29/05/2011 Interview with UN Human Rights Commissioner, Navi Pillay, on the NT Intervention

Contents:
* Interview with UN Human Rights Commissioner, Navi Pillay,
on the Northern Territory Intervention
* Ethnocide – A Crime Equal to Genocide:
Submission to Navi Pillay by Michael Anderson
* Other Northern Territory (NT) Intervention articles
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention

INTERVIEW WITH UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER, NAVI PILLAY, ON THE NT INTERVENTION:

– Audio Interview

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
Exclusive Interview:
United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay
http://caama.com.au/united-nations-high-commissioner-navi-pillay-on-caama-radio
26 May 11: “The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner
Navi Pillay has urged the Gillard Labor Government for a
fundamental rethink of the measures imposed on Aboriginal
people under the Northern Territory Emergency Response. In
an exclusive interview with CAAMA radio the UN High
Commissioner has acknowledged the Government advances to
address disadvantage within the Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander community. But she is urging for a better
effort. Ms Pillay says following her visit to the Northern
Territory she now fully appreciates how Aboriginal people
feel, living under the Government policies imposed on them
by the Northern Territory Intervention.”

– Related Media Releases

Australia: Policies On Indigenous Peoples And Asylum-Seekers
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1105/S00628/australia-policies-on-indigenous-peoples-and-asylum-seekers.htm
26 May 11: “Press Release: United Nations
While stressing Australia’s long-standing commitment to
human rights, a top United Nations official today said the
country is failing to protect certain groups and urged it
to rethink its policies towards indigenous peoples and
asylum-seekers.
“The issues of indigenous disadvantage and the treatment
of asylum-seekers need to be tackled through a human
rights-based approach, not driven by short-term electoral
advantage and political goals,” High Commissioner for Human
Rights Navi Pillay told a press conference in Canberra at
the end of her six-day visit. …
She also urged a “fundamental rethink” of the measures
being taken under the Northern Territory Emergency Response
– a set of laws and related Government initiatives
implemented in 2007 that were aimed at addressing
conditions faced by indigenous peoples in that region of
the country but which also drew heavy criticism for being
discriminatory.”

Rachel Siewert: Greens back UN criticism of the NT Intervention
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/greens-back-un-criticism-nt-intervention
26 May 11: “The Australian Greens have strongly endorsed
comments made by UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay
calling on the Federal Government to take a new approach to
the NT Intervention.
“This is another damning criticism of the NT Intervention,
which again reflects poorly on Australian’s commitment to
human rights,” Senator Rachel Siewert said today. …
“Commissioner Pillay has recognised the importance of
taking action in partnership with communities and
developing programs and strategies through proper
consultation.
“The Australian Greens remain absolutely committed to
seeing the RDA full restored and seeing the failed NTER
come to an end in favour of a new approach which learns
from the mistakes of successive Governments,” concluded
Senator Siewert.”

– Related News of Aboriginal women leaders

Katherine Times: Local women take issues to the top
http://www.katherinetimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/local-women-take-issues-to-the-top/2174917.aspx?storypage=0
25 May 11: “Navanethem (Navi) Pillay visited Darwin on
Friday for the meeting with Aboriginal leaders from across
the Territory. Miliwanga Sandy and Margaret Katherine were
there to represent the Jawoyn people while May Rosas was
there for Wardaman. The Commissioner came to listen to
their views about the Northern Territory Emergency Response
(NTER). In particular she wanted to know about how the
national apology and recognition of the UN Declaration on
the Rights of Indigenous People has translated into policy
changes and about the impact of the NTER.” Tegan Forder

– Related International News

People’s Daily:
A Sorry Day for Australian race relations
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7392427.html
27 May 11: “UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay, an
anti-apartheid campaigner and international criminal court
judge was less optimistic, reserving her harshest criticism
for Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Pillay expressed deep
concern about Australia’s indigenous affairs and the Labor
government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Malaysia for
refugee processing as reported by Xinhua this week.”

Daily Mail UK:
‘Racist’ Australia compared to Apartheid South Africa by
UN Human Rights commissioner
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1390748/Racist-Australia-compared-Apartheid-South-Africa-UN-Human-Rights-commissioner.html
26 May 11: “The United Nations’ top human rights watchdog
has attacked Australia’s tough refugee policies and the
treatment of outback Aborigines, saying there was a strong
undercurrent of racism in the country. … The 69-year-old
is a former anti-apartheid campaigner and international
criminal court judge, and she was speaking to reporters at
the end of a six-day visit. … She also criticised an
‘intervention’ policy. It was introduced by the former
conservative government and continued by Gillard.”

Indian Express:
UN official likens ‘racist’ Australia to ‘apartheid’ SAfrica
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/un-official-likens-racist-australia-to-apartheid-safrica/795707/
26 May 11: “The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner
Navi Pillay has said there is a strong undercurrent of
racism in Australia because of the country’s tough refugee
policies and the treatment of Aborigines. … “I come from
South Africa and lived under this, and am every way
attuned to seeing racial discrimination,” The Daily Mail
quoted Pillay, as saying. “There is a racial discriminatory
element here which I see as rather inhumane treatment of
people, judged by their differences, racial, colour or
religions,” she added.”

Angola Press:
Australia and Malaysia reject UN refugees criticism
http://www.portalangop.co.ao/motix/en_us/noticias/internacional/2011/4/21/Australia-and-Malaysia-reject-refugees-criticism,9316a943-589e-41cc-830a-6c6f7389a400.html
26 May 11: “Their comments followed scathing criticism of
the deal by the UN human rights commissioner, Navi Pillay.
Ahead of Australia’s annual apology to its indigenous
population, Ms Pillay also attacked Australian “racism”.”

JURIST:
UN rights chief criticizes Australia indigenous, asylum policies
http://jurist.org/paperchase/2011/05/un-rights-chief-criticizes-australia-indigenous-asylum-policies.php
25 May 11: “UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi
Pillay [official profile] on Wednesday a rebuked [text]
Australia for its political, rather than human rights based
approach to indigenous people and asylum-seekers. Although
she criticized some of the nation’s practices, she had
considerable praise for “a strong history of commitment to
human rights at the international level, and also of course
a robust system of democratic institutions.” Nonetheless,
she believes improvements are necessary in the realm of
treatment of Aborigines and immigrants.”

UN Radio:
Call for Australia to improve treatment of indigenous
people and asylum seekers
http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/2011/05/call-for-australia-to-improve-treatment-of-indigenous-people-and-asylum-seekers/
25 May 11: “Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights, was speaking after a six-day visit to the country.
During that time she met with Aboriginal communities and
visited immigration detention centres. She praised the
Australian government’s efforts to promote the rights of
people with disabilities and older people, but she said
government policies were failing to recognise indigenous
people’s right to self-determination.”

– Related Videos

Australian Human Rights Commission: Human Rights 2011
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/hr2011/video.html
“Date Monday, 23 May 2011 … Location Sydney Town Hall …
Video Highlights”
[Includes video of Navi Pillay and Aboriginal Elder Prof
Patrick Dodson speaking about the NT Intervention.]

Press TV: UN criticizes Australia over refugee policies
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/181935.html
27 May 11: “Pillay said the two areas of concern are the
discrimination against Indigenous communities, and the
mandatory detention of asylum seekers. Pillay also visited
the Northern Territory, or NT, on the first day of her
visit. Aboriginal leaders told her that things are getting
worse since the government allowed intervention in the
indigenous communities, including how they spend their
money and where they spend it.”
[Includes video of Navi Pillay and Paddy Gibson.]

– Related Photos

AusHumanRights: Human Rights 2011
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23930202@N06/sets/72157626675195645/
“Peak Human Rights event at Sydney Town Hall on 23 May
2011, featuring a panel discussion with UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, Aboriginal Elder
Professor Patrick Dodson and Victorian Foundation for
Survivors of Torture Paris Aristotle AM. The event
concluded with a performance by Bangarra Dance Theatre.”

– Related Audio

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA Radio News 26-05-2011
http://caama.com.au/caama-radio-news-26-05-2011
26 May 11: “The United Nations Human Rights commissioner
Navi Pillay has urged the Gillard Labor Government for a
fundamental rethink of the measures imposed on Aboriginal
people under the Northern Territory Emergency Response.”

– Related Local News

Koori Mail: UN criticisms on the money, says Siewert
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
26 May 11: “THE Australian Greens have strongly backed UN
Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay’s criticisms of the
NT Intervention. Greens Indigenous affairs spokesperson
Senator Rachel Siewert says Ms Pillay’s damning of the
controversial Intervention – not the first from the UN –
reflects poorly on Australian’s commitment to human rights,
and a new approach is needed. Senator Rachel Siewert says
the NT Intervention continues to discriminate, as does
‘lingering partial suspension’ of the Racial Discrimination
Act.”

National Indigenous Radio Service:
UN urge Intervention rethink
http://www.nirs.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5826:un-urge-intervention-rethink&catid=2:news-broadcasts&Itemid=65
26 May 11: “The United Nations is urging the federal
government to have a fundamental rethink on the Northern
Territory Intervention.”

CathNews: Praise for UN official’s visit to NT intervention
http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=26585
25 May 11: “A visit by a top UN official to investigate the
Federal Government’s Northern Territory Intervention was a
“good thing”, and others such as Amnesty International
should follow suit, an official from the Archdiocese of
Sydney’s Aboriginal Catholic Ministry has told the Catholic
Leader. … Upon her arrival in Darwin, UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay was handed a
petition signed by 6500 Australians calling for her support
in restoring the rights of Aboriginal people in the
Northern Territory.”

Courier Mail: UN official attacks NT intervention
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/un-official-attacks-nt-intervention/story-e6freonf-1226062830952
25 May 11: “”I would urge a fundamental rethink of the
measures being taken under the Northern Territory Emergency
Response,” she said. “The way the intervention was
initially imposed has clearly caused enormous anger, pain
and humiliation amongst the communities affected.” Mr
Pillay took particular aim at housing and income management
policies and urged better consultation with indigenous
communities.”

Koori Mail: UN flays Govt on Indigenous rights
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
25 May 11: “PROGRESS on Indigenous rights and increased
funding for Indigenous programs is being undermined by the
Australian Government’s failure to recognise Indigenous
people’s rights to self-determination, according to an
international human rights expert. In Canberra today, the
United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay
urged a ‘fundamental rethink’ on the Northern Territory
Intervention, which she said had caused deep hurt amongst
Aboriginal people.”

See:

WGAR News: UN Human Rights High Commissioner hears from NT Aboriginal leaders (21 May 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/21/wgar-news-un-human-rights-high-commissioner-hears-from-nt-aboriginal-leaders

WGAR News: UN Human Rights Commissioner, Navi Pillay, criticises the NT Intervention (26 May 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/26/wgar-news-un-human-rights-commissioner-navi-pillay-criticises-the-nt-intervention

Navi Pillay’s final media conference statement in Canberra (25 May 11):
http://www.un.org.au/News.aspx?category=1&element=47&PKID=399
http://treatyrepublic.net/content/un-rights-chief-attacks-australian-disturbing-policies#trans
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1105/S00605/un-high-commissioner-for-human-rights-navi-pillay.htm

ETHNOCIDE – A CRIME EQUAL TO GENOCIDE:
SUBMISSION TO NAVI PILLAY BY MICHAEL ANDERSON

– Submission

Ethnocide: A Crime Equal to Genocide
https://wgar.wordpress.com/2011/05/29/ethnocide-a-crime-equal-to-genocide/
24 May 11: “Navanethem Pillay
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights …
ETHNOCIDE: A CRIME EQUAL TO GENOCIDE
Submission by Michael Anderson,
Leader of the Euahlayi Nation
Co-founder of the 1972 Aboriginal Embassy in Canberra
and Convenor of the New Way Summit …
Ethnocide …
Ethnocide is a notion that even the UN refuses to
acknowledge. But in order to do justice for Aboriginal
People, the main thing the UN can do for us is to make
Ethnocide a crime equal to Genocide and ratified by every
Nation throughout the world to prevent Australia from
refusing to become a party to that convention. There can be
no excuse for Ethnocide, just as there is no excuse in law
for murder and Genocide. …
No effective law against Genocide
Finally, we wish to draw your attention to the fact that
Australia has still not fully imported the Genocide
Convention into domestic law. Parts of the Genocide
Convention were imported into domestic law by way of the
International Criminal Court Consequential Amendments Act
2002, but only the Attorney-General can begin a genocide
case and if he/she refuses there is no right of appeal and
no reasons need to be given. [268.121 – 268.122]. This is
contrary to the intent of the long-standing Genocide
Convention, which Australia was the third country to sign.
We are requesting that the UN Human Rights Commission
strongly recommends that the Australian government imports
fully the Genocide Convention into domestic law.”

OTHER NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION ARTICLES:

– Action

Desert Diaries: NT Intervention: 7 things you can do
http://reevesinalice.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/nt-intervention-7-things-you-can-do/
26 May 11: “Excerpt from New Internationalist: http://www.newint.org/
The latest Reconciliation Barometer from Reconciliation
Australia indicates that we’re making progress on
reconciliation, with around half of the population agreeing
that the relationship between Indigenous people and other
Australians is improving. But there’s still a mountain to
climb to close the gap. Here are 7 things you can do: … “

– DVD

New Internationalist shop: Teaching Resources: Classroom DVDs:
Our Generation
http://www.newint.com.au/shop/our-generation-dvd-2879.htm?utm_source=ni-enews-oz-2011-05-20&utm_medium=email-html&utm_content=body&utm_campaign=new-internationalist-enews-oz-shop
“The untold story of a hidden struggle through the eyes of
the Yolngu people. Hidden from the eyes of the world,
Australia’s First Peoples are fighting for freedom.
Our Generation is their call to the nation, a fresh and
unflinching look at unresolved issues, driven by the Yolngu
of Northeast Arnhem Land. From the ongoing controversy of
the Northern Territory Intervention, to being forced off
their traditional lands into larger townships crippled by
social dysfunction, to their languages being removed from
school education, to mining deals sidelining traditional
owners, the Aboriginal people of the Northern Territory are
fighting for freedom. Our Generation is their untold story;
of a struggle hidden from the eyes of mainstream Australia.”

BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:

Creative Spirits:
Northern Territory Emergence Response (NTER)
– “The Intervention”:
http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/politics/northern-territory-intervention.html

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Northern Territory National Emergency Response:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Territory_intervention

CAAMA (Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association)
– NT Intervention:
http://caama.com.au/?s=NT+Intervention

The Greens: Rachel Siewert: Northern Territory Intervention:
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/category/issues/indigenous-rights/northern-territory-intervention

Treaty Republic – NT Intervention:
http://treatyrepublic.net/search/node/NT%20Intervention

IRAG (Intervention Rollback Action Group):
Mparntwe – Alice Springs:
http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/

ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation)
– NT intervention:
http://www.antar.org.au/issues_and_campaigns/nt_intervention

STICS (Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney):
http://stoptheintervention.org/

Crikey – NT Intervention:
http://www.crikey.com.au/topic/nt-intervention/

Jobs with Justice:
http://jobswithjustice.wordpress.com/

MAIC (Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective):
http://maicollective.blogspot.com/

‘concerned Australians’:
Without Justice there can be no Reconciliation:
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/

New Matilda – northern territory intervention:
http://newmatilda.com/tag/northern-territory-intervention

Amnesty International Australia:
Looking back at the Northern Territory Intervention:
http://www.amnesty.org.au/indigenous-rights/comments/24460/

Defending Indigenous Rights:
http://defendingindigenousrights.wordpress.com/

Intervention walk-off’s Blog:
http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/

Australian Human Rights Commission:
Northern Territory ‘Emergency Response’ intervention:
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/intervention/index.html

FAIRA; Human Rights Law Resource Centre; NACLC:
Australia’s compliance with CERD – Fact Sheet 2:
Northern Territory Intervention:
http://www.hrlrc.org.au/files/Fact-Sheet-2-NT-Intervention.pdf

Green Left: Northern Territory intervention: myths and facts:
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/39732

WGAR (Working Group for Aboriginal Rights):
https://wgar.wordpress.com/

28/05/2011 Canberra Rally, June 14 2011: Don’t dump on the NT -No radioactive waste dump at Muckaty

Contents:
* Canberra Rally, June 14 2011:
Don’t dump on the Northern Territory –
No radioactive waste dump at Muckaty
* Background to Muckaty nuclear waste dump
* Interview with Richard Downs on the UN Permanent Forum
on Indigenous Issues
* Barbara Shaw at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
* Other Northern Territory (NT) Intervention articles
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Aboriginal Embassy symposium, Canberra, 20-22 June 2011

CANBERRA RALLY, JUNE 14 2011:
DON’T DUMP ON THE NORTHERN TERRITORY –
NO RADIOACTIVE WASTE DUMP AT MUCKATY

– Poster for Rally

http://beyondnuclearinitiative.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/muckaty-rally-14-june.pdf

– Rally

Beyond Nuclear Initiative: June 14 Canberra rally
Don’t dump on the Territory:
No national radioactive waste dump at Muckaty
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.com/2011/05/22/june-14-canberra-rally/
“Community Rally
June 14, 2011
12 midday at Parliament House, Canberra

Speakers include:

Dianne Stokes and Mark Chungaloo, Muckaty Traditional Owners
Senator Scott Ludlam, Australian Greens
Peter Simpson, ETU Queensland Secretary
Dave Sweeney, Australian Conservation Foundation
Dr Sue Wareham, Medical Association for Prevention of War

We demand:

* Repeal of all NT sites under assessment for a national
nuclear dump
* An independent inquiry into radioactive waste management
in Australia
* Responsible long term management – not short term dumping

Supported by:

Beyond Nuclear Initiative
Conservation Council of WA
Environment Centre of the Northern Territory
Friends of the Earth Australia
Japanese for Peace
Medical Association for Prevention of War
Public Health Association Australia
Western Australian Nuclear Free Alliance
Unions NT”

– Related Media Release

Beyond Nuclear Initiative:
From the Barkly to Brazil:
Resistance to radioactive waste dump plan in the spotlight
http://ntne.ws/articles/article.php?section=waste
26 May 11: “It’s a long way from Tennant Creek to Rio de
Janeiro, but the story of a controversial radioactive waste
dump in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory will
feature on the big screen in Brazil today.
Muckaty Voices – a ten minute film that documents the
opposition of Traditional Owners to a proposed national
radioactive waste dump at Muckaty, north of Tennant Creek
– is a finalist in the first International Uranium Film
Festival.
The film, produced by the Beyond Nuclear Initiative (BNI)
and Enlightning Productions, will be screened before an
international audience in Rio de Janeiro. It can be viewed
via: http://www.beyondnuclearinitiative.com/video
“The story of the community campaign against this highly
contested radioactive waste dump plan is increasingly
being heard around Australia and across the world,” said
BNI coordinator Natalie Wasley.”

– Related News

NT News: NLC dumping ‘disgrace’
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/05/24/235091_ntnews.html
24 May 11: “THE Northern Land Council has refuted a
lawyer’s claim to have unearthed new evidence in the
Muckaty Station ownership battle. The site – near Tennant
Creek – is at the centre of a major dispute between
Aboriginal families over who has the right to allow the
establishment of a nuclear waste dump.”

BACKGROUND TO MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:

YouTube: Muckaty Voices-Australia’s nuclear waste dump story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcuNpT84Ovo
“”Muckaty Voices” is a short film capturing community
resistance to an Australian government plan to dump
radioactive waste at Muckaty Station, 120 kilometres north
of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory.”

Beyond Nuclear Initiative – Muckaty:
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/muckaty/

Beyond Nuclear Initiative:
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/

Proposed Radioactive Waste Dump at Muckaty, NT
Briefing Paper – February 2011
Jim Green B.Med.Sci.(Hons.), PhD
National nuclear campaigner – Friends of the Earth, Australia
Friends of the Earth: http://www.foe.org.au/anti-nuclear/issues/oz/nontdump/Dump%20briefing%20Feb%202011.pdf

Nuclear Territory News: Waste Dump News:
http://ntne.ws/articles/article.php?section=waste

WGAR News: Nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory (2 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/02/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-in-the-northern-territory-2-mar-10

WGAR News: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (20 Mar 10)
http://groups.google.com.au/group/foblmail/browse_thread/thread/ddc393bb66205849

WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump (28 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/28/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-close-the-gap-day-28-mar-10

WGAR News: Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump (4 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/03/wgar-news-muckaty-radioactive-waste-dump-welfare-quarantining-4-apr-10

WGAR News: National day of action against Muckaty nuclear waste dump: 12th April!
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/10/wgar-news-national-day-of-action-against-muckaty-nuclear-waste-dump-12th-april

WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump: Senate inquiry in Darwin; Nationwide protests (17 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/16/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-senate-inquiry-in-darwin-nationwide-protests-17-apr-10

WGAR News: Update: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (23 Apr 10)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/22/wgar-news-raw-sewage-dumped-in-ampilatwatja-aboriginal-worker-dismissed-23-apr-10

WGAR News: Update on Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (2 May 10)
https://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/02052010-update-on-muckaty-station-nuclear-waste-dump/

WGAR News: “Muckaty Voices” film; Senate Report into nuclear waste dump plan (16 May 10)
https://indymedia.org.au/2010/05/16/wgar-news-muckaty-voices-film-senate-report-into-nuclear-waste-dump-plan-16-may-10

WGAR News: Federal Court legal challenge over nuclear waste dump (13 Jun 10)
http://lists.perthimc.asn.au/pipermail/blackgreensolidarity/2010-June/002933.html

WGAR News: PM Gillard: No change on Muckaty nuclear waste dump (12 Jul 10)
http://lists.perthimc.asn.au/pipermail/blackgreensolidarity/2010-July/002965.html

WGAR News: Legislation passes enabling a nuclear waste dump to be built at Muckaty, NT (1 Mar 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/01/wgar-news-legislation-passes-enabling-a-nuclear-waste-dump-to-be-built-at-muckaty-nt

WGAR News: Federal Court challenge over nuclear dump resumes in August (16 Mar 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/16/wgar-news-federal-court-challenge-over-nuclear-dump-resumes-in-august

WGAR News: Interview with Kylie Sambo, Mark Lane and Dr. Jim Green about Muckaty nuclear waste dump (21 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/21/wgar-news-protest-blockade-by-lake-tyers-aboriginal-women-continues

WGAR News: Nuclear waste legislation must wait until objections heard in Federal Court (23 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/23/wgar-news-international-day-for-the-elimination-of-racial-discrimination-harmony-day-21-m

WGAR News: Aboriginal groups protest against nuclear waste dump (26 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/26/wgar-news-police-used-to-break-blockade-by-aboriginal-women-of-lake-tyers

WGAR News: Crisis in Japan and Muckaty Nuclear Waste Dump (2 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/02/wgar-news-online-petition-about-aboriginal-workers-exploited-under-sihip-housing-program

WGAR News: Muckaty Traditional Owners speak out (14 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/14/wgar-news-deaths-in-custody-and-aboriginal-incarceration-rates

WGAR News: Help Stop the Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump – May 7-8 (24 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/24/wgar-news-two-urgent-petitions-on-the-nt-intervention-sign-by-early-may-2011

WGAR News: “Keep the poison out of Muckaty” – community rally on May 7, 2011 (30 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/30/wgar-news-keep-the-poison-out-of-muckaty-community-rally-on-may-7-2011

WGAR News: NT nuclear waste dump plans contested (10 May 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/10/wgar-news-nt-nuclear-waste-dump-plans-contested

WGAR News: More on Muckaty nuclear waste dump (14 May 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/14/wgar-news-aboriginal-elder-raises-international-awareness-of-the-nt-intervention

WGAR News: Interview with Muckaty Traditional Owner, Dianne Stokes / Doctor: Public misled over nuclear medicine needs (17 May 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/17/wgar-news-global-call-to-action-for-aboriginal-rights-in-australia

WGAR News: Gov’t hopes Senate will debate nuclear waste dump in June (18 May 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/18/wgar-news-amnesty-international-report-2011-human-rights-in-australia

WGAR News: Video: No to a dump in the NT – Darwin rally 11 May 2011
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/21/wgar-news-un-human-rights-high-commissioner-hears-from-nt-aboriginal-leaders

INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD DOWNS ON THE UN PERMANENT FORUM ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES:

– Audio

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
Richard Downs on CAAMA Radio
http://caama.com.au/richard-downs-on-caama-radio
23 May 11: “Richard Downs is part of the delegation
attending the United Nations permanent forum on Indigenous
issues. He is an Alyawarra man from Ampilatwatja living on
his country … The UN permanent forum on indigenous issues
allows Aboriginal people around the globe to voice concerns
about the progress of Indigenous people. Here he speaks to
Paul Wiles about the forum.”

See:

WGAR News: UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, 16 to 27 May 2011
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/21/wgar-news-un-human-rights-high-commissioner-hears-from-nt-aboriginal-leaders

See Background:

Intervention walk-off’s Blog:
http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/

Six Videos by Eleanor Gilbert of Enlightning Productions:
Opening Protest House Ampilatwatja Walk-off NT:
http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/video/

WGAR News: Protest House at the Alyawarr people’s walk-off camp (16 Feb 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/02/16/wgar-news-protest-house-at-the-alyawarr-peoples-walk-off-camp-16-feb-10

WGAR News: Speeches from National call out by John Pilger & Richard Downs (3 May 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/05/04/wgar-news-speeches-from-national-call-out-by-john-pilger-richard-downs-3-may-10

Frequency: Richard Downs & Harry Nelson Speaking at Melbourne
University Ampilatwatja Walkoff & NT Intervention (14-16 Oct 10)
http://www.frequency.com/video/richard-downs-harry-nelson-speaking-at/4712568

BARBARA SHAW AT THE UN PERMANENT FORUM ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES:

– Media Releases

Media Newswire: With Indigenous Children Facing “Lifetime
of Exclusion’, UN Children’s Fund Developing Framework
Strategy to Address Challenges, Permanent Forum Told
http://media-newswire.com/release_1150517.html
24 May 11: “BARBARA SHAW, of the Australian Foundation for
Aboriginal Islander Research Action, noted that the
Northern Territories Emergency Response had been based on
United Nations policies, but had caused problems and
created “punitive measures” for the indigenous peoples
living there. Among those, for example, were bilingual
education policies, which kept indigenous children from
speaking their own languages for much of the school day.
How was UNICEF working to address the problems facing those
and other indigenous communities? She urged that UNICEF
work with grandparents to preserve the culture and
languages of indigenous groups, and that UNICEF
representatives “come out and talk to the grass-roots
people of Australia” to understand their real situation
on the ground.”

Media Newswire: As with So Many Other Human Rights,
Indigenous Peoples Suffer Disproportionate Violations of
Right to Safe Water, Sanitation, Permanent Forum Told
http://media-newswire.com/release_1150631.html
24 May 11: “BARBARA SHAW, of the Global Indigenous Women’s
Caucus, stressed that, to indigenous peoples, water was
sacred. By virtue of spirituality and their reciprocal
relationship with it, indigenous women played a key role in
sustaining life and its biological and cultural diversity,
as well as the diversity of their communities. Emphasizing
the impact of water on the well-being of indigenous
communities, she urgently asked the Forum to take a leading
role in promoting and protecting indigenous peoples’ rights
to water. A human rights framework must be used in
protecting waterways, she stressed.”

See:

WGAR News: UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, 16 to 27 May 2011
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/21/wgar-news-un-human-rights-high-commissioner-hears-from-nt-aboriginal-leaders

See Background:

IRAG (Intervention Rollback Action Group): Mparntwe – Alice Springs:
http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/

WGAR News: Darwin gathering for Aboriginal people living in prescribed areas under the NT Intervention, June 19-21, 2011
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/29/darwin-gathering-for-aboriginal-people-living-in-prescribed-areas-under-the-nt-interventi

WGAR News: Interview with Barbara Shaw, of the Intervention Rollback Action Group, on the NT Intervention (7 May 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/07/wgar-news-interviews-with-barb-shaw-and-michael-anderson-speeches-by-pat-anderson-and-les

WGAR News: Speech by Aboriginal activist Barbara Shaw on the NT Intervention (10 May 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/10/wgar-news-nt-nuclear-waste-dump-plans-contested

OTHER NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION ARTICLES:

– Working Paper

CAEPR – Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research:
Alice Springs’ Unrepresentative Council:
Cause for Intervention?
http://caepr.anu.edu.au/Publications/WP/2011WP76.php
“Working Paper 76 / 2011
William Sanders
The paper explains how the vote counting system used in
Northern Territory local government leads to very poor
electoral outcomes which concentrate representation rather
than spread it. It discusses how, in the case of Alice
Springs, this has produced a narrowly based council with
no representation from town camps. It argues that this
vote counting system should be changed and notes that it
is currently under review by the Northern Territory
Government, partly because of this critique. However it
also notes that some, including Alice Springs Town Council,
are defending the existing system and that change is by no
means assured, hence the question of the subtitle.”

– Audio

Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane
Let’s Talk – Indigenous presented talkback:
http://989fm.com.au/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29
26 May 11: “Chris Graham: Tiga Bayles caught up with Chris
Graham, Editor of of the freshly released new Tracker
Magazine. They spoke about the Bringing The Home report,
the alarming rate of our First Nations people in the
National prison system and the breach of international law
when it comes to the Intervention and asylum seekers in
Australia.”
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasting/audio/98fm-podcast-2011-05-26-86135.mp3

– Media Release

Rachel Siewert: Greens look for more action on Sorry Day
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/greens-look-more-action-sorry-day
26 May 11: “The Australian Greens have today reaffirmed
their commitment to better outcomes for the Stolen
Generations, using Sorry Day to focus on taking further
steps towards a better Australia. …
“The Australian Greens remain committed to measures such as
opposing the NT Intervention, and proposing important
Native Title amendments and the Stolen Generations
Repatriation Bill as a way to take further, meaningful
steps away from the practices of the past,” Senator Siewert
concluded.”

– News

National Indigenous Radio Service:
Store licensing brings better food to communities
http://www.nirs.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5815:store-licensing-brings-better-food-to-communities&catid=2:news-broadcasts&Itemid=65
25 May 11: “An independent report from the The Cultural and
Indigenous Research Centre has found that ‘Stores
Licensing’ is successful in delivering healthier food to
remote Northern Territory communities.”

BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:

Creative Spirits:
Northern Territory Emergence Response (NTER)
– “The Intervention”:
http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/politics/northern-territory-intervention.html

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Northern Territory National Emergency Response:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Territory_intervention

CAAMA (Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association)
– NT Intervention:
http://caama.com.au/?s=NT+Intervention

Treaty Republic – NT Intervention:
http://treatyrepublic.net/search/node/NT%20Intervention

The Greens: Rachel Siewert: Northern Territory Intervention:
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/category/issues/indigenous-rights/northern-territory-intervention

IRAG (Intervention Rollback Action Group):
Mparntwe – Alice Springs:
http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/

ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation)
– NT intervention:
http://www.antar.org.au/issues_and_campaigns/nt_intervention

STICS (Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney):
http://stoptheintervention.org/

Crikey – NT Intervention:
http://www.crikey.com.au/topic/nt-intervention/

Jobs with Justice:
http://jobswithjustice.wordpress.com/

MAIC (Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective):
http://maicollective.blogspot.com/

‘concerned Australians’:
Without Justice there can be no Reconciliation:
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/

New Matilda – northern territory intervention:
http://newmatilda.com/tag/northern-territory-intervention

Amnesty International Australia:
Looking back at the Northern Territory Intervention:
http://www.amnesty.org.au/indigenous-rights/comments/24460/

Defending Indigenous Rights:
http://defendingindigenousrights.wordpress.com/

Intervention walk-off’s Blog:
http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/

Australian Human Rights Commission:
Northern Territory ‘Emergency Response’ intervention:
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/intervention/index.html

FAIRA; Human Rights Law Resource Centre; NACLC:
Australia’s compliance with CERD – Fact Sheet 2:
Northern Territory Intervention:
http://www.hrlrc.org.au/files/Fact-Sheet-2-NT-Intervention.pdf

Green Left: Northern Territory intervention: myths and facts:
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/39732

WGAR (Working Group for Aboriginal Rights):
http://wgar.info/

EVENT: ABORIGINAL EMBASSY SYMPOSIUM, CANBERRA, 20-22 JUNE 2011:

– Event

Australian Centre for Indigenous History, ANU:
Aboriginal Embassy symposium
http://acih.anu.edu.au/events/aboriginal-embassy-symposium
“Monday, 20th June 2011 – 8:30am
– Wednesday, 22nd June 2011 – 8:30am
Hosted by the Australian Centre for Indigenous History and
supported by the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
In association with:
* The National Film and Sound Archive
* The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
Since it was first erected in front of Old Parliament House
on 26 January 1972 and re-erected on its twentieth
anniversary in 1992, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy has been
a source of inspiration and controversy for Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal Australians. As it approaches its fortieth
anniversary, this symposium will examine the historical,
social and political significance of the Tent Embassy.”
[Includes discussion with 1972 Tent Embassy activists
Michael Anderson, Paul Coe, Pat Eatock & Sam Watson]

ETHNOCIDE: A CRIME EQUAL TO GENOCIDE

Navanethem Pillay

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Palais Wilson

52 rue des Paquis

CH-1201 Geneva

Switzerland

24 May 2011

ETHNOCIDE: A CRIME EQUAL TO GENOCIDE

Submission by Michael Anderson,

Leader of the Euahlayi Nation

Co-founder of the 1972 Aboriginal Embassy in Canberra

and Convenor of the New Way Summit

Continuing Sovereignty:

In 1999 a submission was made to the United Nations entitled Australia-The Concealed Colony. It was compiled by senior researchers Frank Coningham, Geoffrey Skelton and Ian Henke with research assistance from the University of Lausanne, the Sorbonne (Paris), the Humbolt University (Berlin), Trinity College Dublin, University of La Sapienza (Rome), the Comlutenso de Madrid, Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, University of Ghent (Belgium) and major American universities of Stanford, Cornell, Berkley and Harvard.

Australia-The Concealed Colony was tabled in the UN explaining that Australia was not a Legal Nation by comparison to other countries and that Australia was only classified as an Independent State by virtue of the fact that it is a Signatory to the UN charter and the Treaty of Versailles.

Since all law throughout the world law is about absolutism and certainty not ambiguity, it is a requirement of the UN to ensure that its Member States are in fact bone fide. Failure to do so is negligence and against the principles of the UN.

Aboriginal Nations and Peoples have never accepted British rule in Australia and this is evidenced by the violent discourse in Australia since British invasion in 1788.

Whilst British Crown has consistently requested, both as a prerogative exercise and written as an instruction to Governors and governments, Aborigines were to be treated as British subjects and afforded the protection of British law this did not usurp our Peoples’ sovereignty.

It is important to have cognisance of the fact that being treated as British subjects and afforded protection of British law in no way compromises the continuing sovereignty of Aboriginal Nations and Peoples in Australia.

Another aspect of the continuing sovereignty of Aboriginal Peoples is the fact that Australian governments recognise it. This is evidenced by the fact that when dealing with Aboriginal people all policies and regimes have been directed towards Aboriginal People as a distinct race where special measures have been adopted. Furthermore past Legislation at State and Commonwealth levels have been, at the first instance, about protecting a race of People from the vigilante ‘Settlers’ who sought to clear the land of Aboriginal Inhabitants.

These laws make Australia the only Country in the world where laws were put in place to protect one race of people from another.

In order to afford protection for Aboriginal People it was necessary to set up government Mission Stations where the authorities, not only attempted to “smooth the dying pillow for a dying race” as it was first thought, but the same Mission Stations, both church and government, became prison institutions where the people had no right of freedom of movement or freedom of association and their personal and social welfare was totally dependent upon government appropriated aid.

The most unfortunate thing about these institutions was once you and your family were committed there was never a release date. It wasn’t until much pressure came to bear from foreign countries, who through various UN Committees sought to be informed on the welfare and well-being of Australia’s Aboriginal Inhabitants, that change began. One such country was Ghana in the 1940s.

It is important for the UN and other countries to know that, in respect of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage. There now exists within Australia laws in every State and territory that vest ownership of our cultural heritage to white bureaucrats and Ministers of the Parliaments.

Land title

In Australia the government has interfered with due process and natural justice through the creation of the Native Title Act 1993 and its Amendments through which the government imposed its will upon the independent arbiters of law by interfering with the common law process when determining Aboriginal Peoples’ continuing association with land. Instead of now dealing with the common law rights of Aboriginal Peoples with respect to their Traditional Lands, the government codified and established criteria on how Aboriginal people are expected to prove their continuing association with Country.

By doing this the courts are required to rule on peoples’ access where by Traditional Owners have to demonstrate the exercise of their Customary Practices while living in modern Australia, and all the while knowing that 60% of the Aboriginal population were rounded by Australian Government authorities and removed from their lands under Government Policies. The fact that our people, in many areas, had no right of freedom of movement made it impossible for Aboriginal Peoples of the southeast states to ever have sufficient customary association with their country and all lands were granted to non-Aboriginal farmers and other landholders. The majority of Aboriginal People who were removed under Government Legislation have not had the ability to return to their homelands since the removal of mission control in 1969 for New South Wales and Queensland in 1977.

In modern Australia we continue to have Government Policies that suppress any ability of Aboriginal People to be self-determining. This can be established by an independent study of all laws relating to Aboriginal advancement within Australia.

It goes without saying that the Northern Territory National Emergency Response is a Martial Law type of rule that governs Aboriginal People in a way that dictates all forms of development, social interaction and economic progress for Aboriginal People in the Northern Territory. Similarly, other States do not fare much better as statistics show that approx 70% of the Aboriginal population is 100% welfare dependent. In this regard Aboriginal People have little ability to work their way out of the impoverished conditions they find themselves in, added to the fact that royalties are controlled by the Australian Government not the people.

Education and vocational training

The Australian Government is constantly promoting the theme of education and employment, but these are very ambitious objectives when one looks at the current state of educational programs in this country. The Australian history Curriculum within the schools does not include government policies towards Aboriginal People and the subsequent effect the policies had on our people, such as Government Mission and Station life. The Australian Education Curriculum does not include why the Government chose to remove children under the ‘Stolen Generation’ regime, nor do they explain why Aboriginal people were imprisoned onto Government and Church Mission Stations. They certainly do not include any topics which deal with the violent confrontations with the free ‘settlers’ and the British militia during the colonial times, whereas massacres are becoming well documented in various recent publications.

In relation to the low achievement rate of Aboriginal People in the Education System, the Australian Government continues to ignore the fact that many Aboriginal People are rejecting the Education System, because it has little or no relevance to their current status in life. This is reflected in low school attendance, absenteeism and the high juvenile crime rate. This converts to civil disobedience in the community where Aboriginal People see themselves as outsiders and not belonging.

Ethnocide

Fly-in observations of the Aboriginal situation in Australia cannot do justice to the deeply rooted problems that Aboriginal Nations and Peoples confront daily. In order to understand the dilemmas of Aboriginal People it is absolutely imperative that complete and in-depth studies are conducted on the entrenched racism that is so deeply rooted in the psyche of Australian politics. This racism is reflected in all policies directed at Aboriginal Peoples’ advancement, which is completely underpinned by the governments’ objective for the eventual total assimilation of Aboriginal People. This can only mean ethnocide. Ethnocide is a notion that even the UN refuses to acknowledge. But in order to do justice for Aboriginal People, the main thing the UN can do for us is to make Ethnocide a crime equal to Genocide and ratified by every Nation throughout the world to prevent Australia from refusing to become a party to that convention. There can be no excuse for Ethnocide, just as there is no excuse in law for murder and Genocide.

Treaty negotiations

Attached is an earlier paper entitled: That Word – Treaty. It is important to understand how in Aboriginal society one nation cannot speak for another, whilst it is a practice used in Australia to break up Aboriginal unity.

This is confirmed when we trace back to a letter from the then Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Baume, written to the National Aboriginal Conference (NAC) in July 1981 that Aboriginal people cannot be permitted to develop like American Indians with self determination This is the reason why the treaty process was shut down.

Australia does acknowledge, however, that it has never gained the Sovereignty of Aboriginal Peoples and their Nations and in the Mabo case the High Court concedes that the question of Aboriginal Sovereignty belongs to another jurisdiction, i.e. the International Court of Justice.

Nevertheless, the Indigenous Affairs Minister, Jenny Macklin, says she is open to a push for recognition of Indigenous Australians in the Constitution, but she has ruled out a treaty.

“This process is about recognising indigenous people within the Australian Constitution. It is not about a treaty,” she told The Australian. [see http://www.wgar.info]

This is despite the fact that in August 2010 the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) recommended treaty negotiations:

15. … Drawing the attention of the State party to the Committee’s general recommendation 23 (1997) on the rights of indigenous peoples, the Committee reiterates its recommendation that the State party increase efforts to ensure a meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and that any measures to amend the Australian Constitution include the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as First Nations Peoples. In this regard, the Committee recommends that the State party consider the negotiation of a treaty agreement to build a constructive and sustained relationship with Indigenous peoples. The Committee also recommends that the State party provide the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples with the adequate resources to become fully operational by January 2011 and support its development.

​[Emphasis added -CERD/C/AUS/CO/15-17/CRP.1]

The Federal Government’s proposal to recognise Aboriginal People in the Constitution must not usurp our continuing Sovereignty. The only resolution of the Constitutional issue is by way of negotiated Sovereign Treaties under the supervision of the international community.
The Aboriginal Tent Embassy, on behalf of Aboriginal Sovereign Nations, officially declared our existing Sovereignty in 1992. This notice was first handed to the then Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Robert Tickner, on the 28 January 1992.

If Australia is a Democracy then the Government must ensure Democratic Principles when dealing with Aboriginal Peoples.

In 1973 a body of Aboriginal People under the ‘Whitlam’ Government consulted nationally with Aboriginal Peoples. This was known as the ‘National Aboriginal Consultative Committee, NACC, which evolved into the National Aboriginal Conference (N.A.C.).

Elders and people worked out that if you want proper representation there are 46 linguistic groups that cover the 500 Aboriginal Nations.

‘National Aboriginal Consultative Committee’ was elected by Aboriginal people in which 48 000 Aboriginal people voted. On the first ever Aboriginal Electoral Roll, which was developed in six months, there were around 68 000 Aboriginal People, which meant about 70% of the Aboriginal population voted. The NACC received $1 million for this as opposed to the current National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples’ 2000 membership of which only 600 voted despite receiving $29 million dollars over 3 years.

This recent Congress clearly has no clear representation of the holistic Aboriginal Community and is just as unrepresentative as the handpicked “Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians” chosen by Government.

It is worth noting that those persons who are seeking to be elected for the ‘National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples’ are vetted first by an ethics committee and then have to be approved of by the Minister of Aboriginal affairs.

So much for democratic principles: Aboriginal People do not even get a chance to choose their own representatives.

The government’s hand-picked Indigenous people on this” Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians” must publicly acknowledge that they do not represent the various Aboriginal Nations across this country. Having said this they must personally accept all responsibilities for any deceptive language that complies with the usurpation of Aboriginal Sovereignty. They would be better served to ensure the Australian Government bona fides of statehood and make moves to have treaties negotiated with Aboriginal Nations in a move to ensure Australia becomes a republic in the future.
The second attachment is Aboriginal Sovereignty, Justice, the Law and Land by Kevin Gilbert (1933-1993) which elucidates the veracity of Aboriginal Nations and Peoples claim to continuing sovereignty in Australia.

No effective law against Genocide
Finally, we wish to draw your attention to the fact that Australia has still not fully imported the Genocide Convention into domestic law. Parts of the Genocide Convention were imported into domestic law by way of the International Criminal Court Consequential Amendments Act 2002, but only the Attorney-General can begin a genocide case and if he/she refuses there is no right of appeal and no reasons need to be given. [268.121 – 268.122]. This is contrary to the intent of the long-standing Genocide Convention, which Australia was the third country to sign.
We are requesting that the UN Human Rights Commission strongly recommends that the Australian government imports fully the Genocide Convention into domestic law.

Michael Anderson 24 May 2011
0427 292 492
ngurampaa@bigpond.com

Attachments:

Anderson, Michael, 2010, That Word – Treaty

Gilbert Kevin, 1987, Aboriginal Sovereignty, Justice the Law and Land

26/05/2011 UN Human Rights Commissioner, Navi Pillay, criticises the NT Intervention

Contents:
* UN Human Rights High Commissioner, Navi Pillay,
criticises the Northern Territory Intervention
* Video “Intervention fight” – topics:
– Rev. Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra visits Europe;
– “Our Generation” film in UK;
– Aboriginal leaders meet with Navi Pillay.
* Other Northern Territory (NT) Intervention articles
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Other Aboriginal articles

UN HUMAN RIGHTS HIGH COMMISSIONER, NAVI PILLAY,
CRITICISES THE NORTHERN TERRITORY INTERVENTION:

– Media Release

Scoop: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1105/S00605/un-high-commissioner-for-human-rights-navi-pillay.htm
25 May 11: “I welcome the advances the Government has made
in addressing some of the disadvantages faced by Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In particular, I
welcome the National Apology and Australia’s formal
recognition of the UN Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples, along with the significant investment
being made to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
health and education. However, I believe these efforts are
being undermined by policies that fail to recognise the
right to self-determination for indigenous people, which
is a key element of the UN Declaration.
In my discussions with Aboriginal people, I could sense the
deep hurt and pain that they have suffered because of
government policies that are imposed on them. I also saw
Aboriginal people making great efforts to improve their
communities, but noted that their efforts are often stifled
by inappropriate and inflexible policies that fail to
empower the most effective, local solutions.
I would urge a fundamental rethink of the measures being
taken under the Northern Territory Emergency Response.
There should be a major effort to ensure not just
consultation with the communities concerned in any future
measures, but also their consent and active participation.
Such a course of action would be in line with the UN
Declaration.”

– Audio

ABC PM: UN commissioner still critical of Malaysia deal
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2011/s3226895.htm
25 May 11: “ALEXANDRA KIRK: And she’s spoken about the
concerns of Indigenous Australians critical of the
Government’s Northern intervention policy. Navi Pillay’s
impressed with the intentions of Indigenous Affairs
Minister Jenny Macklin and the amount of money the
Government’s allocated to Indigenous programs, but:
NAVI PILLAY: I’m concerned that some measures appear to
remain discriminatory in practice. The legislation
underpinning the intervention will expire next year and I
think this is then an important opportunity for the
government not just to consult with the Aboriginal
community but to gain their consent and their participation
in any future measures.”

– News

Australian: Intervention needs rethink:
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/intervention-needs-rethink-un-high-commissioner-for-human-rights-navi-pillay/story-fn59niix-1226063061796
26 May 11: “THE UN’s top human rights official has called
on the Gillard government to fundamentally rethink the
indigenous intervention, saying it had caused deep hurt and
pain to Aborigines. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Navi Pillay says she met a number of indigenous communities
during her time in Australia and they claimed government
staff had an “imperialist attitude” and that the
intervention was discriminatory. … Ms Pillay said the
indigenous people she met had told her income management
and housing programs were not working well.”

Herald Sun: United Nations Human Rights Commissioner
accuses Australia of racism
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/united-nations-human-rights-commissioner-accuses-australia-of-racism/story-fn7x8me2-1226063164163
26 May 11: “A fundamental rethink of measures taken under
the Northern Territory Emergency Response was also needed,
Ms Pillay said, due to “inappropriate and inflexible
policies” forced upon Aboriginals.”

