09: “The Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister says she
has acted appropriately to secure a deal with the
Tangentyere Council to improve conditions in Alice Springs
town camps.”

– Background Info

Rollback the Intervention:
Background to the threatened Commonwealth acquisition of Alice Springs town camps
http://rollbacktheintervention.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/tangentyere-background-briefing2.pdf

Tangentyere Council, Alice Springs:
Resolution on Lease Negotiations Close (22 May 09)
http://www.tangentyere.org.au/publications/documents/TangentyereLeaseNegn.pdf

WGAR News:
Takeover of Aboriginal Land in Alice Springs (26 May 09):
http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/story/wgar-news-takeover-aboriginal-land-alice-springs-26-may-09

WGAR News:
Compulsory Acquisition of Alice Springs Town Camps (30 May 09):
http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/story/wgar-news-compulsory-acquisition-alice-springs-town-camps-30-may-09

WGAR News:
National support for Tangentyere Council (3 June 09):
http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/story/wgar-news-national-support-tangentyere-council-3-june-09

WGAR News:
Alice Springs town camps takeover (6 Jun 09):
[scroll down page] http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/story/wgar-news-marion-scrymgour-resigns-labor-party-alice-springs-town-camps-takeover-6-jun-09

WGAR News:
Alice Springs town camps takeover (12 Jun 09):
[scroll down page] http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/story/wgar-news-darwin-town-camps-takeover-12-jun-09

WGAR News:
Alice Springs Town Camps (19 Jun 09):
[scroll down page] http://wgar.info/190609-northern-territory-intervention-two-years-on/

National Indigenous Times:
The Boxed Seat: A pox on all their houses (25 Jun 09)
http://www.nit.com.au/opinion/story.aspx?id=18076

WGAR News:
Alice Springs Town Camps (6 Jul 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.info/060709-indigenous-gap-widens/

National Indigenous Times: Special NIT Investigation:
Leaked advice reveals Rudd government’s deceit on NT
intervention consultations and Alice Springs town camps
land grab (6 Jul 09)
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=18137

Age: NT council slams town camps plan (11 Jul 09)
http://www.theage.com.au/national/nt-council-slams-town-camps-plan-20090710-dg4e.html?skin=text-only

WGAR News:
Attempt to Takeover Alice Springs Aboriginal Town Camps (20 Jul 09)
http://wgar.info/2009/07/20/200709-attempt-to-takeover-alice-springs-aboriginal-town-camps/

WGAR News:
Attempt to Takeover Alice Springs Aboriginal Town Camps (24 Jul 09)
[scroll down page] http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=144879

WGAR News:
Challenge to Takeover of Alice Springs Aboriginal Town Camps (29 Jul 09)
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=144926

WGAR News:
Deal or No Deal over Aboriginal Town Camps (1 Aug 09)
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=145231

WGAR News:
Alice Springs Aboriginal Town Camps (6 Aug 09)
[scroll down page] http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=145472

ALISON ANDERSON QUITS NT ALP, MARION SCRYMGOUR REJOINS:

– Background

WGAR News:
Will the NT Indigenous Policy Minister quit Labor? (29 Jul 09)
[scroll down page] http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=144926

WGAR News:
Will Alison Anderson leave NT Labor? (1 Aug 09)
[scroll down page] http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=145231

WGAR News:
Alison Anderson quits NT ALP, Marion Scrymgour to rejoin (6 Aug 09)
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=145472

– Radio

CAAMA Radio Morning News
(Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association):
http://caama.com.au/radio/caama-radion-morning-news-6th-of-august-2009/
6 Aug 09: [includes comments about Alison Anderson and
Marion Scrymgour]

ABC PM: Calls for fresh intervention into NT
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2648421.htm
6 Aug 09: “There are growing calls for the Federal
Government to launch another intervention and take over
Indigenous policy in the Northern Territory. The Northern
Territory Government was thrown into crisis this week when
the government’s Indigenous Policy Minister Alison Anderson
quit the Labor Party. She says the Northern Territory
Government is incapable of tackling Indigenous disadvantage
and today she joined calls for a Federal takeover.”
[includes comments by Alison Anderson, Paul Henderson and
Mal Brough]

– Video

ABC Lateline: NT Minister defects over funding concerns
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2008/s2647257.htm
6 Aug 09: “In the Northern Territory, the Labor Government
is trying to cling to power after yesterday’s defection of
its Indigenous Affairs Minister, Alison Anderson. Ms
Anderson says she has made a decision about her next
political move, but won’t reveal her hand until next
Tuesday.”
[includes comments by Alison Anderson, Paul Henderson and
Jenny Macklin]

– News

Age: NT Government appears set to fall
http://www.theage.com.au/national/nt-government-appears-set-to-fall-20090807-ecyk.html
8 Aug 09: “THE fate of Paul Henderson’s wounded ALP
Government appears signed and sealed. Alison Anderson, the
mercurial Loritja woman and member for MacDonnell, this
week promised Opposition Leader Terry Mills that she would
vote for a no-confidence motion brought against the
Northern Territory Government.”

Koori Mail: Anderson undecided about no-confidence vote
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
7 Aug 09: “NEWLY-independent NT politician Alison Anderson
says she’s still undecided about whether to support a
mooted CLP vote of no confidence in the Territory Labor
Government next week, despite yesterday calling on the
Commonwealth to ‘take over Territory politics’ when it
comes to Indigenous affairs. Such a vote could trigger an
early NT election.”

Northern Territory News: D-Day brought forward
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/08/07/73421_ntnews.html
7 Aug 09: “D-Day could be pushed forward for Chief Minister
Paul Henderson with a majority of the Territory’s
politicians asking to resolve the crisis by next week.
Independents Alison Anderson and Gerry Wood have signed a
letter with the Country Liberals asking to push
parliamentary sittings forward to Monday and asking for an
additional sitting day on Friday.”

Northern Territory News:
Labor slips into election mode as poll likely
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/08/07/73121_ntnews.html
7 Aug 09: “THE Northern Territory Government has moved into
election mode, with a poll now almost certain to be held
next month. Renegade Independent politician Alison Anderson
said she would wait until Tuesday to reveal her intention
to either deliver government to the Country Liberal Party
or force an election.”

National Indigenous Times:
Scrymgour sticks by opposition to NT homelands policy
http://www.nit.com.au/breakingNews/story.aspx?id=18330
7 Aug 09: “Further fractures have emerged in Labor ranks
after a rebel MP, fresh upon her return to the party,
outlined her concerns with two of the NT government’s
Indigenous policies. Marion Scrymgour has repeated calls
for an inquiry into government funding of Indigenous
affairs, and says she will continue putting pressure on
Labor to revisit its homelands policy.”

Australian: Contract builders to ‘make killing’
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25894609-601,00.html
7 Aug 09: “LARGE construction companies are set to “make a
killing” out of multi-million-dollar contracts in
Aboriginal housing, … Mr Tilmouth backed the concerns of
Aboriginal professor Marcia Langton and former NT
indigenous policy minister Alison Anderson, who quit the
Labor Party this week partly in protest at the progress of
the SIHIP.”

Australian: Red tape strangles homes program
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25894352-2702,00.html
7 Aug 09: “A MEMBER of a key stakeholder group involved in
the federal government’s $672million remote housing package
has demanded more transparency in the way the project is
being rolled out, saying there has been almost an
information blackout. … Similar concerns prompted
Northern Territory indigenous policy minister Alison
Anderson to quit the Labor Party this week.”

Australian: Anderson’s mall push for early poll
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25894350-5006790,00.html
7 Aug 09: “TWO days after she quit Labor, shocking her
colleagues and setting the Northern Territory government on
the edge of collapse, Alison Anderson was in a cheerful
mood yesterday. … she set up a stall in Darwin’s Smith
Street Mall, right in the centre of town. The idea was to
find out what people thought … ”

Northern Territory News:
Anderson promises to ‘go down fighting’
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/08/07/73111_ntnews.html
7 Aug 09: “RENEGADE Independent politician Alison Anderson
has promised that Tuesday’s parliamentary sittings will be
“the biggest day in Territory history”. Ms Anderson will
reveal on Tuesday if she will help the Country Liberals
gain power or trigger a new election.”