ABC Radio Australia News:
Australia defends mandatory detention policy for refugees
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201105/3226706.htm?desktop
26 May 11: “‘Deep hurt’. Ms Pillay says the United Nations
has welcomed the apology to the Stolen Generations
delivered by then-prime minister Kevin Rudd in 2008 and
investment in Aboriginal education. But she says when she
spoke to Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, she
could “sense the deep hurt and pain that they have suffered
because of government policies that are imposed on them”.

UN News Centre: Australia: UN urges rethink of policies
on indigenous peoples and asylum-seekers
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=38501&Cr=indigenous&Cr1=
25 May 11: “Ms. Pillay noted that the treatment of
Australia’s indigenous peoples and asylum-seekers are the
two main human rights issues which are a constant source of
friction in the country and of attention abroad. … She
also urged a “fundamental rethink” of the measures being
taken under the Northern Territory Emergency Response – a
set of laws and related Government initiatives implemented
in 2007 that were aimed at addressing conditions faced by
indigenous peoples in that region of the country but which
also drew heavy criticism for being discriminatory.”

BBC: Australia: UN chief Navi Pillay attacks asylum policy
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13537669
25 May 11: “The UN human rights commissioner has launched a
scathing attack on Australia’s policy towards “boat people”
and its indigenous population. … On the question of
aboriginal rights she was just as scathing. She criticised
what she called inappropriate and inflexible policies that
had caused deep hurt and pain.”

ABC: Call for ‘fundamental rethink’ on intervention
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/25/3226881.htm
25 May 11: “The United Nations is urging the Federal
Government to have a “fundamental rethink” on the Northern
Territory intervention.”

ABC: UN rights chief attacks ‘disturbing’ policies
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/25/3226610.htm?section=justin
25 May 11: “… she [UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi
Pillay] said when she spoke to Aboriginal people in the
Northern Territory, she could “sense the deep hurt and pain
that they have suffered because of government policies that
are imposed on them”. She said “inappropriate and
inflexible” policies were stifling efforts by Indigenous
people to improve their communities with effective local
solutions and urged a rethink of the intervention. “There
should be a major effort to ensure not just consultation
with the communities concerned in any future measures, but
also their consent and active participation,” she said.”

Reuters: U.N. rights chief raps Australia on refugees, racism
http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/05/25/idINIndia-57263020110525
25 May 11: “The United Nations’ top human rights watchdog
on Wednesday attacked Australia’s tough refugee policies
and the treatment of outback Aborigines, saying there was a
strong undercurrent of racism in the country. … She also
criticised an “intervention” policy introduced by the
former conservative government and continued by Gillard
which places controls on welfare spending for Aborigines to
help fight alcohol and child sex abuse in remote outback
areas.”

Catholic Leader: UN NT probe
http://www.catholicleader.com.au/news.php/top-stories/un-nt-probe_73696
29 May 11: “A TOP United Nations official’s Australian
visit to investigate the Federal Government’s Northern
Territory Intervention has been welcomed by the head of a
ministry to Aboriginal Catholics. Sydney archdiocese’s
Aboriginal Catholic Ministry executive officer Graeme
Mundine said the visit by UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights Navi Pillay was “a good thing” and he hoped
representatives of other similar groups such as Amnesty
International would do the same.”

News Rickey: UN criticizes Australia’s policies on
indigenous peoples and refugees
http://news.rickey.org/un-criticizes-australias-policies-on-indigenous-peoples-and-refugees/4350
25 May 11: “A top United Nations official on Wednesday
urged Australia to rethink its policies towards indigenous
peoples and asylum-seekers. “The issues of indigenous
disadvantage and the treatment of asylum-seekers need to
be tackled through a human rights-based approach, not
driven by short-term electoral advantage and political
goals,” High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay
told a press conference in Canberra at the end of her
six-day visit.”

– Related Video

ABC 7.30 NT: Intervention fight
Hosted by Laetitia Lemke
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2011/05/20/3222974.htm
20 May 11: “A senior elder from Elcho Island has taken his
fight against the NT Intervention to the UK and Europe.”
[Includes footage of Navi Pillay meeting with Aboriginal
leaders in Darwin]

– Related Audio

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA Radio News 23-05-2011
http://caama.com.au/caama-radio-news-23-05-2011
23 May 11: “The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner
Navi Pillay met with a delegation of Aboriginal elders in
Darwin late last week and heard their calls for an end to
the Northern Territory Intervention and for the restoration
of their rights.”

– Related News

Australian Human Rights Commission:
Australian hearts need to be humane
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/about/media/news/2011/43_11.html
24 May 11: “”I am coming here to appeal to Australian
hearts to be humane to the treatment of asylum seekers,”
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi
Pillay told a 1500-strong crowd that packed Sydney Town
Hall last night. … Commission President Catherine Branson
QC said there was a pressing need in Australia for an
informed debate on issues that touch on respect for
individuals and groups in our community. “The Northern
Territory Emergency Response Act – and its future – is one
such issue and immigration and refugee policy is another,”
Ms Branson said. … Professor Dodson delivered a blunt
assessment on the Northern Territory Intervention as a
failure and warned that policies and programs would
continue to fail as long as they were developed by
Canberra and imposed on Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples.”

Age: Intervention facing UN criticism
http://www.theage.com.au/national/intervention-facing-un-criticism-20110522-1eyvm.html
23 May 11: “Northern Territory Aboriginal leaders have told
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay that
things have got worse under the intervention imposed by the
Howard government in 2007. ”There is greater
discrimination against them,” Ms Pillay said they told
her. ”Firstly, they said there’s been an intervention and
it started off badly without them being consulted, and
secondly, there is insufficient respect for their land,”
she said. Ms Pillay said the Aborigines told her they were
under pressure from the Gillard government to sign 99-year
leases over their land.” Lindsay Murdoch, Darwin

National Indigenous Radio Service:
UN investigates Federal Intervention
http://www.nirs.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5801:un-investigates-federal-intervention&catid=2:news-broadcasts&Itemid=65
23 May 11: “The Federal Intervention will come under
international scrutiny this week, with a top United Nations
official set to criticise a lack of rights for Aboriginal
people. … The UN High Commissioner told journalists she
would reveal her views about the intervention at a news
conference in Canberra on Wednesday, at the end of a
six-day Australian visit.”

National Indigenous Radio Service:
Elders call on UN support for human rights
http://www.nirs.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5796:elders-call-on-un-support-for-human-rights&catid=2:news-broadcasts&Itemid=65
23 May 11: “On Friday Aboriginal Elders in Darwin presented
the UN Human Rights Commissioner a letter signed by almost
six and a half thousand Australians from across the
country, calling for her support in restoring the rights of
Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. … Aboriginal
people travelled long distances from across the Northern
Territory to take the opportunity to ask for the
Commissioner’s support in calling for the restoration of
their rights.”

SMH: It was right to step in, Howard insists
http://www.smh.com.au/national/it-was-right-to-step-in-howard-insists-20110520-1ewnr.html
21 May 11: “JOHN HOWARD says he would have done nothing
different on the intervention, which was ”absolutely
necessary”. The ”lack of responsibility and the failures
of the Northern Territory government were appalling”, the
former prime minister said. … Mr Wild [Rex Wild] said
this week the imposition of policies from Canberra did not
work. … The UN Human Rights Commissioner, Navi Pillay,
visiting Australia yesterday said indigenous elders told
her that ”things had got worse” since the intervention.”

See:

WGAR News: UN Human Rights High Commissioner hears from NT Aboriginal leaders (21 May 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/21/wgar-news-un-human-rights-high-commissioner-hears-from-nt-aboriginal-leaders

VIDEO “INTERVENTION FIGHT” – TOPICS:
– REV. DR. DJINIYINI GONDARRA VISITS EUROPE;
– “OUR GENERATION” FILM IN UK;
– ABORIGINAL LEADERS MEET WITH NAVI PILLAY.

– Video

ABC 7.30 NT: Intervention fight
Hosted by Laetitia Lemke
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2011/05/20/3222974.htm
20 May 11: “A senior elder from Elcho Island has taken his
fight against the NT Intervention to the UK and Europe.”

See:

WGAR News: Aboriginal elder raises international awareness of the NT Intervention (14 May 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/14/wgar-news-aboriginal-elder-raises-international-awareness-of-the-nt-intervention

WGAR News: Global call to action for Aboriginal rights in Australia (17 May 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/17/wgar-news-global-call-to-action-for-aboriginal-rights-in-australia

OTHER NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION ARTICLES:

– Media Release

North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA):
‘Sorry’ – Still Living On Borrowed Time
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/2011/05/24/%E2%80%98sorry%E2%80%99-still-living-on-borrowed-time/
24 May 11: “As National Sorry Day approaches, the North
Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) considers
there is still more work to be done to achieve meaningful
justice for the Stolen Generations. …
Ms. Fox [NAAJA’s Chairperson] said that ‘the Intervention
is an example of policy which was made without talking to
Aboriginal people. It is policy which again disempowers
Aboriginal people and leaves Aboriginal people feeling like
they are second class citizens.’
‘If the Government was really concerned about the situation
in Aboriginal communities, they would have done what the
Little Children Are Sacred report recommended, and
consulted with Aboriginal people.’
‘So even though the Rudd Labor Government said ‘Sorry’,
the Intervention shows that they haven’t followed through
with making sure their actions reflect this important
gesture.'”

– Review & Photo Gallery

SMH: Disputed territory
http://www.smh.com.au/national/disputed-territory-20110520-1ewrz.html
21 May 11: “In the first of a series, Lindsay Murdoch
reviews the successes – and failures – of the federal
intervention, four years on. … ”

– News

SMH: Abbott and Gillard should tour NT: Wyatt
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/abbott-and-gillard-should-tour-nt-wyatt-20110525-1f3mb.html
25 May 11: “Liberal backbencher Ken Wyatt has called on his
boss Tony Abbott and Prime Minister Julia Gillard to visit
the Northern Territory together and develop a long-term
bipartisan plan to tackle indigenous disadvantage. Mr
Wyatt, the first Aborigine elected to the lower house of
federal parliament, … “If you want to change something,
work with people. I would’ve preferred to have seen
government agencies sit down with the affected communities
and work through solutions.” [Mr. Wyatt said]”

SMH: Next time talk to the people, commissioner says
http://www.smh.com.au/national/next-time-talk-to-the-people-commissioner-says-20110523-1f0xm.html?skin=text-only
24 May 11: “THE Northern Territory intervention has
perpetuated a culture of ”learnt helplessness” among
indigenous people, says the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Island Social Justice commissioner, Mick Gooda. After a
tour of the Alice Springs region, home to 39,000 indigenous
people, Mr Gooda said he supported the emergency
intervention but its implementation had left people
believing they were being bypassed and ignored.”

Koori Mail: Minister: Licensed stores are helping
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
24 May 11: “THE Federal Government says store licensing in
the Northern Territory is giving people in remote
communities better access to healthy, affordable food.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin says an
independent report has found that a majority of stores
licensed under the NT Intervention were selling more varied
fresh fruit and vegetables, store management had improved,
and there’d been a high level of compliance with the income
management requirements for stores.”

Australian: ALP vows tougher NT grog curbs
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/aboriginal-australia/alp-vows-tougher-nt-grog-curbs/story-e6frgd9f-1226061476524
24 May 11: “THE Gillard government yesterday pledged to
strengthen alcohol restrictions in Northern Territory
indigenous communities. After reports the government was
considering winding back the drink bans, Indigenous Affairs
Minister Jenny Macklin said yesterday that on the contrary,
she was committed to tougher restrictions on alcohol.”

Age: Macklin could end NT grog ban
http://www.theage.com.au/national/macklin-could-end-nt-grog-ban-20110522-1eyyi.html
23 May 11: “INDIGENOUS Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin is
under pressure to wind back alcohol bans as part of radical
reforms she is considering to curb the devastating impact
of ”rivers of grog” in remote indigenous communities and
towns in the Northern Territory. The reforms include
allowing strictly controlled ”wet canteens” in remote
communities, lifting the floor price for alcohol in Alice
Springs and making some town camps ”gated” to keep out
drunks and unwelcome visitors.”

Australian: Income management a surprise for trial town
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/income-management-a-surprise-for-trial-town/story-fn59niix-1226059922718
21 May 11: “”TOUGH love” initiatives in the federal budget
to extend income management across Australia have come as a
surprise to Shepparton in northern Victoria, one of the
five trial towns. Mayor Geoff Dobson and the heads of
welfare agencies in the town said the first they heard of
the Northern Territory-like initiative was when it was
announced in the budget and several agency heads were
concerned how it would be implemented.”

BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:

Creative Spirits:
Northern Territory Emergence Response (NTER)
– “The Intervention”:
http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/politics/northern-territory-intervention.html

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Northern Territory National Emergency Response:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Territory_intervention

Treaty Republic – NT Intervention:
http://treatyrepublic.net/search/node/NT%20Intervention

IRAG (Intervention Rollback Action Group):
Mparntwe – Alice Springs:
http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/

CAAMA (Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association)
– NT Intervention:
http://caama.com.au/?s=NT+Intervention

ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation)
– NT intervention:
http://www.antar.org.au/issues_and_campaigns/nt_intervention

The Greens: Rachel Siewert: Northern Territory Intervention:
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/category/issues/indigenous-rights/northern-territory-intervention

STICS (Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney):
http://stoptheintervention.org/

Crikey – NT Intervention:
http://www.crikey.com.au/topic/nt-intervention/

Jobs with Justice:
http://jobswithjustice.wordpress.com/

MAIC (Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective):
http://maicollective.blogspot.com/

‘concerned Australians’:
Without Justice there can be no Reconciliation:
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/

New Matilda – northern territory intervention:
http://newmatilda.com/tag/northern-territory-intervention

Amnesty International Australia:
Looking back at the Northern Territory Intervention:
http://www.amnesty.org.au/indigenous-rights/comments/24460/

Defending Indigenous Rights:
http://defendingindigenousrights.wordpress.com/

Intervention walk-off’s Blog:
http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/

Australian Human Rights Commission:
Northern Territory ‘Emergency Response’ intervention:
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/intervention/index.html

FAIRA; Human Rights Law Resource Centre; NACLC:
Australia’s compliance with CERD – Fact Sheet 2:
Northern Territory Intervention:
http://www.hrlrc.org.au/files/Fact-Sheet-2-NT-Intervention.pdf

Green Left: Northern Territory intervention: myths and facts:
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/39732

WGAR (Working Group for Aboriginal Rights):
http://wgar.info/

OTHER ABORIGINAL ARTICLES:

– Audio

ABC AM: Calls for a national rethink on juvenile justice
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3226124.htm
25 May 11: “The head of the St Vincent de Paul Society in
New South Wales says it must be recognised that juvenile
justice in Australia is an Aboriginal problem and it must
be dealt with accordingly. He was one of the participants
in a forum in Sydney last night which heard that each
young Australian offender costs hundreds of thousands of
dollars a year to keep in detention and that it’s far
cheaper to deal with them in the community. A national
report on young people in detention soon to be released
calls on the Federal Government to adopt a radical
preventative approach.”

– News

Australian: Survey raises the option of Aboriginal MP quota
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/survey-raises-the-option-of-aboriginal-mp-quota/story-e6frg6nf-1226059948522
21 May 11: “INDIGENOUS Australians have been asked whether
they want a guaranteed number of seats in federal
parliament for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, as
part of changes to the Constitution to be voted on at a
referendum in 2013. The new National Congress of
Australia’s First Peoples yesterday sent a survey out to
indigenous people and organisations, effectively asking
them to vote for which options they prefer to be part of
the constitutional change.”

– Analysis / Opinion

Australian: Speaking one’s mother tongue is vital
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/commentary/speaking-ones-mother-tongue-is-vital/story-e6frgd0x-1226059932608
21 May 11: “Education in Australian languages is not new;
but teaching in Australian languages should not be done
primarily because some children know too little English
when they start school. It should also be done where
children know more English, or predominantly or only
English: this is the principle of the culture domain in
Cape York, where languages are dying. Teaching children in
Australian languages is only one instance of speaking to
children in Australian languages so that they learn them as
their mother tongues. If children do not learn Australian
languages as mother tongues, Australian cultures cannot
live.” Noel Pearson

– New Website

You Me Unity: About Updating the Australian Constitution
http://www.youmeunity.org.au/about
“The Constitution is the basis for our laws and political
system and represents the values that define us as a
nation. A lot has changed since the Constitution was
written in 1901. Nowadays many Australians would be
surprised to know that the Constitution still includes the
possibility for discrimination based on your race, and
ignores Australia’s first peoples and their role as
custodians of the world’s oldest continuing culture. The
Australian people have the power to update the
Constitution through a referendum so that it better
reflects our shared values. In light of this The Panel has
been appointed by the Government to consult with the people
and lead a nationwide discussion on the issue.”

See:

WGAR News: Proposal to recognise Aboriginal people in the Constitution; Jenny Macklin has ruled out a treaty (16 Nov 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/11/16/wgar-news-proposal-to-recognise-aboriginal-people-in-the-constitution-jenny-macklin-has-r

WGAR News: [Quasi] Constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians (21 May 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/21/wgar-news-un-human-rights-high-commissioner-hears-from-nt-aboriginal-leaders

21/05/2011 UN Human Rights High Commissioner hears from NT Aboriginal leaders

Contents:
* UN Human Rights High Commissioner hears from
Northern Territory Aboriginal leaders
* UN Human Rights High Commissioner receives letter
signed by thousands of Australians
* UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay
visits Australia from 20 May 2011
* UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York,
16 to 27 May 2011
* Aboriginal Health
* Interview with Chris Graham, Editor of Tracker Magazine
* Video: No to a dump in the NT – Darwin rally 11 May 2011
* Background to Muckaty nuclear waste dump
* [Quasi] Constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention

UN HUMAN RIGHTS HIGH COMMISSIONER HEARS FROM
NORTHERN TERRITORY ABORIGINAL LEADERS:

– News

SMH: Australia’s human rights under spotlight
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/australias-human-rights-under-spotlight-20110520-1ewlk.html
20 May 11: “Northern Territory Aboriginal leaders have told
a senior United Nation official that “things have gotten
worse” since the Howard government’s intervention. UN high
commissioner of human rights Navi Pillay is visiting
Australia as a guest of government to assess whether the
country is complying with its international obligations.
“Two areas of concern are the discrimination against the
Aborigine and Torres Strait Islanders and the mandatory
detention of people,” she told reporters.”

ABC: UN commissioner visits NT amid intervention concerns
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/20/3223039.htm?section=justin
20 May 11: “The United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights says she is concerned about the treatment of
Indigenous people in Australia and the Federal
Government’s mandatory detention policies. Navi Pillay is
in Australia to assess whether it is complying with its
international obligations. On the first day of her visit,
she toured Darwin’s immigration detention centre and met
with Aboriginal elders who told her they are being
discriminated against under the Northern Territory
intervention.”

UN HUMAN RIGHTS HIGH COMMISSIONER RECEIVES LETTER
SIGNED BY THOUSANDS OF AUSTRALIANS:

– Media Releases

‘concerned Australians’: UN Human Rights High Commissioner
Receives Letter signed by Thousands of Australians
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=154711
20 May 11: “Today Aboriginal Elders in Darwin will present
to the UN Human Rights Commissioner a letter signed by
almost six and a half thousand Australians from across the
country, calling for her support in restoring the rights
of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory.
This follows repeated calls from visiting UN Special
Rapporteurs, the World Council of Churches and last August,
from her own Committee for the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination in Geneva. …
Signatures from NT residents have come from some thirty-four
different centres including those from future growth
centres (hub towns) and from smaller remote homelands.
They include: Marngarr, Ramingining, Bolkdjam Outstation,
Oenpelli, Ngukurr, Bickerton Island, Utopia, Ampilatwatcha,
Daguragu, Djarrakpi, Gan Gan, Croker Island, Wadeye,
Barrika, Raymanggir, Dhamitaka, Gapuwiak, Mirrngatja,
Maparu, Dondyji, Santa Theresa, Lajamanu, Elcho Island,
Tiwi Island, Yuendumu, Maningrida, Milingimbi, Galiwin’ku,
Yirrkala, Darwin, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine
and Nhulunbuy.
Today the Commissioner, at the start of her Australian
visit, will hear directly from Aboriginal people living
in the NT prescribed communities of the impact they
experience on a daily basis, living under the
discriminatory policies of the Intervention.”

‘concerned Australians’: UN Human Rights Commissioner
Hears of One of the Greatest Injustices in Australia Today.
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=154710
20 May 11: “I believe this (the Intervention) is one of the
greatest injustices in Australia today. The first peoples
of our land desperately need our respect, not our coercion.
So states one of the many hundreds of messages sent by
Australians from all over the country to the UN Human
Rights Commissioner, Navi Pillay. The High Commissioner
will commence her visit to Australia today with a visit to
Darwin.”

UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NAVI PILLAY
VISITS AUSTRALIA FROM 20 MAY 2011:

– News

ABC: UN commissioner eyes Australia’s human rights
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/20/3222488.htm?site=idx-nt
20 May 11: “Navi Pillay has arrived in Australia as part of
a fact-finding mission. She is in Darwin today and is first
meeting with Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul
Henderson. The commissioner will then tour the Immigration
Detention Centre before meeting with Aboriginal elders this
afternoon to discuss the Northern Territory Emergency
Response, or federal intervention.”

Galdu: UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay to Visit Australia
http://www.galdu.org/web/?odas=5219&giella1=eng
18 May 11: “UNITED NATIONS, Geneva — The UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay will on Friday
begin her first official visit to Australia to discuss
rights issues with the Government, the Australian Human
Rights Commission, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander communities and non-governmental organizations.
During her six days in the country, Pillay will visit
Darwin, Cairns, Sydney and Canberra. … The UN human
rights chief will focus broadly on the following issues:
… discrimination against indigenous people … “

– Event

Australian Human Rights Commission: Human Rights 2011
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/hr2011/
“Date Monday, 23 May 2011
Time 5.00pm – concludes at 7.00 pm
Location Sydney Town Hall, George Street
You’re invited to a peak Human Rights event in Sydney
featuring Bangarra Dance Theatre performing at Human
Rights 2011.
For the first time in Australia, United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights Ms.Navi Pillay will be giving
a public presentation, joining in a panel discussion which
includes one of Australia’s most prominent and
well-respected Aboriginal Elders Prof Patrick Dodson and
Director of the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of
Torture Paris Aristotle AM.
The forum will be facilitated by popular TV broadcaster
Indira Naidoo. Admission is free but it is essential to
register.”

See:

Indigenous Peoples: New South Wales:
Human Rights To Take Centre Stage At Sydney Town Hall
http://indigenouspeoplesissues.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10459:new-south-wales-human-rights-to-take-centre-stage-at-sydney-town-hall&catid=54:australia-indigenous-peoples&Itemid=76

Australian Human Rights Commission:
Sydney opportunity to hear first-hand from UN Human Rights Chief
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/about/media/media_releases/2011/37_11.html

UN PERMANENT FORUM ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES IN NEW YORK,
16 TO 27 MAY 2011:

– Introduction

Treaty Republic:
UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues – May 2011
http://treatyrepublic.net/content/un-permanent-forum-indigenous-issues-may-2011
“More than 1,300 delegates are expected to attend the tenth
session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous
Issues at Headquarters in New York from 16 to 27 May. The
2011 Permanent Forum is a review year and the focus will be
on the implementation of Forum recommendations on economic
and social development, the environment and free, prior and
informed consent. The Permanent Forum will engage with
Member States, United Nations agencies and civil society.
Delegates will include the United Nations,
intergovernmental organizations, Indigenous Peoples’
Organizations, non-governmental organizations and
academia.”

– Agenda

http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/session_tenth.html

– News

9 News: UN summit to hear from indigenous group
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8250726/un-summit-to-hear-from-indigenous-group
18 May 11: “A United Nations summit on indigenous issues
will hear about issues with the federal government’s
Northern Territory intervention. About 40 Australian
delegates have arrived in the US to take part in the 10th
Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues,
which runs in New York until Friday next week. The forum
advises the UN’s Economic and Social Council. Indigenous
activists including Barbara Shaw, Richard Downs and Ngarla
Kunoth-Monks on Wednesday said they would speak about the
impact the invention has had on their communities.”

Indigenous Community Volunteers:
An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice at the UN
http://www.icv.com.au/news/an-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-voice-at-the-un/
18 May 11: “The federal government’s intervention in the
Northern Territory and the right to water are to be raised
at the United Nations. The issues are being put to the
Tenth Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous
Issues (UNPHII) in New York by a delegation of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples … The Australian
delegation, numbering around 40, is co-chaired by Janine
Gertz and Brian Wyatt. “The size of the Australian
Delegation reflects the importance Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people at home are placing on
implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous People,’ said Mr Wyatt, a Yamatji man
from Western Australia.”

Koori Mail: Indigenous voices at UN forum
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
18 May 11: “THE Northern Territory Intervention, deaths in
custody and rights to water will be amongst issues raised
by 40 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander non-government
delegates at the tenth session of the United Nations
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues UN (UNPFII) in New
York this fortnight. Delegation co-chairs Janine Gertz and
Brian Wyatt said delegates would pressure the Australian
Government to ensure the issues raised at the forum were
addressed.”

Indigenous Peoples: Australia: Indigenous Australian Woman
Participates In United Nations Forum
http://indigenouspeoplesissues.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10455:australia-indigenous-australian-woman-participates-in-united-nations-forum&catid=54:australia-indigenous-peoples&Itemid=76
18 May 11: “Megan Davis, the first Indigenous Australian
women to be elected to the United Nations (UN) Permanent
Forum on Indigenous Issues today attended her first session
of the Forum in New York. Ms Davis joins 16 independent
experts nominated by Governments and Indigenous
organisations across the world to examine Indigenous issues
including economic and social development, culture, the
environment, education, health and human rights.”

National Indigenous Radio Service:
UN Indigenous Forum underway
http://www.nirs.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5776:un-indigenous-forum-underway&catid=2:news-broadcasts&Itemid=65
17 May 11: “The annual United Nations forum aimed at
advancing the rights of the estimated 370 million
Indigenous persons around the world is underway with a call
to turn those rights into a practical reality. More than
1,300 delegates are expected to participate in the two-week
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, which is being held
at UN Headquarters in New York and is marking its tenth
anniversary.”

Koori Mail: Kudos for Aboriginal rep at UN forum
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
17 May 11: “THE first Indigenous Australian women elected
to the United Nations (UN) Permanent Forum on Indigenous
Issues is today attending her first session of the Forum in
New York. Megan Davis joins 16 independent experts
nominated by Governments and Indigenous organisations
across the world to examine Indigenous issues. Indigenous
Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin congratulated Ms Davis on
her new role.”

Green Left:
Aboriginal leader: ‘We need to make communities viable again’
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/47558
14 May 11: “Barbara Shaw, a town camp leader from Alice
Springs and member of the Intervention Rollback Action
Group, spoke to Green Left Weekly on May 9. She said the
current intervention hasn’t worked, so “why have another
one?” … Shaw, who travelled to New York on May 12 to
attend the 10th UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues,
said the intervention has been a “waste of time and waste
of money”. Those resources should have been used “to allow
Aboriginal people to get on with their lives and solve
their problems themselves”.”

– Audio

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA Radio News 11-05-2011
http://caama.com.au/caama-radio-news-11-05-2011
13 May 11: “A delegation traveling to the United nations
Permanent forum on Indigenous issues will include for the
first time a number of Aboriginal people who are living on
their traditional country under Northern Territory
Intervention regulations.”

ABORIGINAL HEALTH:

– Journal [includes many articles on Aboriginal health]

eMJA The Medical Journal of Australia:
Contents 16 May 2011
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/194_10_160511/contents_160511.html
“Editor’s Choice: Questions and answers in Indigenous health
– Ruth M Armstrong … “

– Analysis / Opinion

eMJA The Medical Journal of Australia:
Talking Policy – Editorial: How can Australia do better for Indigenous health?
MJA 2011; 194 (10): 501-502
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/194_10_160511/tai10318_fm.html
16 May 11: “Respect, tolerance and trust in Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people are needed from government to
improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians
… In 2007, the Northern Territory Emergency Response
(the “Intervention”) was perpetrated on Aboriginal people
in the NT, and in doing this the Racial Discrimination Act
1975 (Cwlth) was waived. Further, this approach bypassed
the Aboriginal leadership, undermining their sense of
control over their communities and destiny. It overtook
and failed to acknowledge progress that was already being
made by Aboriginal health services.” Peter W Tait

INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS GRAHAM, EDITOR OF TRACKER MAGAZINE:

Tracker Magazine website: http://www.thetracker.com.au/

– Audio

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
Chris Graham Speaks on CAAMA Radio
http://caama.com.au/chris-graham-speaks-on-caama-radio
19 May 11: “Chris Graham, the editor of the freshly
released news magazine Tracker speaks to Paul Wiles on
CAAMA’s Strong Voices. A cross between a newspaper and a
magazine, Tracker will have a print run of 35,000 and is
backed by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council.”

See:

WGAR News: More on Tracker, the Aboriginal rights-based magazine
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/10/wgar-news-nt-nuclear-waste-dump-plans-contested

VIDEO: NO TO A DUMP IN THE NT – DARWIN RALLY 11 MAY 2011:

– Video

YouTube: Muckaty Protest – Darwin May 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzA4qq8yhUM
17 May 11: “On May 11, 2011 Darwin rallied against the
National Radioactive Waste Management Bill, the legislation
that will pave the way for a radioactive waste dump at
Muckaty, 120ks north of Tennant Creek in the NT. Check out
the range of speakers who came together to express concerns
and say NO to a dump in the NT.”

– Related News

Koori Mail: Dump vote is deferred
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php?page=Current+Edition
18 May 11: “THE Federal Government’s National Radioactive
Waste Management Bill, expected to be voted upon last
Tuesday, has been deferred until the Senate sittings next
month. It means a decision on the future of the proposed
Muckaty nuclear waste dump in the NT is now several more
weeks away. Anti-nuclear campaigners welcomed the delay,
saying ‘every day without a bad law is a good day’.”

BACKGROUND TO MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:

YouTube: Muckaty Voices-Australia’s nuclear waste dump story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcuNpT84Ovo
“”Muckaty Voices” is a short film capturing community
resistance to an Australian government plan to dump
radioactive waste at Muckaty Station, 120 kilometres north
of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory.”