Northern Territory News:
Scrymgour overlooked for return to cabinet
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/08/07/73311_ntnews.html
7 Aug 09: “RENEGADE Labor politician Marion Scrymgour has
been passed over for promotion to the front bench and has
already fired a warning shot at her government’s
outstations policy.”

The Tally Room: Anderson to support CLP
http://www.tallyroom.com.au/1741
6 Aug 09: “Just to follow up on today’s story, Northern
Territory Labor defector Alison Anderson has announced she
will become an independent and support a new Country
Liberal government. This will be the first mid-term change
of government, that I can think of, since John Curtin took
office during the Second World War.”

The Tally Room: Hanging parliaments
http://www.tallyroom.com.au/1738
6 Aug 09: “Two separate stories have emerged in the last
few days of governments that could lose their majority with
the resignations of their own party’s parliamentarians. In
the Northern Territory, Labor MP Alison Anderson has
resigned from the party, and is yet to make clear which
party she would support in office.”

WAtoday: Anderson’s walk out rallies NT Labor
http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-news-national/andersons-walk-out-rallies-nt-labor-20090806-ealz.html
6 Aug 09: “Labor has already kicked into election mode in
the Northern Territory as a renegade MP bent on ousting the
government is urging the Commonwealth to intervene for the
sake of all Territorians. Alison Anderson severed Labor’s
tenuous grip on power when she quit in spectacular fashion
earlier this week, accusing the party of “division, spin
and manipulation”.”

ABC: Get ready for ‘greatest day in NT history’: Anderson
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/06/2648191.htm
6 Aug 09: “The newly independent Member for MacDonnell,
Alison Anderson, says next Tuesday’s Parliamentary session
will be the greatest day in Northern Territory history. …
Meanwhile, Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson has
given Ms Anderson’s former Indigenous Policy portfolio to
Malarndirri Mcarthy.”

ABC: Anderson urged to rejoin NT Labor
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/06/2647541.htm
6 Aug 09: “The president of Northern Territory Labor is
urging Alison Anderson to rejoin the party. … Trish
Crossin says she cannot believe the former minister would
really want to join the opposition and sink the Government.”

SMH: Ministers revolt over Northern Territory’s indigenous spending
http://www.smh.com.au/national/ministers-revolt-over-northern-territorys-indigenous-spending-20090806-ea7g.html?skin=text-only
6 Aug 09: “Two MPs who have emerged as political kingmakers
in the Northern Territory have indicated they will vote to
bring down the embattled Labor Government next week. Former
indigenous policy minister Alison Anderson, who quit the
ALP on Tuesday, … And Gerry Wood, a former chicken farmer
who holds the balance of power with Ms Anderson, … ”

Australian: Renegade MP keeps mum on vote plan
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25889884-5006790,00.html
6 Aug 09: “RENEGADE Aboriginal MP Alison Anderson will wait
until next week before declaring whether she will vote to
bring down the Northern Territory government, despite
labelling Chief Minister Paul Henderson a “very, very weak
leader”.”

Australian: Stark call to end housing ‘gravy train’
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25889903-2702,00.html
6 Aug 09: “ABORIGINAL leaders have warned the federal
government that it must act urgently to regain control over
indigenous policy in the Northern Territory, with the
looming collapse of the Top End Labor regime highlighting
the inability of successive NT governments to combat black
disadvantage.”

Australian: Trouble brewing from the very start
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25884387-5006790,00.html
6 Aug 09: “WHEN Alison Anderson was on the verge of
entering politics in 2004, her Country Liberal Party
opponent made what has turned out to be a prophetic
observation. “Alison has demonstrated that she has a very
individual mind and if she stands for Labor, toeing the
party line will probably cause her some grief,” John
Elferink said.”

Australian: Three bedrooms, 12 occupants, 10 years of waiting
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25889908-2702,00.html
6 Aug 09: “Alison Anderson, the indigenous policy minister
who quit the Territory Labor government on Tuesday, is so
concerned at the progress of the SIHIP, and her former
cabinet colleagues’ seeming indifference to it, that she is
willing to bring down the Labor administration over the
issue.”

Northern Territory News: Labor in Anderson’s sights
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/08/06/72861_ntnews.html
6 Aug 09: “PAUL Henderson has just 19 days left as NT Chief
Minister after the woman he is relying on to hold power
labelled him a “dead man walking”. Renegade politician
Alison Anderson pulled no punches and virtually nobody in
the Labor Party machine was spared during an extraordinary
tirade during a morning radio interview.”

ABC: Hampton sticking with the ALP
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/05/2646778.htm?site=idx-nt
5 Aug 09: “The Northern Territory Minister for Central
Australia has released a statement saying he will not be
quitting the Labor Party.”

AMPILATWATJA RESIDENTS MAINTAIN PROTEST:

– Background

WGAR News:
30 Aboriginal Elders Walk-off to Protest NT Intervention (20 Jul 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.info/2009/07/20/200709-attempt-to-takeover-alice-springs-aboriginal-town-camps/

WGAR News:
Aboriginal Elders Walk-off, challenging the NT Intervention (24 Jul 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.info/240709-government-failure-over-northern-territory-aboriginal-housing/

– News

Crikey: Up to their ankles in sewage, a remote community’s
patience runs out
http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/05/up-to-their-ankles-in-sewage-a-remote-communitys-patience-runs-out/
5 Aug 09: “Almost three weeks after the nation’s media
reported up to 150 Aboriginal people had abandoned their
sewage-soaked community in protest of the failing Northern
Territory intervention, residents have still not received a
visit from a single Territory or federal government
bureaucrat or politician.” Chris Graham

ABC: Ampilatwatja residents maintain protest
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/05/2646601.htm?site=news
5 Aug 09: “About 100 people are refusing to return to their
homes in the community of Ampilatwatja, about 300
kilometres north-east of Alice Springs. The residents
walked off their community three weeks ago in protest
against living conditions and the federal intervention.”

ABC: Politicians silent on Ampilatwatja problems
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/05/2646738.htm?site=news
5 Aug 09: “Residents of Ampilatwatja in Central Australia
are refusing to return to their community three weeks after
they walked off in protest. … As part of the protest, the
residents wrote a letter to the federal Indigenous Affairs
Minister, Jenny Macklin. … A spokesman for the community,
Richard Downs says he has not heard anything from the
minister or her department.”

OTHER ABORIGINAL ARTICLES:

– Media Releases

ANTaR & ALRM:
Britain must compensate Aboriginal people for radioactive fallout
Joint Statement, Hiroshima Day, 6 August 2009
http://antarsa.auspics.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=208&Itemid=2
6 Aug 09: “Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation
(ANTaR), the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement of South
Australia (ALRM) and the signatories below endorse the
recent public statement by South Australian Premier Mike
Rann that the British Government has, “absolute
responsibility to do the right thing by its and our service
personnel and of course our Aboriginal people.” ”
[To endorse this statement, click on link and follow the
instructions]

Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement:
Australia called to account by the United Nations on
Aboriginal legal aid funding
http://www.alrm.org.au/uploads/mediarelease/86ad4cfb48f7a26493fcf254c0253d40.pdf
24 Jun 09: Whilst the Australian and State Governments
continue to bicker over who should fund Aboriginal legal
aid, the United Nations Human Rights Committee has
expressed concern to the Australian Government on the
continuing denial of access to justice for Aboriginal
people. At the Committee’s meeting held on the 23/24 March
2009, it was resolved that: … ”

2 Comments »

06/08/09: ALISON ANDERSON QUITS NT ALP, MARION SCRYMGOUR TO REJOIN

Posted in NEWSLETTER on 06/08/2009 by D

Contents:
Alison Anderson quits NT ALP, Marion Scrymgour to rejoin
Alice Springs Aboriginal Town Camps
Petition to Reinstate the RDA in the NT
Other NT Intervention articles
Other Aboriginal articles

ALISON ANDERSON QUITS NT ALP, MARION SCRYMGOUR TO REJOIN:

– Background

WGAR News:
Will the NT Indigenous Policy Minister quit Labor? (29 Jul 09)
[scroll down page] http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=144926

WGAR News:
Will Alison Anderson leave NT Labor? (1 Aug 09)
[scroll down page] http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=145231

– Statement

Age: Full statement released by Alison Anderson
http://www.theage.com.au/national/full-statement-released-by-alison-anderson-20090804-e85y.html
4 Aug 09: “Today I am walking out of the Labor Party and
turning my back on the Government of Paul Henderson. I will
not stand by a leader and a party that fails to defend me
when the race card is played. Last Saturday’s Northern
Territory News article by Nigel Adlam attacking me and my
indigenous ministerial colleagues was blatantly racist: the
Chief Minister’s office knew what was in it before it was
published. … ”

– Video

ABC 7.30 Report: Top end minister resigns over racist article
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2646099.htm
4 Aug 09: “Northern Territory Indigenous Affairs minister
Alison Anderson resigned today after an article about her
was published over the weekend. Alison Anderson had been
threatening for several days to resign if the Northern
Territory and federal governments did not improve their
implementation of the 670 million dollar housing program
for remote aboriginal communities.”
[includes comments by Alison Anderson, Nigel Adlam of NT
News and Paul Henderson]

– News

National Indigenous Times:
Scrymgour to rejoin Labor after Anderson walks
http://www.nit.com.au/breakingNews/story.aspx?id=18320
5 Aug 09: “Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson
has taken steps to ensure Labor can retain its tenuous grip
on power, announcing that independent MP Marion Scrymgour
will rejoin the party. Aboriginal MLA Alison Anderson, the
former Indigenous affairs minister, quit cabinet and the
Labor Party yesterday, plunging the government into
turmoil.”

Australian: NT rocked by minister musical chairs
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25884511-5006790,00.html
5 Aug 09: “Ms Anderson’s dramatic decision to step down
yesterday appeared to spell the end for Chief Minister Paul
Henderson’s government, as her defection robbed Labor of
the balance of power. However, Ms Anderson’s resignation
was countered by the surprise return of former deputy chief
minister Marion Scrymgour, back from the crossbenches to
the Labor government fold.”

Northern Territory News: Scrymgour goes back to Labor
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/08/05/72601_ntnews.html
5 Aug 09: “RENEGADE politician Marion Scrymgour was
yesterday welcomed back to the Labor Party despite
promising two months ago she would never return.”

Northern Territory News: I won’t be back, says Anderson
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/08/05/72401_ntnews.html
5 Aug 09: “INDIGENOUS Affairs Minister Alison Anderson
yesterday blamed a scathing commentary piece on her in the
Northern Territory News as a reason she quit the ALP. …
Mr Henderson said Ms Anderson “made it very clear she will
not come back under any circumstances”.”

9 News: NT chief minister ‘dead man walking’: MP
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=846182
5 Aug 09: “Renegade MP Alison Anderson says the Northern
Territory’s chief minister is a “dead man walking” and
she’s going to make the Labor government wait a week before
it knows its fate. The former indigenous affairs minister
now holds the balance of power in the NT Legislative
Assembly along with independent Gerry Wood, a former
chicken farmer.”

Northern Territory News: What happens next?
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/08/05/72661_ntnews.html
5 Aug 09: “TERRY Mills could be Chief Minister within 20
days. Or the Territory could be going to the polls by
mid-September. The countdown begins when parliamentary
sittings resume on Tuesday.”

Koori Mail: Scrymgour rejoins NT Labor
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
4 Aug 09: “INDEPENDENT MP Marion Scrymgour has thrown a
lifeline to the Northern Territory Labor Government by
announcing she will rejoin the party. Chief Minister Paul
Henderson now has 12 of the 25 seats in the assembly, and
has vowed to continue as Chief Minister. The announcement
follows former Indigenous Affairs Minister Alison
Anderson’s decision to quit cabinet and the Labor Party.”

thedaily.com.au: Scrymgour helps NT Labor avert crisis
http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2009/aug/04/aap-scrymgour-helps-nt-labor-avert-crisis/
4 Aug 09: “Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson
is fighting for his political hide and to secure Labor’s
tenuous grip on power. Hours after being accused of racism
by a renegade MP who quit Labor and plunged the government
into crisis, Mr Henderson welcomed another rebel MP back
into the fold.”

BigPond: Scrymgour helps NT Labor avert crisis
http://bigpondnews.com/articles/National/2009/08/04/Scrymgour_helps_NT_Labor_avert_crisis_359139.html
4 Aug 09: “NT’s Chief Minister says independent Marion
Scrymgour will rejoin the ALP, helping Labor retain its
tenuous grip on power after MP Alison Anderson quit. …
‘Today, Alison Anderson resigned from the Labor Party. I
accept that,’ Mr Henderson told reporters in Darwin.
‘Today, I welcome back Marion Scrymgour to the Labor Party
and to the government.’ ”

Northern Territory News: Scrymgour rejoins Labor
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/08/04/72311_ntnews.html
4 Aug 09: “MARION Scrymgour has rejoined the Labor Party.
Chief Minister Paul Henderson announced Ms Scrymgour had
rejoined his team after the pair met for about three hours
this afternoon.”

National Indigenous Times: Breaking News:
Anderson walks, and throws NT government into crisis
http://www.nit.com.au/story.aspx?id=18317
4 Aug 09: “The Northern Territory government hangs in the
balance this afternoon after Minister for Indigenous
Policy, Alison Anderson walked out on her cabinet post and
her party this morning.” Chris Graham

ABC: NT Govt in crisis as minister quits
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/04/2645491.htm?site=news
4 Aug 09: “The Northern Territory Government is in crisis
after confirmation its Indigenous Policy Minister, Alison
Anderson, is resigning from the Labor Party. A spokeswoman
for the Minister, Shannon McCrae, has told the ABC that Ms
Anderson is stepping down. It remains unclear whether Ms
Anderson will become an independent or join the Opposition
Country Liberals Party, which has indicated it would
welcome her.”

National Indigenous Times:
Anderson quits, NT government in crisis
http://www.nit.com.au/breakingNews/story.aspx?id=18318
4 Aug 09: “Renegade MP Alison Anderson has quit Labor and
thrown the Northern Territory government into crisis.
Territorians could now go to the polls within weeks after
the former indigenous affairs minister acted on threats to
walk out on her party over its handling of remote
Aboriginal housing. “She has quit Labor,” her spokeswoman
told AAP.”

Australian: Labor rule in Northern Territory in doubt as
Alison Anderson quits
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25880576-2702,00.html
4 Aug 09: “LABOR’S rule in the Northern Territory is all
but over after Indigenous Affairs Minister Alison Anderson
resigned from the her cabinet positions and from the party
this morning, Ms Anderson’s resignation came during a
meeting of cabinet and follows two weeks of crisis within
the government over the management of a $672m Aboriginal
housing program,”

Koori Mail: Anderson quits NT Labor
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
4 Aug 09: “ABORIGINAL MP Alison Anderson has quit Labor and
thrown the Northern Territory government into crisis.”

SMH: NT Government in crisis as MP quits
http://www.smh.com.au/national/nt-government-in-crisis-as-mp-quits-20090804-e81o.html
4 Aug 09: “Renegade Northern Territory Aboriginal Affairs
Minister Alison Anderson has quit the ALP, plunging the
Northern Territory Government into crisis.”