Beyond Nuclear Initiative – Muckaty:
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/muckaty/

Beyond Nuclear Initiative:
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/

Proposed Radioactive Waste Dump at Muckaty, NT
Briefing Paper – February 2011
Jim Green B.Med.Sci.(Hons.), PhD
National nuclear campaigner – Friends of the Earth, Australia
Friends of the Earth: http://www.foe.org.au/anti-nuclear/issues/oz/nontdump/Dump%20briefing%20Feb%202011.pdf

Nuclear Territory News: Waste Dump News:
http://ntne.ws/articles/article.php?section=waste

WGAR News: Nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory (2 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/02/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-in-the-northern-territory-2-mar-10

WGAR News: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (20 Mar 10)
http://groups.google.com.au/group/foblmail/browse_thread/thread/ddc393bb66205849

WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump (28 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/28/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-close-the-gap-day-28-mar-10

WGAR News: Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump (4 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/03/wgar-news-muckaty-radioactive-waste-dump-welfare-quarantining-4-apr-10

WGAR News: National day of action against Muckaty nuclear waste dump: 12th April!
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/10/wgar-news-national-day-of-action-against-muckaty-nuclear-waste-dump-12th-april

WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump: Senate inquiry in Darwin; Nationwide protests (17 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/16/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-senate-inquiry-in-darwin-nationwide-protests-17-apr-10

WGAR News: Update: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (23 Apr 10)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/22/wgar-news-raw-sewage-dumped-in-ampilatwatja-aboriginal-worker-dismissed-23-apr-10

WGAR News: Update on Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (2 May 10)
https://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/02052010-update-on-muckaty-station-nuclear-waste-dump/

WGAR News: “Muckaty Voices” film; Senate Report into nuclear waste dump plan (16 May 10)
https://indymedia.org.au/2010/05/16/wgar-news-muckaty-voices-film-senate-report-into-nuclear-waste-dump-plan-16-may-10

WGAR News: Federal Court legal challenge over nuclear waste dump (13 Jun 10)
http://lists.perthimc.asn.au/pipermail/blackgreensolidarity/2010-June/002933.html

WGAR News: PM Gillard: No change on Muckaty nuclear waste dump (12 Jul 10)
http://lists.perthimc.asn.au/pipermail/blackgreensolidarity/2010-July/002965.html

WGAR News: Legislation passes enabling a nuclear waste dump to be built at Muckaty, NT (1 Mar 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/01/wgar-news-legislation-passes-enabling-a-nuclear-waste-dump-to-be-built-at-muckaty-nt

WGAR News: Federal Court challenge over nuclear dump resumes in August (16 Mar 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/16/wgar-news-federal-court-challenge-over-nuclear-dump-resumes-in-august

WGAR News: Interview with Kylie Sambo, Mark Lane and Dr. Jim Green about Muckaty nuclear waste dump (21 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/21/wgar-news-protest-blockade-by-lake-tyers-aboriginal-women-continues

WGAR News: Nuclear waste legislation must wait until objections heard in Federal Court (23 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/23/wgar-news-international-day-for-the-elimination-of-racial-discrimination-harmony-day-21-m

WGAR News: Aboriginal groups protest against nuclear waste dump (26 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/26/wgar-news-police-used-to-break-blockade-by-aboriginal-women-of-lake-tyers

WGAR News: Crisis in Japan and Muckaty Nuclear Waste Dump (2 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/02/wgar-news-online-petition-about-aboriginal-workers-exploited-under-sihip-housing-program

WGAR News: Muckaty Traditional Owners speak out (14 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/14/wgar-news-deaths-in-custody-and-aboriginal-incarceration-rates

WGAR News: Help Stop the Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump – May 7-8 (24 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/24/wgar-news-two-urgent-petitions-on-the-nt-intervention-sign-by-early-may-2011

WGAR News: “Keep the poison out of Muckaty” – community rally on May 7, 2011 (30 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/30/wgar-news-keep-the-poison-out-of-muckaty-community-rally-on-may-7-2011

WGAR News: NT nuclear waste dump plans contested (10 May 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/10/wgar-news-nt-nuclear-waste-dump-plans-contested

WGAR News: More on Muckaty nuclear waste dump (14 May 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/14/wgar-news-aboriginal-elder-raises-international-awareness-of-the-nt-intervention

WGAR News: Interview with Muckaty Traditional Owner, Dianne Stokes / Doctor: Public misled over nuclear medicine needs (17 May 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/17/wgar-news-global-call-to-action-for-aboriginal-rights-in-australia

WGAR News: Gov’t hopes Senate will debate nuclear waste dump in June (18 May 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/18/wgar-news-amnesty-international-report-2011-human-rights-in-australia

[QUASI] CONSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS:

See:

WGAR News: Proposal to recognise Aboriginal people in the Constitution; Jenny Macklin has ruled out a treaty (16 Nov 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/11/16/wgar-news-proposal-to-recognise-aboriginal-people-in-the-constitution-jenny-macklin-has-r

– Media Release

The Greens: Rachel Siewert:
Join a national conversation on the constitutional
recognition of Indigenous Australians
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/join-national-conversation-constitutional-recognition-indigenous-australians
19 May 11: “People are being invited to participate in a
national conversation about how Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Australians could be recognised in the
Australian Constitution.
Late last year the Prime Minister appointed a 20 member
Expert Panel on the Constitutional Recognition of
Indigenous Australians to consult the community and report
back to the Government.
The panel, made of up Indigenous and non-Indigenous
community leaders, legal experts and members of parliament,
has begun travelling around the country to ask Australians
to think about constitutional change and to contribute
their views.
Panel member Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens
spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Issues said a discussion paper had been released today as
a starting point for the consultations.”

– News

Koori Mail: Reconciliation Australia welcomes discussion paper
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
19 May 11: “RECONCILIATION Australia has welcomed today’s
launch of a discussion paper by the Expert Panel on the
Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians as an
important step forward for reconciliation. RA Co-Chairs
Professor Mick Dodson and Ms Melinda Cilento said this was
a great opportunity for all Australians to get involved in
the national discussion about recognising Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people in our country’s most
important document.”

Koori Mail: Discussion paper to start national conversation
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
19 May 11: “A DISCUSSION paper aimed at providing a
starting point for Australia-wide consultations on the
constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Australians was released today. The paper,
authored by the Expert Panel on the Constitutional
Recognition of Indigenous Australians, co-chaired by
Professor Patrick Dodson and Mark Leibler, sets out
background information about the Constitution, how it can
be changed and the potential benefits for all Australians
from constitutional recognition.”

National Indigenous Radio Service:
New Constitutional preamble being considered
http://www.nirs.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5790:new-constitutional-preamble-being-considered-&catid=2:news-broadcasts&Itemid=65
19 May 11: “The Preamble recognizing Indigenous people in
the constitution could also include a statement of the
nation’s values. … Any changes made to the constitution
would need to be voted on in a referendum.”

Southern Courier:
Constitutional recognition for indigenous Australians
http://southern-courier.whereilive.com.au/news/story/constitutional-recognition-for-indigenous-australians/
19 May 11: “A discussion paper aimed at providing a
starting point for Australia-wide consultations on the
constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Australians was released today. … The Australian
Government, the Opposition, the Australian Greens and the
Independent members of Federal Parliament have all given
in principle support to recognising Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution.”

BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:

Creative Spirits:
Northern Territory Emergence Response (NTER)
– “The Intervention”:
http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/politics/northern-territory-intervention.html

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Northern Territory National Emergency Response:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Territory_intervention

IRAG (Intervention Rollback Action Group):
Mparntwe – Alice Springs:
http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/

CAAMA (Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association)
– NT Intervention:
http://caama.com.au/?s=NT+Intervention

Treaty Republic – NT Intervention:
http://treatyrepublic.net/search/node/NT%20Intervention

ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation)
– NT intervention:
http://www.antar.org.au/issues_and_campaigns/nt_intervention

The Greens: Rachel Siewert: Northern Territory Intervention:
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/category/issues/indigenous-rights/northern-territory-intervention

STICS (Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney):
http://stoptheintervention.org/

Crikey – NT Intervention:
http://www.crikey.com.au/topic/nt-intervention/

Jobs with Justice:
http://jobswithjustice.wordpress.com/

MAIC (Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective):
http://maicollective.blogspot.com/

‘concerned Australians’:
Without Justice there can be no Reconciliation:
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/

New Matilda – northern territory intervention:
http://newmatilda.com/tag/northern-territory-intervention

Amnesty International Australia:
Looking back at the Northern Territory Intervention:
http://www.amnesty.org.au/indigenous-rights/comments/24460/

Defending Indigenous Rights:
http://defendingindigenousrights.wordpress.com/

Intervention walk-off’s Blog:
http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/

Australian Human Rights Commission:
Northern Territory ‘Emergency Response’ intervention:
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/intervention/index.html

FAIRA; Human Rights Law Resource Centre; NACLC:
Australia’s compliance with CERD – Fact Sheet 2:
Northern Territory Intervention:
http://www.hrlrc.org.au/files/Fact-Sheet-2-NT-Intervention.pdf

Green Left: Northern Territory intervention: myths and facts:
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/39732

WGAR (Working Group for Aboriginal Rights):
http://wgar.info/

17/05/2011 Global Call to Action for Aboriginal Rights in Australia

Contents:
* Global Call to Action for Aboriginal Rights in Australia
* Interview with Muckaty Traditional Owner, Dianne Stokes
* Doctor: Public misled over nuclear medicine needs
* More on Muckaty nuclear waste dump
* Background to Muckaty nuclear waste dump
* Renewed Call for a Joint Committee Senate Inquiry into
Deaths in Custody
* Background to Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and
incarceration rates
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Other Aboriginal articles

GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION FOR ABORIGINAL RIGHTS IN AUSTRALIA:

– Media Release

Indigenous Peoples: Australia: Aboriginal Leader Calls For
Social Justice Outside Australia House In London
http://indigenouspeoplesissues.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10396:australia-aboriginal-leader-calls-for-social-justice-outside-australia-house-in-london&catid=54:australia-indigenous-peoples&Itemid=76
15 May 11: “Rev. Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra OAM, senior elder
and Dhurili Clan Nation leader of the traditional Yolngu
peoples of Northeast Arnhem Land, has delivered a speech to
the world’s media outside the Australian High Commission in
London. He expressed the deep hurt of Aboriginal people in
the Northern Territory caused by the Northern Territory
Intervention and other policies that breach their human and
cultural rights. Rev. Dr. Gondarra announced the Global
Call to Action for Aboriginal Rights, whose statement has
been signed by former Australian prime minister Malcolm
Fraser and other eminent Australians.”

– Statement signed by Leading Australians

Our Generation:
Global Call to Action for Aboriginal Rights in Australia
http://www.ourgeneration.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Global-Call-to-Action1.pdf
“BACKGROUND
Under current Australian Government policy, the Aboriginal
people of the Northern Territory are at breaking point.
Suicide rates are soaring and chronic health problems are
rife. Despair and cultural confusion are driving young and
old to alcoholism, violence and drug abuse. Australias
Aboriginal people now have the poorest health record of any
Indigenous group in the world, and incarceration rates are
higher than those of black South Africans during Apartheid.
The Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER), otherwise
known as the Northern Territory Intervention, has been in
place since June 2007 in ongoing violation of international
human rights law. … [click on link to continue reading
background and to read statement signed by leading
Australians]”

– News

Our Generation: GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION launched in London
outside Australia House
[scroll down page] http://www.ourgeneration.org.au/
“Rev. Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra has called upon the citizens
of the world to support Aboriginal rights in Australia.
Drawn from a statement by eminent Australians, including
former prime minister Hon. Malcolm Fraser, the Global Call
to Action outlines the key demands by the Aboriginal people
of the Northern Territory and human rights advocates from
across Australia.”

Koori Mail: Australia under the spotlight
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
16 May 11: “AN Aboriginal Elder has drawn international
attention to the failings of the Northern Territory
Intervention. Outside the Australian High Commission in
London yesterday, Yolngu clan leader Rev Dr Djiniyini
Gondarra unveiled the Global Call to Action for Aboriginal
Rights in Australia – a campaign backed by prominent
Australians opposing the controversial policy. Last week in
Geneva, Rev Dr Gondarra met with the UN High Commissioner
on Human Rights Navi Pillay, who’ll visit Australia this
week to examine Australia’s human rights record.”

ABC: Aboriginal elder takes blowtorch to intervention
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/16/3217929.htm?section=justin
16 May 11: “Aboriginal elder Djiniyini Gondarra is making
waves on his barnstorming tour of Europe. … Dr Gondarra
unveiled a Global Call to Action for Aboriginal Rights,
which draws from a statement signed by former Australian
prime minister Malcolm Fraser and other eminent
Australians. He invited the global community to support
Aboriginal people in their struggle. … Dr Gondarra is on
a diplomatic visit to Europe, meeting leading political,
religious and humanitarian figures.”

National Indigenous Radio Service:
NT leader tells UN that intervention is racist
http://www.nirs.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5764:nt-leader-tells-un-that-intervention-is-racist&catid=2:news-broadcasts&Itemid=65
16 May 11: “An Aboriginal elder has told the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights the Northern Territory
intervention is racist. Reverend Djiniyini Gondarra is a
senior elder and Dhurili clan leader of the Yolngu people
of north-east Arnhem Land. In Geneva this week, Dr Gondarra
told UN high commissioner Navi Pillay Aboriginal people are
victimised by some of the services delivered to them.”

ABC: Aboriginal elder in London to protest intervention
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/14/3217072.htm
15 May 11: “An Aboriginal elder from Arnhem Land has taken
to the streets of London to call for world support to end
the federal intervention in Northern Territory Indigenous
communities. Dr Djiniyini Gondarra hails from Elcho Island,
off the coast of Arnhem Land. Standing outside the
Australian High Commission in London, Dr Gondarra has sung
a traditional song and read a statement calling for the
federal intervention to end immediately. “We are asking all
people today to stand with us, fight with us,” he said.”

– Audio

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA Radio News 16-05-2011
http://caama.com.au/caama-radio-news-16-05-2011
16 May 11: “Top end Aboriginal elder Reverend Djiniyini
Gondarra has told the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights that Aboriginal people are being victimized
by some of the services delivered to them under the
Northern territory intervention.”

See:

WGAR News: Aboriginal elder raises international awareness of the NT Intervention (14 May 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/14/wgar-news-aboriginal-elder-raises-international-awareness-of-the-nt-intervention

– Related News

National Indigenous Radio Service:
UN Indigenous Forum underway
http://www.nirs.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5776:un-indigenous-forum-underway&catid=2:news-broadcasts&Itemid=65
17 May 11: “The annual United Nations forum aimed at
advancing the rights of the estimated 370 million
Indigenous persons around the world is underway with a
call to turn those rights into a practical reality. More
than 1,300 delegates are expected to participate in the
two-week Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, which is
being held at UN Headquarters in New York and is marking
its tenth anniversary.”

Green Left:
Aboriginal leader: ‘We need to make communities viable again’
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/47558
14 May 11: “Barbara Shaw, a town camp leader from Alice
Springs and member of the Intervention Rollback Action
Group, spoke to Green Left Weekly on May 9. She said the
current intervention hasn’t worked, so “why have another
one?” … Shaw, who travelled to New York on May 12 to
attend the 10th UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues,
said the intervention has been a “waste of time and waste
of money”. Those resources should have been used “to allow
Aboriginal people to get on with their lives and solve
their problems themselves”.”

INTERVIEW WITH MUCKATY TRADITIONAL OWNER, DIANNE STOKES:

– Audio

Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane
Let’s Talk – Indigenous presented talkback:
http://989fm.com.au/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29
11 May 11: “Dianne Stokes and Natalie Wasley: Tiga Bayles
spoke with Muckaty Tradtional Owner, Dianne Stokes and
Beyond Nuclear Initiative spokesperson, Natalie Wasley.”
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasting/audio/98fm-podcast-2011-05-11-74520.mp3

DOCTOR: PUBLIC MISLED OVER NUCLEAR MEDICINE NEEDS:

– News

SMH: No need for nuclear medicine: doctor
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/no-need-for-nuclear-medicine-doctor-20110512-1ekdb.html
12 May 11: “The federal government has misled the public
about Australia’s need for nuclear medicine, a Northern
Territory emergency physician says. Hilary Tyler, a member
of the Medical Association for the Prevention of War
(MAPW), said even if a nuclear reactor was needed to make
medical radioisotopes, there was no need for further
uranium mining. “The amount of uranium you need a year to
treat everyone in Australia with cancer – you can hold that
amount of uranium in your hand. It’s a very tiny amount,”
she told AAP. … Dr Tyler, who works at Alice Springs
Hospital, said MAPW was opposed to the establishment of a
nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station, near Tennant Creek,
in central Australia.”