Auspacific Media Group:
Northern Territory Politics Rocked by Defection
http://auspacificmediagroup.blogspot.com/2009/08/northern-territory-politics-rocked-by.html
4 Aug 09: “The Northern Territory Labor party is uncertain
of holding government this afternoon after the shock
resignation of Indigenous Policy Minister, Alison
Anderson.”

Northern Territory News:
Another Minister quits: Territory may head to election
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/08/04/72261_ntnews.html
4 Aug 09: “THE Northern Territory Government is in turmoil
after rebel MLA Alison Anderson quit the Labor Party this
morning. Her defection has left the Government with just 11
seats, the same number held by the CLP.”

Australian: Indigenous housing costs cut by $50m
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25877551-2702,00.html
4 Aug 09: “THE Northern Territory government has agreed to
trim by more than $50 million its bureaucratic expenses for
administering a $700m Aboriginal housing program, in a move
to appease rebel Aboriginal ministers.”

Australian: NT government hangs in balance over housing
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25877630-601,00.html
4 Aug 09: “THE future of the Northern Territory government
could be decided today, with Indigenous Affairs Minister
Alison Anderson preparing for a showdown with the Chief
Minister during a pivotal meeting of cabinet.”

– Opinion

Australian: An explosive exit, now give voters their say
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25884386-5006790,00.html
5 Aug 09: “ALISON Anderson knew exactly what she was doing
when she walked into a cabinet meeting yesterday and threw
a grenade in the face of Chief Minister Paul Henderson. “I
just went in there and I threw the bomb,” she said.”
Natasha Robinson

Antony Green’s Election Blog:
Fixed Term Parliaments face test in Northern Territory
http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2009/08/fixed-term-parliaments-face-test-in-northern-territory.html
4 Aug 09: “The resignation today of Northern Territory
Labor MP Alison Anderson has set in train a process that
may prove to be the first constitutional test of
Australia’s drift to fixed term Parliaments.”

– Radio

CAAMA News
(Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association):
http://caama.com.au/radio/caama-news-04-08-09/
4 Aug 09 [includes reporting re Alison Anderson]

ALICE SPRINGS ABORIGINAL TOWN CAMPS:

– Video

YouTube: 090730 ALP Intervention lobby audrey mccormack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBqiEr-ba68
3 Aug 09: “A lobby was held outside the national Australian
Labor Party (ALP) conference in Sydney calling for an end
to the Northern Territory Intervention. It was attended by
supportive trade unions, ALP conference delegates and many
other people who are outraged at the continuation and
expansion of the racist NT Intervention legislation. Audrey
McCormack is a resident of a town camp in Mparntwe (Alice
Springs) and has spoken out against the Intervention since
the first day it was announced, … ”

– Opinion

Green Left: Macklin’s Aboriginal housing blackmail
— land rights need, not takeovers!
http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/805/41407
2 Aug 09: ” “We’ve had the gun at our head.” This is what
William Tilmouth, Tangentyere Council CEO, said in response
to Aboriginal affairs minister Jenny Macklin’s triumphant
July 29 announcement that the council had agreed to lease
Alice Springs town camps to the federal government for 40
years in exchange for $135 million in housing upgrades”
Peter Robson

Australian: Town camp housing plan in chaos
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25865115-5006790,00.html
1 Aug 09: “FEDERAL Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny
Macklin is desperately trying to break through damaging
political and legal impasses that are strangling attempts
to build urgently needed indigenous housing in the Northern
Territory.” Paul Toohey

– News

Age: Macklin accused of threat to seize Alice town camps
http://www.theage.com.au/national/macklin-accused-of-threat-to-seize-alice-town-camps-20090804-e8mc.html
5 Aug 09: “INDIGENOUS Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin was
unlawfully intimidating housing associations in an effort
to seize control of Alice Springs’ town camps, the Federal
Court has heard. Jonathan Beach, QC, for camp resident
Barbara Shaw, said Ms Macklin threatened to compulsorily
acquire the camps if the 18 housing associations that
controlled them did not sign new 40-year leases with the
Government.”

news.com.au: Aboriginal town camp leases remain in legal limbo
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25884248-29277,00.html
4 Aug 09: “THE Federal Government’s plan to take over the
management of the Alice Springs town camps has been put on
hold, after the Federal Court again delayed ruling on the
legality of Labor’s controversial 40-year leases. …
Following a hearing in Melbourne today, Justice Alan
Goldberg reserved his decision on an injunction until
Friday morning.”

ABC: D-day for Alice Springs town camps
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/04/2645335.htm
4 Aug 09: “A court case over the $100 million lease
agreement over town camps in Alice Springs has resumed in
the Federal Court. Mount Nancy Town Camp resident Barbara
Shaw has launched a legal challenge against a Commonwealth
takeover. Her lawyers told the court this morning the 16
housing associations who have indicated they will enter the
40-year sub-leases do not properly represent the rights of
their residents.”

Age: $100m plan for Alice camps released
http://www.theage.com.au/national/100m-plan-for-alice-camps-released-20090803-e7dr.html?skin=text-only
4 Aug 09: “CANBERRA has revealed its $100 million plan to
refurbish the squalid Alice Springs town camps. But the
work could be delayed by a Federal Court application aimed
at stopping the Government’s takeover of management of the
troubled communities.”

Green Left: Protesters denounce NT land grab
http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/805/41421
2 Aug 09: “MELBOURNE— On July 29, 40 supporters of
Aboriginal rights gathered in front of the ALP Victorian
headquarters in West Melbourne. They protested against the
federal ALP government’s planned takeover of the Alice
Springs town camps. The protest was held in support of
Tangentyere Council, which represents the town camps.
Speakers included Aboriginal activist Robbie Thorpe,
traditional owners, and members of the Melbourne
Anti-Intervention Collective.” Joe Lorback

Green Left Weekly’s Fighting Fund: Shameless in Kevin Rudd’s ALP
http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/805/41405
2 Aug 09: ““If you are still in the Labor Party today, you
should be ashamed of yourself”, 71-year-old Aboriginal
activist Pat Eatock called out to delegates entering the
stage-managed proceedings of the first day of the ALP
national conference. … “What part of the word ‘perpetuity’
don’t you understand?” she asked delegates. “Aboriginal
land in the Northern Territory was granted in perpetuity to
communities. Perpetuity means forever.” Peter Boyle

Green Left: Protesters condemn Labor’s ‘failing policy’
http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/805/41406
2 Aug 09: ““Help us, do something for us — but the way we
want them to be done. Talk to us”, Alice Springs town camp
resident Audrey McCormack pleaded of ALP conference
delegates. She was speaking outside the Sydney convention
centre, at a public lobby coinciding with the first day of
the conference, on July 30.” Emma Murphy, Sydney

thedaily.com.au: Town camp resident confronts minister
http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2009/aug/01/aap-town-camp-resident-confronts-minister/
1 Aug 09: “A resident from one of the troubled Alice
Springs town camps has confronted Indigenous Affairs
Minister Jenny Macklin in Sydney and told her she does not
want the government telling her how to live. … Audrey
McCormack, who lives at the Trucking Yards camp, confronted
Ms Macklin at a breakfast held on the sidelines of the ALP
national conference, handing the minister a typed letter
outlining her concerns.”

Australian:
Alice Springs town camp warning: Drunks will trash new homes
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25861494-5006790,00.html
31 Jul 09: “LITTLE progress will be made in troubled town
camps, despite the new lease deal, unless further efforts
are made to reduce the flow of alcohol in Alice Springs, a
youth service says. The Central Youth Link Up Service
(CAYLUS) says drunken visitors will trash the new homes and
upgrades, to be delivered as part of a 40-year lease worth
$100 million.”

– Background Info

Tangentyere Council, Alice Springs:
Resolution on Lease Negotiations Close (22 May 09)
http://www.tangentyere.org.au/publications/documents/TangentyereLeaseNegn.pdf

WGAR News:
Takeover of Aboriginal Land in Alice Springs (26 May 09):
http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/story/wgar-news-takeover-aboriginal-land-alice-springs-26-may-09

WGAR News:
Compulsory Acquisition of Alice Springs Town Camps (30 May 09):
http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/story/wgar-news-compulsory-acquisition-alice-springs-town-camps-30-may-09

WGAR News:
National support for Tangentyere Council (3 June 09):
http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/story/wgar-news-national-support-tangentyere-council-3-june-09

WGAR News:
Alice Springs town camps takeover (12 Jun 09):
[scroll down page] http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/story/wgar-news-darwin-town-camps-takeover-12-jun-09

WGAR News:
Alice Springs Town Camps (19 Jun 09):
[scroll down page] http://wgar.info/190609-northern-territory-intervention-two-years-on/

National Indigenous Times:
The Boxed Seat: A pox on all their houses (25 Jun 09)
http://www.nit.com.au/opinion/story.aspx?id=18076

WGAR News:
Alice Springs Town Camps (6 Jul 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.info/060709-indigenous-gap-widens/

Age: NT council slams town camps plan (11 Jul 09)
http://www.theage.com.au/national/nt-council-slams-town-camps-plan-20090710-dg4e.html?skin=text-only

WGAR News:
Attempt to Takeover Alice Springs Aboriginal Town Camps (20 Jul 09)
http://wgar.info/2009/07/20/200709-attempt-to-takeover-alice-springs-aboriginal-town-camps/

WGAR News:
Attempt to Takeover Alice Springs Aboriginal Town Camps (24 Jul 09)
[scroll down page] http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=144879

WGAR News:
Challenge to Takeover of Alice Springs Aboriginal Town Camps (29 Jul 09)
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=144926

WGAR News:
Deal or No Deal over Aboriginal Town Camps (1 Aug 09)
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=145231

PETITION TO REINSTATE THE RDA IN THE NT:

[Ed. note: This petition first appeared in WGAR News a few
weeks back. For your conveniance, it can now be signed
on-line.]

Go Petition – Changing the World:
Reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act in the Northern Territory
Published by ANTaR on Jul 29, 2009
http://www.gopetition.com.au/online/29768.html
“Target: Professor James Anaya, UN Human Rights Rapporteur
Background (Preamble): Professor James Anaya, United Nations
Human Rights Rapporteur, will be visiting Australia during
the second half of August. After his visit, he will be
providing the UN Human Rights Council with a report on his
assessment of human rights in Australia. The Australian
government will be expected to respond. This is a unique
opportunity for us to highlight our concerns about the
government’s treatment of Aboriginal Australians. Our
government is now planning to reinstate the Racial
Discrimination Act in the Northern Territory which we
welcome, but we are concerned that their proposed changes
will still not comply adequately human rights principles.
Our government is conducting inadequate consultations with
a view to ensuring Aboriginal people accept the imposition
of ‘special measures’ on those living in the 73 prescribed
areas of the Northern Territory. Under human rights
principles people have the right to free, prior and
informed consent in relation to any such measures. The
extent to which our government’s consultation process
constitutes such consent is highly dubious. Help us ensure
that Professor Anaya addresses our concerns by adding your
name to this open letter.”

OTHER ABORIGINAL ARTICLES:

– Opinion

Australian: Racism is the greatest ill of all
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25862870-23289,00.html
1 Aug 09: “Racism causes ill-health in the broadest sense
of the word. Racism causes ill-health at the individual,
systemic and political level. Racism causes government
officials and politicians to think that indigenous people
don’t need their rights protected in the same way as
non-indigenous people.” Sarah Haythornthwaite

– Radio

SBS Aboriginal program:
This Is Not Nowhere – nuclear waste in the Northern Territory
http://www20.sbs.com.au/podcasting/index.php?action=feeddetails&feedid=65&id=40887
3 Aug 09: “Lobbying is continuing over the big question
mark of dumping nuclear waste in the Northern Territory.
It’s now been four years since the Howard Government
started moves to impose a nuclear waste dump in the
Northern Territory. Four sites have been identified by the
government … Tradtional owners remain opposed to a dump
on their land. One traditional owner for Mount Everard,
Audrey McCormack has been lobbying delegates at the ALP
conference in Sydney to overturn legislation allowing a
nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory.”

Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane
Let’s Talk – Indigenous presented talkback:
http://989fm.com.au/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29
22 Jul 09: “Neil Gillespie – Tiga Bayles spoke with CEO of
the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement (ALRM) in Adelaide,
Neil Gillespie. They spoke about environmental vandals,
influence of racism cause of incarceration, health issues,
transporting of a prisoner, Human Rights Commission,
treatment of Aboriginal people in this country, funding,
legal aid and national movement.”
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasting/get.php?web=98fm-podcast-2009-07-22-72247.mp3

Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane
Let’s Talk – Indigenous presented talkback:
http://989fm.com.au/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29
20 Jul 09: “Marc Newhouse – Tiga Bayles spoke with Western
Australia’s Deaths in Custody Watch Committee Chair, Marc
Newhouse. They spoke about Deaths in Custody in particular
the death of Mr Ward a respected Warburton Aboriginal
community elder.”
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasting/get.php?web=98fm-podcast-2009-07-20-72735.mp3

– News

fresnobee.com: Australian Outback town plans to fine beggars
http://www.fresnobee.com/world/story/1568474.html
31 Jul 09: “A town council in Australia’s Outback has
proposed discouraging beggars by slapping them with a 130
Australian dollar ($108) fine, but critics argued Friday
that such penalties could increase the need for
panhandling. … Many of the beggars in Alice Springs have
drifted in from surrounding tiny Aboriginal townships where
alcohol is banned to drink and where they live as
itinerants.”

Leave a comment »

01/08/09: DEAL OR NO DEAL OVER ABORIGINAL TOWN CAMPS

Posted in NEWSLETTER on 01/08/2009 by D

Contents:
Deal or No Deal over Alice Springs Aboriginal Town Camps
Will Alison Anderson leave NT Labor?
Other Aboriginal articles

DEAL OR NO DEAL OVER ALICE SPRINGS ABORIGINAL TOWN CAMPS:

– Analysis

National Indigenous Times: Analysis:
Macklin’s town camp takeover derailed by Tangentyere letter
http://www.nit.com.au/story.aspx?id=18313
31 Jul 09: “In writing to Macklin to indicate an intent to
sign up for a 40-year lease, Tangentyere’s lawyers, Gilbert
& Tobin, dumped a bucket on the minister and her methods of
‘securing an agreement’. The document is dynamite. “The
housing associations have agreed to enter into the sub
leases for the simple reason that you have threatened them
with compulsory acquisition if they do not…,” Gilbert &
Tobin wrote. “The loss of tenure to these lands is
something that is abhorrent to the housing associations and
they could not run the risk that it might occur.” … ”
Chris Graham

National Indigenous Times:
Analysis: Macklin’s Claytons deal
– the lease you have when you don’t have a lease
http://www.nit.com.au/story.aspx?id=18311
30 Jul 09: “Another day, another deal done with Aboriginal
people while a gun is held to their head. I am, of course,
referring to the news overnight that Jenny Macklin has
signed a deal with the Alice Springs town camps which is
supposed to deliver $138 million in housing and
infrastructure upgrades in exchange for a 40-year lease
over the land. Except, of course, no deal has actually been
done.” Chris Graham

Crikey:
There’s no Alice town camps deal, not now and not likely
http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/07/30/theres-no-alice-town-camps-deal-not-now-and-not-likely/
30 Jul 09: “The truth is, the battle for the Alice Springs
town camps is just beginning, despite Minister for
Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin’s latest deal.”
Chris Graham

– Video

SBS World News: Judge halts town camp handover
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1062837/Judge-halts-town-camp-handover
30 Jul 09: “Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin says
she’s “disappointed” a judge has stopped the government
signing 40-year leases with 16 Alice Springs town camps.
Camp resident Barbara Shaw sought an injunction to halt the
leases being signed, arguing they are not in the interests
of the indigenous people living there. And on Thursday
afternoon, the Federal Court in Melbourne adjourned the
hearing until Tuesday, but granted a temporary stay until
then. The leases cannot be signed in the interim.”