MORE ON MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:

– Audio

ABC PM: Native title dispute over nuclear waste dump
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2011/s3216587.htm
13 May 11: “There is a new and significant development in
the fight over the Commonwealth’s plan to put a nuclear
waste dump on Aboriginal land in the Northern Territory.
Lawyers acting for one indigenous clan are now accusing the
Northern Land Council of ignoring its earlier findings that
the land belonged primarily to the Yapa Yapa clan. The
council is now backing another family, who will receive $12
million for agreeing to allow contaminated waste to be
buried on the site. The traditional owners are now at war
in court, and some locals say they will take direct action
to stop trucks carrying nuclear waste onto their land.”

– News

National Indigenous Radio Service:
Yapa-Yapa clan say they are being ignored over nuclear dump
http://www.nirs.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5769:yapa-yapa-clan-say-they-are-being-ignored-over-nuclear-dump&catid=2:news-broadcasts&Itemid=65
16 May 11: “There is a new and significant development in
the fight over the Commonwealth’s plan to put a nuclear
waste dump on Aboriginal land in the Northern Territory.
Lawyers acting for one Indigenous clan are now accusing the
Northern Land Council of ignoring its earlier findings that
the land belonged primarily to the Yapa-Yapa people.”

National Indigenous Radio Service:
NT MP calls for end to nuclear waste dump
http://www.nirs.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5766:nt-mp-calls-for-end-to-nuclear-waste-dump&catid=2:news-broadcasts&Itemid=65
16 May 11: “A Northern Territory Labor Minister has called
on his federal colleagues to abandon plans to set up a
nuclear waste storage facility in the Northern Territory.
Member for Barkly Gerry McCarthy was one of about 50 people
who staged an anti-nuclear dump protest outside Parliament
House in Darwin this afternoon.”

National Indigenous Times:
Muckaty nuclear debate shrouded in Budget cloud
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=21891
15 May 11: “The Australian Greens have accused the Federal
Government of trying to hide a Senate debate on nuclear
waste behind the smokescreen of the 2011 Federal Budget.
Greens Senator, Scott Ludlam said legislation to set up
Australia’s first nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station,
near Tennant Creek, was listed for debate in the Senate
last Tuesday, when the Federal Budget was being handed
down. ‘It’s a sign that the government’s got something to
hide … it’s curious timing,’ he said.”

National Indigenous Radio Service:
Anti-nuclear waste dump protest held in Darwin
http://www.nirs.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5752:anti-nuclear-waste-dump-protest-held-in-darwin&catid=2:news-broadcasts&Itemid=65
12 May 11: “Around 50 people staged a protest outside
Parliament House in Darwin yesterday afternoon saying they
don’t want a nuclear waste storage facility to be built in
the Northern Territory. … Voice of Lorna Vejo: I am a
traditional owner of Muckaty, by acceptance to the law and
the land and the culture and I say no to Mackaty being used
as a dump! Voice ends.”

NT News: Locals reject waste dump
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/05/12/231901_ntnews.html
12 May 11: “‘NO’ was the message from an anti-nuclear waste
dump protest at Parliament House in Darwin on Wednesday.
… Nuclear Free NT and rally organiser Cat Beaton said the
nuclear waste should remain where it is, and that it will
not be just medical waste, as the Government has said. “I
don’t have the answers, I don’t pretend I do,” she said.
“The majority of waste is stored at Lucas Heights (South
Sydney) where it is safe. Keeping it there minimises
transport.””

BACKGROUND TO MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:

YouTube: Muckaty Voices-Australia’s nuclear waste dump story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcuNpT84Ovo
“”Muckaty Voices” is a short film capturing community
resistance to an Australian government plan to dump
radioactive waste at Muckaty Station, 120 kilometres north
of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory.”

Beyond Nuclear Initiative – Muckaty:
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/muckaty/

Beyond Nuclear Initiative:
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/

Proposed Radioactive Waste Dump at Muckaty, NT
Briefing Paper – February 2011
Jim Green B.Med.Sci.(Hons.), PhD
National nuclear campaigner – Friends of the Earth, Australia
Friends of the Earth: http://www.foe.org.au/anti-nuclear/issues/oz/nontdump/Dump%20briefing%20Feb%202011.pdf

Nuclear Territory News: Waste Dump News:
http://ntne.ws/articles/article.php?section=waste

WGAR News: Nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory (2 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/02/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-in-the-northern-territory-2-mar-10

WGAR News: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (20 Mar 10)
http://groups.google.com.au/group/foblmail/browse_thread/thread/ddc393bb66205849

WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump (28 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/28/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-close-the-gap-day-28-mar-10

WGAR News: Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump (4 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/03/wgar-news-muckaty-radioactive-waste-dump-welfare-quarantining-4-apr-10

WGAR News: National day of action against Muckaty nuclear waste dump: 12th April!
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/10/wgar-news-national-day-of-action-against-muckaty-nuclear-waste-dump-12th-april

WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump: Senate inquiry in Darwin; Nationwide protests (17 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/16/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-senate-inquiry-in-darwin-nationwide-protests-17-apr-10

WGAR News: Update: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (23 Apr 10)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/22/wgar-news-raw-sewage-dumped-in-ampilatwatja-aboriginal-worker-dismissed-23-apr-10

WGAR News: Update on Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (2 May 10)
https://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/02052010-update-on-muckaty-station-nuclear-waste-dump/

WGAR News: “Muckaty Voices” film; Senate Report into nuclear waste dump plan (16 May 10)
https://indymedia.org.au/2010/05/16/wgar-news-muckaty-voices-film-senate-report-into-nuclear-waste-dump-plan-16-may-10

WGAR News: Federal Court legal challenge over nuclear waste dump (13 Jun 10)
http://lists.perthimc.asn.au/pipermail/blackgreensolidarity/2010-June/002933.html

WGAR News: PM Gillard: No change on Muckaty nuclear waste dump (12 Jul 10)
http://lists.perthimc.asn.au/pipermail/blackgreensolidarity/2010-July/002965.html

WGAR News: Legislation passes enabling a nuclear waste dump to be built at Muckaty, NT (1 Mar 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/01/wgar-news-legislation-passes-enabling-a-nuclear-waste-dump-to-be-built-at-muckaty-nt

WGAR News: Federal Court challenge over nuclear dump resumes in August (16 Mar 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/16/wgar-news-federal-court-challenge-over-nuclear-dump-resumes-in-august

WGAR News: Interview with Kylie Sambo, Mark Lane and Dr. Jim Green about Muckaty nuclear waste dump (21 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/21/wgar-news-protest-blockade-by-lake-tyers-aboriginal-women-continues

WGAR News: Nuclear waste legislation must wait until objections heard in Federal Court (23 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/23/wgar-news-international-day-for-the-elimination-of-racial-discrimination-harmony-day-21-m

WGAR News: Aboriginal groups protest against nuclear waste dump (26 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/26/wgar-news-police-used-to-break-blockade-by-aboriginal-women-of-lake-tyers

WGAR News: Crisis in Japan and Muckaty Nuclear Waste Dump (2 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/02/wgar-news-online-petition-about-aboriginal-workers-exploited-under-sihip-housing-program

WGAR News: Muckaty Traditional Owners speak out (14 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/14/wgar-news-deaths-in-custody-and-aboriginal-incarceration-rates

WGAR News: Help Stop the Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump – May 7-8 (24 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/24/wgar-news-two-urgent-petitions-on-the-nt-intervention-sign-by-early-may-2011

WGAR News: “Keep the poison out of Muckaty” – community rally on May 7, 2011 (30 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/30/wgar-news-keep-the-poison-out-of-muckaty-community-rally-on-may-7-2011

WGAR News: NT nuclear waste dump plans contested (10 May 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/10/wgar-news-nt-nuclear-waste-dump-plans-contested

WGAR News: More on Muckaty nuclear waste dump (14 May 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/14/wgar-news-aboriginal-elder-raises-international-awareness-of-the-nt-intervention

RENEWED CALL FOR A JOINT COMMITTEE SENATE INQUIRY INTO DEATHS IN CUSTODY:

– Media Release

Indymedia Australia:
Blood on the hands of all Australian Senators.
We will continue the call for a Joint Committee Senate Inquiry.
http://www.indymedia.org.au/2011/05/10/blood-on-the-hands-of-all-australian-senators-we-will-continue-the-call-for-a-joint-commi
10 May 11: “The Human Rights Alliance, on this occasion led
by its PhD Law researcher into Australian Deaths in
Custody, will continue to urge Australian Senators for the
need to call for a Joint Committee Senate Inquiry into
Australian Deaths in Custody.
April 15 has now passed, twenty years since the release of
the 339 recommendations and the Final Report from the Royal
Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. However the
HRA will continue to campaign for an Inquiry and will
continue to campaign for prison and police reforms, and
continue to educate Australians to Australia’s horrific
deaths in custody record.”

BACKGROUND TO ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY AND INCARCERATION RATES:

WGAR News: Deaths in custody and Aboriginal incarceration rates (14 Apr 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/14/wgar-news-deaths-in-custody-and-aboriginal-incarceration-rates

WGAR News: Joint National Call to Action to reduce imprisonment of Indigenous people (16 Apr 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/16/wgar-news-joint-national-call-to-action-to-reduce-imprisonment-of-indigenous-people

WGAR News: Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (21 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/21/wgar-news-elders-speak-out-on-the-northern-territory-nt-intervention

WGAR News: Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (24 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/24/wgar-news-two-urgent-petitions-on-the-nt-intervention-sign-by-early-may-2011

WGAR News: Deaths in Custody: A Crikey Investigation (29 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/29/darwin-gathering-for-aboriginal-people-living-in-prescribed-areas-under-the-nt-interventi

WGAR News: Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and Aboriginal incarceration rates (3 May 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/03/wgar-news-indigenous-languages-forum-8-may-2011-mparntwe-alice-springs

WGAR News: ANTaR: Reducing over-imprisonment of Aboriginal peoples (7 May 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/07/wgar-news-interviews-with-barb-shaw-and-michael-anderson-speeches-by-pat-anderson-and-les

BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:

Creative Spirits:
Northern Territory Emergence Response (NTER)
– “The Intervention”:
http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/politics/northern-territory-intervention.html

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Northern Territory National Emergency Response:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Territory_intervention

CAAMA (Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association)
– NT Intervention:
http://caama.com.au/?s=NT+Intervention

IRAG (Intervention Rollback Action Group):
Mparntwe – Alice Springs:
http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/

Treaty Republic – NT Intervention:
http://treatyrepublic.net/search/node/NT%20Intervention

ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation)
– NT intervention:
http://www.antar.org.au/issues_and_campaigns/nt_intervention

The Greens: Rachel Siewert: Northern Territory Intervention:
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/category/issues/indigenous-rights/northern-territory-intervention

STICS (Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney):
http://stoptheintervention.org/

Crikey – NT Intervention:
http://www.crikey.com.au/topic/nt-intervention/

Jobs with Justice:
http://jobswithjustice.wordpress.com/

MAIC (Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective):
http://maicollective.blogspot.com/

‘concerned Australians’:
Without Justice there can be no Reconciliation:
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/

New Matilda – northern territory intervention:
http://newmatilda.com/tag/northern-territory-intervention

Amnesty International Australia:
Looking back at the Northern Territory Intervention:
http://www.amnesty.org.au/indigenous-rights/comments/24460/

Defending Indigenous Rights:
http://defendingindigenousrights.wordpress.com/

Intervention walk-off’s Blog:
http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/

Australian Human Rights Commission:
Northern Territory ‘Emergency Response’ intervention:
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/intervention/index.html

FAIRA; Human Rights Law Resource Centre; NACLC:
Australia’s compliance with CERD – Fact Sheet 2:
Northern Territory Intervention:
http://www.hrlrc.org.au/files/Fact-Sheet-2-NT-Intervention.pdf

Green Left: Northern Territory intervention: myths and facts:
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/39732

WGAR (Working Group for Aboriginal Rights):
http://wgar.info/

OTHER ABORIGINAL ARTICLES:

– News

National Indigenous Times:
Language linked to drug decline
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=21882
15 May 11: “New research shows young Aborigines and Torres
Strait Islanders who speak an Indigenous language are less
likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. The Australian Bureau of
Statistics (ABS) has released the results from its fourth
study into the wellbeing of Indigenous children and young
people. It focuses on language and how it affects a young
person’s wellbeing.”

National Indigenous Times: Now for the election!
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=21897
15 May 11: “Maurie Japarta Ryan, the leader of a new
Territory-based political party First Nations, hoisted his
party’s flag on a piece of historic colonial land and
declared he would stand against the Federal Labor stalwart,
Warren Snowdon when the next Federal election was held.
First Nations was federally registered earlier this year
and has had another breakthrough victory, with formal
recognition from the Northern Territory Electoral
Commission.”

National Indigenous Times: A national disgrace
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=21916
15 May 11: “Indigenous Australians now make up more than a
quarter of the entire prison population in Australia
despite representing only 2.5 per cent of Australia’s total
population, a report by the highly respected Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare has said. Neil Gillespie of
the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement (ALRM) slammed the
findings and warned he believed the number of Indigenous
Australians was even worse than the report has estimated.”

National Indigenous Times:
Congress is put on notice but let’s give it a chance
http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=21905
15 May 11: “Indigenous community leaders from around
Australia have put the National Congress of Australia’s
First Peoples on notice it must perform or it will lose
their support but many have said until then the Congress
deserves a chance to succeed. Twenty Indigenous leaders
from throughout Australia have responded to a strong attack
on the National Congress and in particular the male
Co-chair, Les Malezer by Warren Mundine who said Mr Malezer
was ‘radical and living in the past’ and that the Congress
was merely symbolic.”

10/05/2011 NT nuclear waste dump plans contested

Contents:
* NT nuclear waste dump plans contested
* Background to Muckaty nuclear waste dump
* Interview with Walpiri man Ned Hargraves on the
NT Intervention
* Speech by Aboriginal activist Barbara Shaw on the
NT Intervention
* Video: Lake Tyers fight for rights to self-determination
* Background to blockade by Aboriginal women of Lake Tyers
* More on Tracker, the Aboriginal rights-based magazine
* Other Northern Territory (NT) Intervention articles
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Other Aboriginal articles

NT NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP PLANS CONTESTED:

– News

SMH: Ownership of nuclear waste site disputed
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/ownership-of-nuclear-waste-site-disputed-20110508-1ee9k.html
9 May 11: “DOCUMENTS unearthed in the National Archives
challenge the Gillard government’s push to build a nuclear
waste dump on disputed Aboriginal land near Tennant Creek,
lawyers say. Martin Hyde, a senior associate of the law
firm Maurice Blackburn, says the discovery of documents
showing that one Aboriginal family group does not
exclusively own the land raises serious questions about the
nomination of the site by the Northern Land Council. “This
is vital information for the case,” said Mr Hyde.”

Age: NT nuclear dump plans face fresh challenge
http://www.theage.com.au/national/nt-nuclear-dump-plans-face-fresh-challenge-20110508-1eeco.html
9 May 11: “Yesterday, Aborigines who oppose building the
dump on Muckaty and environmentalists from around
Australia staged a symbolic blocking of a bridge near
Tennant Creek to signal that they would blockade the site
if the dump was built there. … Despite opposition from
the Greens, the bill appears certain to pass because the
Coalition supports the legislation.”

ABC Rural:
Indigenous groups protest nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/telegraph/content/2011/s3211475.htm?site=&source=rss
9 May 11: “Aborigines and environmentalists opposed to the
dump staged a protest last weekend blocking a bridge near
Tennant Creek with a seven-metre high inflatable drum
marked ‘radioactive’. The National Radioactive Waste
Management Bill will go to the Senate this week and, if
passed, will allow the government to build the dump. The
bill has already passed the lower house and has
bi-partisan support. Traditional owners have begun a
challenge to the dump in the Federal Court.”

ABC Darwin:
Palmerston Mayor nuclear fallout with Federal Government
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/05/09/3211495.htm
9 May 11: “The Mayor of Palmerston has strong concerns over
the transportation of radioactive nuclear waste from Darwin
Port through his community. The proposed nuclear waste dump
at Muckaty Station is around 800 kilometres south-east of
Palmerston, yet Palmerston Mayor Robert McLeod is very
concerned about its impact. If the dump site goes ahead,
radioactive waste from other states and overseas is likely
to be transported through Palmerston in the dead of night.”