ABC 7.30 Report:
Town camps acquisition seen as ‘step backwards’ for land rights
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2641518.htm
30 Jul 09: “The Federal Government’s recent offering of one
hundred million dollars to upgrade Aboriginal town camps in
Alice Springs comes with a catch; the Tangentyere Council
has to give up their land. Not ready to cave in to the
government’s demands, the acquisition is now being
challenged in court.”
[includes comments by Minister Jenny Macklin,
William Tilmouth of Tangentyere council,
Professor Laurissa Behrendt of Law UTS,
Jonathan Pilbrow of NT Council of Social Service,
Town camp resident Barbara Shaw and
Ben Schokman of Human Rights Law Resource Centre]

SBS World News: Deal to upgrade town camps in Alice
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1061772/Deal-to-upgrade-town-camps-in-Alice
29 Jul 09: “The federal government has reached a
breakthrough agreement on Alice Springs town camps that
will result in $100 million being spent on housing in
exchange for 40-year leases.”

ABC: Camp protest
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/07/27/2637994.htm
27 Jul 09: “Residents of Alice Springs’ town camps are
challenging the federal Government’s compulsory takeover.”

– Radio

ABC The World Today:
Town camp fight not over yet, says resident
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2009/s2640948.htm
30 Jul 09: “In Sydney yesterday she [Jenny Macklin] said
the deal was all but done and that the town camps were
ready to sign up to the 40 year leases but George Newhouse
says the minister’s comments are premature.
GEORGE NEWHOUSE: Look I think the minister has gone off
half cocked. The leases are not signed and the message that
we’re getting from the town camps is that the response of
the town camps to the minister was that they were only
negotiating with a gun to their head and the deal is by no
means done.”
[includes comments by lawyer George Newhouse and
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert]

CAAMA Morning News
(Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association):
http://caama.com.au/radio/caama-morning-news-310709/
31 Jul 09:
“* Federal Court judge has granted tempory halt to rudd
labor government Town camp take over.
* Tangyentyerre Executive director has spoken of his
dispointment with jenny Macklin over her dealing with other
parties in the town camp arrangements.

CAAMA Radio Exclusive News
(Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association):
http://caama.com.au/radio/caama-radio-exclusive-news/
30 Jul 09: “Tonight’s Headlines: Tangentyere Executive
Diretor hits out at Indigenous Affairs minister’s backroom
deals.”

The Hon Jenny Macklin MP:
Alice Springs Transformation Plan
http://www.jennymacklin.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/jennymacklin.nsf/content/transcript_abccentralaus_30jul09.htm
30 Jul 09: “Transcripts … ABC Central Australia Mornings;
Interviewer Georgia Stynes … GEORGIA STYNES: … Just
before I came on air I spoke to the Minister for Indigenous
Affairs, Jenny Macklin, and I started by asking her what
finally broke this stalemate. JENNY MACKLIN: I think what
we’ve seen is that everybody has recognised how important
it is that we’re able to get on with upgrading houses,
building new houses, really providing improvements to the
living conditions for people who live in the town camps in
Alice Springs. That’s really what it’s been about all
along, and now we can get on with the job. … ”

ABC PM:
Government announces ‘major breakthrough’ on Alice town camps
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2640248.htm
29 Jul 09: “The Federal Government says a deal has averted
its threatened takeover of the Alice Springs town camps. A
short time ago the Minister for Indigenous Affairs Jenny
Macklin announced a lease agreement with the town camps and
the Tangentyere Council which manages them. The agreement
is for leases of up to 40 years in exchange for more than
$100 million in upgrades.”
[includes interview with Jenny Macklin]

CAAMA Radio Morning News
(Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association):
http://caama.com.au/radio/caama-radio-morning-news-280709/
28 Jul 09: “* Human rights Lawyer compares the plight of
Alice Springs town campers to the storyline behind the
iconic Australian film the Castle.”

SBS Aboriginal program: Town Camps legal action
http://www20.sbs.com.au/podcasting/index.php?action=feeddetails&feedid=65&id=40002
27 Jul 09: “Legal action has commenced over the Federal
Government’s announcement it intends to take over Alice
Springs town camps. Lawyers have submitted an application
for a Federal Court injunction. They claim that the Federal
Indigenous Affairs Minister has not informed more than 200
residents about the compulsory acquisition of the camps.
Lawyer George Newhouse is the lawyer acting on behalf of a
resident from the Mount Nancy Camp. He says the exercise of
Ms Macklin’s power as minister to terminate rights of
occupation, could make residents trespassers in their own
homes. Mr Newhouse is speaking with Michelle Lovegrove.”

– Public Letter

Click on links to read full statement and list of endorsees:

Stop the Blackmail – Keep Aboriginal Housing in Aboriginal Hands
[scroll down page] http://stoptheintervention.org/
30 Jul 09: “We, concerned citizens, call on the Federal
Indigenous Affairs Minister, Jenny Macklin, to immediately
end moves to compulsorily acquire the Alice Springs town
camps, represented by Tangentyere Council. … We agree
that infrastructure and services for Aboriginal people
should not depend upon the surrender of fundamental rights.
We recognise the right of town camp residents to
self-determination.”

Keep Aboriginal Housing in Aboriginal Hands
http://www.antar.org.au/media/keep_aboriginal_housing_in_aboriginal_hands
30 Jul 09: “ANTaR signed this public letter which was
published in The Australian newspaper on Thursday 30th July
2009”

– Media Release

ANTaR: Town camps takeover a low point in Indigenous affairs
http://www.antar.org.au/media/town-camps-takeover
31 Jul 09: “The reluctant acceptance of a government
take-over of town camps in Alice Springs represents a low
point in Indigenous affairs, ANTaR (Australians for Native
Title and Reconciliation), said today. “It’s a sad day when
the government feels it’s won a victory by coercing
Indigenous people into signing away control over their
communities”, ANTaR spokesperson Dr David Cooper said. The
government has achieved its aims, according to
Tangentyere’s Executive Director, William Tillmouth, by
putting a gun to the head of Tangentyere. Australians
should be concerned at what this indicates about the
government’s commitment to re-set its relationship with
Indigenous people.”

– News

Australian: Court stays Macklin’s deal on camps
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25860134-5006790,00.html
31 Jul 09: “INDIGENOUS affairs minister Jenny Macklin’s
long-awaited plans to fix housing in Alice Springs town
camps have been thrown into disarray by a court injunction
issued yesterday that prevents the signing of a 40-year
lease on camp lands. Anti-intervention activist Barbara
Shaw was granted the temporary injunction in the Federal
Court in Melbourne after launching a last-minute court
action … ”

Age: Court stalls bid to control Alice camps
http://www.theage.com.au/national/court-stalls-bid-to-control-alice-camps-20090730-e31p.html
31 Jul 09: “THE Federal Government’s plan to take control
of Alice Springs’ dilapidated town camps and begin an
urgent $100 million house-building program has hit a major
hurdle after an indigenous resident won a last-minute
injunction in court. Barbara Shaw, 33, a Kaytetye-Arrernte
resident of the Mount Nancy camp whose family has been
highly influential in the Tangentyere Council, … ”

Northern Territory News:
Injunction halts Alice town camp lease deal
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/07/31/71461_ntnews.html
31 Jul 09: “Camp resident Barbara Shaw sought an injunction
to halt the leases being signed, … In her statement of
claim, Ms Shaw argues the Federal Government has agreed to
spend $100 million over five years specifically on houses
and renovations in the camps. “But (the agreement is)
without any obligation to carry out any improvements
whatsoever at the town camp of the particular housing
association.” ”

ABC: Stay granted on Alice town camp leases
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/30/2641422.htm?site=news
30 Jul 09: “Lawyer Jonathan Beach QC told the court the
sub-leases were disadvantageous for those living in the
town camps and for the housing associations that run them.
… But a Government lawyer argued any delay would affect
the $100 million the Government had promised to spend on
improving housing.”

Koori Mail: ANTaR slams town camp takeover
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
31 Jul 09: “THE Australian for Native Title and
Reconciliation group has slammed the Federal Government’s
coercive takeoever of Alice Springs town camps, saying it
was a low point for Indigenous affairs. ANTaR spokesman
David Cooper said the housing deal being forced upon
Tangentyere Council and communities contradicted Government
efforts to ‘re-set the relationship’ with Indigenous
people.”

Northern Territory News:
Swim star torpedoes camp takeover plan
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/07/31/71361_ntnews.html
31 Jul 09: “OLYMPIC swimming legend Ian Thorpe has attacked
the Commonwealth Government for “blackmailing” indigenous
people to sign over town camps. Mr Thorpe said Tangentyere
Council – which runs the camps – was a “democratic
organisation that has been the only service provider to the
town camps since their inception”.”

Australian: Council leases out camps at 11th hour
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25855685-5013871,00.html
30 Jul 09: “THE Aboriginal council in charge of Alice
Springs town camps has signed a 40-year lease with the
federal government … In a newspaper advertisement
published today, the group [of concerned citizens]
condemned the federal government’s “racially
discriminatory” threat to compulsorily acquire the camps.
… The protest group Stop the Intervention Collective
accused the federal government of blackmail in its dealings
with the council.”

SMH: Lease deal done for Alice Springs camps
http://www.smh.com.au/national/lease-deal-done-for-alice-springs-camps-20090729-e1me.html
30 Jul 09: “A BITTER dispute between the Federal Government
and the indigenous Tangentyere Council over management of
the squalid Alice Springs town camps has been settled, with
the council finally agreeing to a $100 million
houses-for-leases deal.”

ABC: Stop blackmailing Aborigines, Thorpe says
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/30/2640713.htm?site=idx-nt
30 Jul 09: “A group of prominent Australians, including
swimming champion Ian Thorpe and Aboriginal leader Pat
Dodson, has taken out advertisements in a national
newspaper calling on the Federal Government to stop moves
to acquire control of town camps in Alice Springs. …
Today’s advertisement, headlined “Stop the Blackmail – Keep
Aboriginal Housing in Aboriginal Hands”, is published in
the The Australian newspaper.”

Australian: Thorpe ‘wrong about racial takeover’
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25858063-5006790,00.html
30 Jul 09: “IAN Thorpe should stick to swimming. That’s the
advice Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson had
for the Olympian, who has attacked both the NT and Federal
Governments over their handling of indigenous affairs.
Together with Aboriginal leader Pat Dodson and other
prominent Australians, Thorpe has accused Labor of racial
discrimination over its negotiations on the future of the
troubled town camps of Alice Springs.”

Koori Mail: Protest planned for ALP Conference
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
30 Jul 09: “The Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney
(STICS) will rally outside the national ALP conference in
Sydney today, demanding an end to the NT intervention and
the policy of withholding housing from Aboriginal
communities until long-term leases are signed with
government. STICS’ Paddy Gibson says ‘the gap’ is widening
under the intervention.”

ABC: Two Alice camps likely to be taken over
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/30/2640656.htm?site=news
30 Jul 09: “Two town camps in Alice Springs are likely to
be forcibly taken over by the Federal Government. …
Darryl Pearce from the Native Title body Lhere Artepe,
which represents the residents of the Trucking Yards and
the Golders camps, wants compulsory acquisition to go
ahead.”

Northern Territory News:
Alice town camps agree to leases
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/07/30/71071_ntnews.html
30 Jul 09: “THE Federal Government has reached agreement on
Alice Springs town camps that will see $100 million spent
on housing in exchange for 40-year leases.”

ABC: Takeover averted: town camps accept $100m deal
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/29/2640152.htm
29 Jul 09: “A federal takeover of town camps in Alice
Springs appears to have been averted after the camps
indicated they would agree to 40-year leases with the
Commonwealth. Sixteen town camps in Alice Springs were
being threatened with the takeover if they did not sign up
to the leases by Friday.”

Nine news: Deal to upgrade town camps in Alice
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/843346/deal-to-upgrade-town-camps-in-alice
29 Jul 09: “The federal government has reached a
breakthrough agreement on Alice Springs town camps that
will result in $100 million being spent on housing in
exchange for 40-year leases. Indigenous Affairs Minister
Jenny Macklin said 16 of the 18 Alice Springs town camps
had taken up the federal government’s offer to build new
houses and carry out major renovations on existing homes.”

Koori Mail: Breakthrough on Alice Springs town camps
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
29 Jul 09: “Sixteen out of 18 Alice Springs town camp
housing associations and the Tangentyere Council are
believed to have signed a 40-year sub-lease agreement with
the Australian Government, paving the way for $138 million
in new houses and housing upgrades. The sub-lease allows
the associations and/or other providers to manage tenancies
in the camps for an initial three years.”

Koori Mail: Minister seeks advice on injunction
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
29 Jul 09: “Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny
Macklin says she’s getting legal advice on an injunction
aimed at preventing her from compulsorily acquiring the
Alice Springs town camps. Housing organisation Tangentyere
has until next Tuesday, to accept the conditions of a
multi-million funding offer from the Commonwealth or lose
control of the camps.”

ABC: Town camp legal stoush ‘avoidable’
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/29/2639932.htm?site=news
29 Jul 09: “The Greens say the federal Indigenous Affairs
Minister ignored their advice to call in an independent
mediator to negotiate town camp leases in Alice Springs.
… A resident has now launched legal proceedings against
the Minister, claiming she has not properly consulted with
town camp residents about the possible takeover. The
Greens’ spokeswoman on Aboriginal issues, Rachel Siewert,
says the Minister could have avoided a court battle.”

Northern Territory News:
Alice town camps takeover decision soon
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/07/28/70461_ntnews.html
28 Jul 09: “INDIGENOUS Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin says
she’s in a “period of legal waiting” as the deadline looms
for the Commonwealth’s proposed takeover of the Alice
Springs town camps.”

– Background Info

Rollback the Intervention:
Background to the threatened Commonwealth acquisition of
Alice Springs town camps
http://rollbacktheintervention.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/tangentyere-background-briefing2.pdf

Tangentyere Council, Alice Springs:
Resolution on Lease Negotiations Close (22 May 09)
http://www.tangentyere.org.au/publications/documents/TangentyereLeaseNegn.pdf

WGAR News:
Takeover of Aboriginal Land in Alice Springs (26 May 09):
http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/story/wgar-news-takeover-aboriginal-land-alice-springs-26-may-09

WGAR News:
Compulsory Acquisition of Alice Springs Town Camps (30 May 09):
http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/story/wgar-news-compulsory-acquisition-alice-springs-town-camps-30-may-09

WGAR News:
National support for Tangentyere Council (3 June 09):
http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/story/wgar-news-national-support-tangentyere-council-3-june-09

WGAR News:
Alice Springs town camps takeover (12 Jun 09):
[scroll down page] http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/story/wgar-news-darwin-town-camps-takeover-12-jun-09

WGAR News:
Alice Springs Town Camps (19 Jun 09):
[scroll down page] http://wgar.info/190609-northern-territory-intervention-two-years-on/

National Indigenous Times:
The Boxed Seat: A pox on all their houses (25 Jun 09)
http://www.nit.com.au/opinion/story.aspx?id=18076

WGAR News:
Alice Springs Town Camps (6 Jul 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.info/060709-indigenous-gap-widens/

Age: NT council slams town camps plan (11 Jul 09)
http://www.theage.com.au/national/nt-council-slams-town-camps-plan-20090710-dg4e.html?skin=text-only

WGAR News:
Attempt to Takeover Alice Springs Aboriginal Town Camps (20 Jul 09)
http://wgar.info/2009/07/20/200709-attempt-to-takeover-alice-springs-aboriginal-town-camps/

WGAR News:
Attempt to Takeover Alice Springs Aboriginal Town Camps (24 Jul 09)
[scroll down page] http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=144879

WGAR News:
Challenge to Takeover of Alice Springs Aboriginal Town Camps (29 Jul 09)
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=144926

WILL ALISON ANDERSON LEAVE NT LABOR?:

– Background

WGAR News:
Will the NT Indigenous Policy Minister quit Labor? (29 Jul 09)
[scroll down page] http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=144926

– News

Northern Territory News: I won’t support Hendo
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/07/29/70591_ntnews.html
29 Jul 09: “TERRITORIANS could go to the polls within weeks
after a prominent Government minister refused to support
the Chief Minister or back down from threats to leave the
party. Indigenous Affairs Minister Alison Anderson said she
would re-evaluate her decision to stay with the party, quit
politics, become an Independent or join the Country
Liberals every three days.”

Australian: NT rule ‘hinges on homes plan’
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25850863-5006790,00.html
29 Jul 09: “THE survival of the Northern Territory Labor
government depends on the progress of a $700million housing
program, NT Indigenous Affairs Minister Alison Anderson has
warned in an extraordinary challenge to the chief minister.
… And the minister, who has made it clear she is prepared
to bring down the government if her demands on Aboriginal
housing are not met, … ”

ABC: NT minister slams federal intervention
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/29/2639887.htm?section=justin
29 Jul 09: “The Northern Territory Government minister
making threats to quit the Labor Party has reportedly
slammed the Rudd Government’s approach to the federal
intervention, saying it is “killing people by
consultation”. The Minister for Indigenous Policy, Alison
Anderson, has left the Henderson Government on the brink of
collapse after threatening to quit over funding for remote
Aboriginal housing.”

ABC: Hampton promises to deliver on Indigenous housing
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/30/2641129.htm?site=news
30 Jul 09: “The Northern Territory Minister for Central
Australia [Karl Hampton] says he shares many of the
concerns raised by an NT politician who is threatening to
quit Labor over Indigenous housing issues.”

ABC: NT Govt teeters as minister maintains threat
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/29/2639455.htm?section=australia
29 Jul 09: “The Northern Territory Opposition is demanding
the Chief Minister resign, claiming he misled people about
the disunity in his Government after it emerged last night
that Indigenous Policy Minister, Alison Anderson, was
maintaining her threat to quit the Labor Party. … Mr
Henderson yesterday emerged from a Cabinet meeting saying
everything was fine.”

ABC: Henderson all smiles after Cabinet meeting
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/28/2638883.htm
28 Jul 09: “Northern Territory Chief Minister, Paul
Henderson, says his Government is united following a
Cabinet meeting this afternoon attended by Indigenous
Policy Minister, Alison Anderson, who last week threatened
to quit the party.”

– Radio

CAAMA Radio Morning News
(Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association):
http://caama.com.au/radio/caama-radio-morning-news-300709/
30 Jul 09: “* NT Indigenous Policy Minister Alison Anderson
has accused the Rudd labor government of suffocation by
consultation.”

CAAMA News Radio: “Ordinary” Alison attacks Rudd Govt
(Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association):
http://caama.com.au/radio/ordinary-alison-attacks-rudd-govt/
29 Jul 09: “Ordinary Alison accuses Rudd Govt of not being
serious about closing the Gap … ”

CAAMA Radio AM News
(Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association):
http://caama.com.au/radio/caama-radio-am-news-290709/
29 Jul 09: “* Indigenous Affairs Minister Alison Anderson
threatening to quit labour government to get their act
together regarding indigenous housing.”

– Opinion

Northern Territory News:
Editorial: Territorians deserve better
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/07/29/70971_ntnews.html
29 Jul 09: “THE revelation by Labor Minister Alison
Anderson that she will no longer support Paul Henderson’s
Government leaves him with few options. The Government is
now a lame duck administration at the mercy of its
Indigenous Policy Minister. … The Territory needs
certainty in these trying economic times. Its people cannot
afford to be held to ransom by Ms Anderson or anyone else.”

OTHER ABORIGINAL ARTICLES:

– Media Releases

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation:
Aboriginal Health Authority needs developing: NACCHO
http://www.naccho.org.au/Files/Documents/09-7-29%20Aboriginal%20Health%20Authority%20needs%20developing-%20NACCHO%20Media%20Release.pdf
29 Jul 09: “While Aboriginal health is seen as a priority
by the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission,
(NHHRC) its central recommendation of a Health Authority to
aggregate Aboriginal health funding and purchase services
is barely developed in its report. Dr Mick Adams, chair of
NACCHO, the peak body for community controlled Aboriginal
medical services said, “The National Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Health Authority concept is an interesting
option we have discussed within our sector and it would
have assisted if the Commission had further explored a
range of models for it. There’s no detail on how the $58
million Health Authority might work to ensure Aboriginal
people’s role in setting the priorities to improve our
health for example.“ ”

Northern Land Council:
It has taken too long to get a house built under SIHIP
http://www.nlc.org.au/html/files/It%20has%20taken%20too%20long%20to%20get%20a%20house%20built%20under%20SIHIP.pdf
23 Jul 09: “The Northern Land Council’s Chief Executive,
Kim Hill has today said that it has taken too long to get a
house built under the Federal government’s housing program
– SIHIP – initiated under the federal intervention into
Aboriginal people’s lives. “Not one house has been built
under SIHIP in the two years since the Federal
intervention,” said Mr Hill. “Now there are serious
allegations that up to 70-percent of the $1.6billion SIHIP
funds are being misspent on the government’s excessive
administration costs, delays and waste.”

– Opinion

Canberra Times Editorial: Crossroads for Close the Gap
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/opinion/editorial/general/crossroads-for-close-the-gap/1578413.aspx?storypage=0
27 Jul 09: “After 18 months of incredible progress, the
Close the Gap campaign is at a crossroads with a real
possibility that, unless there is a shift in direction,
large amounts of public funds could be spent with
comparatively little effect.” Ian Ring

– Radio

ABC AM: Former NT Housing Minister doubts Commonwealth
will deliver on housing
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2009/s2641687.htm
31 Jul 09

CAAMA Radio AM News
(Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association):
http://caama.com.au/radio/caama-radio-am-news-290709/
29 Jul 09: “* NT aboriginal rights Campainger Maurie Ryan
says there is no body is speaking up for indigenous
communities and he is sick of hearing what is happening in
indigenous communities through mainstream media.
* Alice Springs town council Alderman shocked at some new
town council bylaws.”

– News

ABC: Bureaucratic honey pot: ex-MLA blasts NT housing
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/31/2642059.htm
31 Jul 09: “A former Northern Territory Housing minister
has raised fresh doubts about the Commonwealth’s promise to
deliver on a $672 million Indigenous housing program in the
Territory. … Under the program Tennant Creek was slated
to get 20 new houses, but Mr McAdam says much of the $36
million promised for the town has been skimmed off by both
Territory and Federal Governments.”

ABC: CLP questions dwindling house numbers
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/30/2641367.htm?site=news
30 Jul 09: “The Northern Territory Opposition says the
Government must explain why the number of houses it has
promised to build in several remote Aboriginal communities
appears to have decreased.”

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Archive for August, 2009

UN Special Rapporteur James Anaya Speaks at National Library Australia 28/08/2009

11/08/09: ABORIGINAL HOUSING UNDER THE NORTHERN TERRITORY INTERVENTION

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