ABC: NLC disputes nuclear waste dump claims
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/09/3211354.htm?section=justin
9 May 11: “The Northern Land Council (NLC) says claims
disputing the traditional ownership of the Northern
Territory site nominated for a nuclear waste dump are
“misplaced”. … But lawyers for Aboriginal clans opposed
to the project say they have documents showing the subgroup
does not have exclusive ownership of the site, about 100
kilometres north of Tennant Creek. … Meanwhile, the
Greens say more than 100 people protested yesterday in
Tennant Creek against the nuclear waste dump.”

Brisbane Times: Nuclear debate shrouded in budget cloud
http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-national/nuclear-debate-shrouded-in-budget-cloud-20110509-1efg7.html
9 May 11: “The Australian Greens have accused Labor of
trying to hide a probably heated Senate debate on nuclear
waste behind the smokescreen of the 2011 federal budget.
Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said legislation to set up
Australia’s first nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station,
near Tennant Creek, was listed for debate in the Senate on
Tuesday, when the federal budget will be handed down.
“It’s a sign that the government’s got something to hide
… it’s curious timing,” he told AAP. “It’s nasty
scheduling. … “

9 News: NT nuclear waste dump plan forges ahead
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8246023/wa-nuclear-waste-dump-plan-forges-ahead
7 May 11: “A federal government plan to dump nuclear waste
on Aboriginal land is set to be debated in Parliament, as a
legal battle over the site continues in court. … But
traditional owners have launched legal action against the
proposal, claiming they were not properly consulted about
the nomination. … Protestors from across Australia are
expected to flock to Tennant Creek tomorrow to join
traditional owners in rallying against the plan ahead of
Tuesday’s debate.”

– Related News

Government News: Nuclear debate heats up behind closed doors
http://www.governmentnews.com.au/2011/05/06/article/Nuclear-debate-heats-up-behind-closed-doors/NISIWAJBUY.html
6 May 11: “According to Bob Hawke the greatest contribution
Australia could make to the nuclear cycle would be to take
the world’s nuclear waste. The former prime minister made
the statement during the ‘Reflections on the
Australia-United States Alliance’ conference, held at the
United States Studies Centre – University of Sydney. Mr
Hawke said the world’s safest geological locations for
deposits of nuclear waste were in North West Australia and
the Northern Territory.”

– Analysis / Opinion

Independent Australia:
Plans for Australia to become world’s nuclear waste dump
http://www.independentaustralia.net/2011/politics/australia-open-for-nuclear-sewage-business/
18 Apr 11: “Despite the Fukushima disaster, Alexander
Downer has come out in support of Australia storing the
world’s nuclear waste. Sandi Keane looks at the secret
plans developed by John Howard and George W. Bush to turn
Australia into the world’s radioactive waste dump, with
healthy profits for all. Is this how Tony Abbott plans to
pay for “direct action” on climate change?”

BACKGROUND TO MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:

Beyond Nuclear Initiative:
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/

Beyond Nuclear Initiative: Muckaty:
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/muckaty/

YouTube: Muckaty Voices:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcuNpT84Ovo

Proposed Radioactive Waste Dump at Muckaty, NT
Briefing Paper – February 2011
Jim Green B.Med.Sci.(Hons.), PhD
National nuclear campaigner – Friends of the Earth, Australia
Friends of the Earth: http://www.foe.org.au/anti-nuclear/issues/oz/nontdump/Dump%20briefing%20Feb%202011.pdf

Nuclear Territory News: Waste Dump News:
http://ntne.ws/articles/article.php?section=waste

WGAR News: Nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory (2 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/02/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-in-the-northern-territory-2-mar-10

WGAR News: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (20 Mar 10)
http://groups.google.com.au/group/foblmail/browse_thread/thread/ddc393bb66205849

WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump (28 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/28/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-close-the-gap-day-28-mar-10

WGAR News: Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump (4 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/03/wgar-news-muckaty-radioactive-waste-dump-welfare-quarantining-4-apr-10

WGAR News: National day of action against Muckaty nuclear waste dump: 12th April!
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/10/wgar-news-national-day-of-action-against-muckaty-nuclear-waste-dump-12th-april

WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump: Senate inquiry in Darwin; Nationwide protests (17 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/16/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-senate-inquiry-in-darwin-nationwide-protests-17-apr-10

WGAR News: Update: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (23 Apr 10)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/22/wgar-news-raw-sewage-dumped-in-ampilatwatja-aboriginal-worker-dismissed-23-apr-10

WGAR News: Update on Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (2 May 10)
https://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/02052010-update-on-muckaty-station-nuclear-waste-dump/

WGAR News: “Muckaty Voices” film; Senate Report into nuclear waste dump plan (16 May 10)
https://indymedia.org.au/2010/05/16/wgar-news-muckaty-voices-film-senate-report-into-nuclear-waste-dump-plan-16-may-10

WGAR News: Federal Court legal challenge over nuclear waste dump (13 Jun 10)
http://lists.perthimc.asn.au/pipermail/blackgreensolidarity/2010-June/002933.html

WGAR News: PM Gillard: No change on Muckaty nuclear waste dump (12 Jul 10)
http://lists.perthimc.asn.au/pipermail/blackgreensolidarity/2010-July/002965.html

WGAR News: Legislation passes enabling a nuclear waste dump to be built at Muckaty, NT (1 Mar 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/01/wgar-news-legislation-passes-enabling-a-nuclear-waste-dump-to-be-built-at-muckaty-nt

WGAR News: Federal Court challenge over nuclear dump resumes in August (16 Mar 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/16/wgar-news-federal-court-challenge-over-nuclear-dump-resumes-in-august

WGAR News: Interview with Kylie Sambo, Mark Lane and Dr. Jim Green about Muckaty nuclear waste dump (21 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/21/wgar-news-protest-blockade-by-lake-tyers-aboriginal-women-continues

WGAR News: Nuclear waste legislation must wait until objections heard in Federal Court (23 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/23/wgar-news-international-day-for-the-elimination-of-racial-discrimination-harmony-day-21-m

WGAR News: Aboriginal groups protest against nuclear waste dump (26 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/26/wgar-news-police-used-to-break-blockade-by-aboriginal-women-of-lake-tyers

WGAR News: Crisis in Japan and Muckaty Nuclear Waste Dump (2 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/02/wgar-news-online-petition-about-aboriginal-workers-exploited-under-sihip-housing-program

WGAR News: Muckaty Traditional Owners speak out (14 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/14/wgar-news-deaths-in-custody-and-aboriginal-incarceration-rates

WGAR News: Help Stop the Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump – May 7-8 (24 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/24/wgar-news-two-urgent-petitions-on-the-nt-intervention-sign-by-early-may-2011

WGAR News: “Keep the poison out of Muckaty” – community rally on May 7, 2011 (30 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/30/wgar-news-keep-the-poison-out-of-muckaty-community-rally-on-may-7-2011

INTERVIEW WITH WALPIRI MAN NED HARGRAVES ON THE NT INTERVENTION:

– Audio

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
Ned Hargraves on CAAMA radio
http://caama.com.au/17110
5 May 11: “Walpiri man Ned Hargraves tells CAAMA radio
about how his people continue to struggle with the Northern
Territory Intervention.”

SPEECH BY ABORIGINAL ACTIVIST BARBARA SHAW ON THE NT INTERVENTION:

– Audio

3CR Community Radio 855 AM – Podcasts
[scroll down page] http://www.3cr.org.au/podcast
Stick Together | 9 May 2011
[download program] http://pod.3cr.org.au/pod/3CRCast-2011-05-08-37725.mp3
9 May 11: “Indigenous workers rights in the Northern
Territory; casualisation and current attacks on working
conditions; the Australian working Census and a message of
international solidarity – hear from five different
speakers in Melbourne and Brisbane at the 2011 May Day
Celebrations.”

VIDEO: LAKE TYERS FIGHT FOR RIGHTS TO SELF-DETERMINATION:

– Video

Living Black on SBS: Loss of Trust
http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/livingblack/about/page/i/1/h/Coming-Up/
8 May 11: “Members of the Lake Tyres Aborignal community
are calling for the Victorian Government to restore the
limited autonomy they enjoyed up until 2005. Those rights
were removed due to mismanagement. Community members have
likened their situation to the Northern Territory
intervention, and want to run their own affairs again.”

– Commentary

Living Black on SBS: Loss of Trust
http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/livingblack/blog/single/ID/123596/Loss-of-Trust?cid=23226
5 May 11: “In March this year a blockade was set up to
protest against Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, or AAV, for
imposing an administrator to manage the community’s
affairs. … “Basically we’re fighting for our rights to
self-determination so that we can govern ourselves… and we
can run our own affairs. We don’t need white men dictating
to us all the time telling us what we can and can’t do,”
said Leanne Edwards. What happens next is anyone’s guess,
but the Koori grapevine says the blockade will return.”

BACKGROUND TO BLOCKADE BY ABORIGINAL WOMEN OF LAKE TYERS:

WGAR News: Aboriginal women of Lake Tyers are staging a blockade (12 Mar 11)
http://www.indymedia.org.au/2011/03/12/wgar-news-aboriginal-women-of-lake-tyers-are-staging-a-blockade

WGAR News: More on the blockade by Aboriginal women of Lake Tyers (16 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/16/wgar-news-federal-court-challenge-over-nuclear-dump-resumes-in-august

WGAR News: Protest blockade by Lake Tyers Aboriginal women continues (21 Mar 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/21/wgar-news-protest-blockade-by-lake-tyers-aboriginal-women-continues

WGAR News: More on the blockade by Lake Tyers Aboriginal women (23 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/23/wgar-news-international-day-for-the-elimination-of-racial-discrimination-harmony-day-21-m

WGAR News: Police used to break blockade by Aboriginal women of Lake Tyers (26 Mar 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/26/wgar-news-police-used-to-break-blockade-by-aboriginal-women-of-lake-tyers

WGAR News: Interview with Lake Tyers Women’s spokesperson, Leanne Edwards (7 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/07/wgar-news-updates-on-nt-intervention-deaths-in-custody-lake-tyers-and-native-title

WGAR News: Interview with Leanne Edwards from Lake Tyres Aboriginal community (14 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/14/wgar-news-deaths-in-custody-and-aboriginal-incarceration-rates

MORE ON TRACKER, THE ABORIGINAL RIGHTS-BASED MAGAZINE:

The Tracker magazine: http://www.thetracker.com.au

– Media Release

New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council:
Tracker Magazine is here! NSWALC celebrates the launch of
groundbreaking Aboriginal magazine
http://www.alc.org.au/newsroom/media-releases/tracker-magazine-is-here.aspx
28 Apr 11: “NSWALC Chairwoman, Bev Manton, says Tracker
will be an important message stick for Aboriginal people
around the nation. “We have several forms of Aboriginal
journalism around the country, but the NSW Aboriginal Land
Council believed a gap currently exists,” Cr Manton said.
“We need a strong, campaigning magazine to look hard at
the issues affecting our people, and ensure government and
mainstream media are held to account. We need a space to
correct the frequent misreporting and misunderstandings
aired through the mainstream media.””

– Video

YouTube: Tracker Magazine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56FvzQUwfMg
27 Apr 11: “Tracker Magazine launch video prepared for the
New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council State Conference.
Exploring the nuts and bolts of Australia’s first rights
based Aboriginal journal.”

– Audio

Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane
Let’s Talk – Indigenous presented talkback:
http://989fm.com.au/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29
20 Apr 11: “Chris Graham: Tiga Bayles spoke with Chris
Graham Managing Editor of Tracker Magazine, former editor
and founder of the National Indigenous Times newspaper and
former Journalist for the New South Whales Aboriginal Land
Council. They spoke about the new Tracker Magazine.”
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasting/audio/98fm-podcast-2011-04-20-71151.mp3

OTHER NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION ARTICLES:

– Media Release

Rachel Siewert: One-sided approach will not fix problem
drinking in the Territory
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/one-sided-approach-will-not-fix-problem-drinking-territory
7 May 11: “The Australian Greens are concerned that newly
passed alcohol laws in the Northern Territory focus on only
one side of the problem – by getting tough on drinkers
while ignoring the rivers of cheap grog that flow through
the NT.
“I am wary of focusing too much on drinkers and not enough
on restricting supply,” Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian
Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal Issues said today.
“The Northern Territory has the highest per capita rates
of alcohol consumption in Australia, and some of the
highest in the world. This is in great part because of the
huge number of licensed premises, many of which are
inappropriate,” said Senator Siewert.”

– News

ABC: Fears remote communities missing out on housing
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/09/3211766.htm
9 May 11: “The chief executive of the Central Desert Shire
says local councillors are concerned that funds allocated
to housing by the Territory and Federal Governments are
only being funnelled to so-called growth towns. Roydon
Robertson says he has written letters to all government
members connected to the issue. He says he hopes the
politicians will see that other towns are just as in need
of appropriate housing. Mr Robertson says some communities
are being completely overlooked.”

– Audio

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott on CAAMA
http://caama.com.au/federal-opposition-leader-tony-abbott-on-caama
3 May 11: “Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott visited
Alice Springs last week, meeting with traditional land
owners to discuss the many issues facing Aboriginal people
in Central Australia. We caught up with Mr Abbott before he
returned to Canberra. He speaks to CAAMA Radio’s Nerida
Currey on Strong Voices.”

BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:

Creative Spirits:
Northern Territory Emergence Response (NTER)
– “The Intervention”:
http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/politics/northern-territory-intervention.html

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Northern Territory National Emergency Response:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Territory_intervention

The Greens: Rachel Siewert: Northern Territory Intervention:
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/category/issues/indigenous-rights/northern-territory-intervention

CAAMA (Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association)
– NT Intervention:
http://caama.com.au/?s=NT+Intervention

Treaty Republic – Northern Territory Intervention:
http://treatyrepublic.net/search/node/Northern%20Territory%20Intervention

STICS (Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney):
http://stoptheintervention.org/

Crikey – NT Intervention:
http://www.crikey.com.au/topic/nt-intervention/

IRAG (Intervention Rollback Action Group):
Mparntwe – Alice Springs:
http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/

Jobs with Justice:
http://jobswithjustice.wordpress.com/

MAIC (Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective):
http://maicollective.blogspot.com/

ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation)
– NT intervention:
http://www.antar.org.au/issues_and_campaigns/nt_intervention

‘concerned Australians’:
Without Justice there can be no Reconciliation:
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/

New Matilda – northern territory intervention:
http://newmatilda.com/tag/northern-territory-intervention

Amnesty International Australia:
Looking back at the Northern Territory Intervention:
http://www.amnesty.org.au/indigenous-rights/comments/24460/

Defending Indigenous Rights:
http://defendingindigenousrights.wordpress.com/

Intervention walk-off’s Blog:
http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/

Australian Human Rights Commission:
Northern Territory ‘Emergency Response’ intervention:
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/intervention/index.html

FAIRA; Human Rights Law Resource Centre; NACLC:
Australia’s compliance with CERD – Fact Sheet 2:
Northern Territory Intervention:
http://www.hrlrc.org.au/files/Fact-Sheet-2-NT-Intervention.pdf

Green Left: Northern Territory intervention: myths and facts:
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/39732

WGAR (Working Group for Aboriginal Rights):
http://wgar.info/

OTHER ABORIGINAL ARTICLES:

– News

BBC: Australia’s Aboriginal suicide rate sparks concern
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13330312
9 May 11: “The Australian government is to fund emergency
measures to help combat suicide in Aboriginal communities
in the remote Kimberley region. It has seen a sharp
increase in the number of indigenous people taking their
own lives. Young Aborigines are four times more likely to
commit suicide than their non-indigenous counterparts. A
special summit is to bring together politicians, social
workers, and community elders in July. In the Kimberley
region of Western Australia there has been a cluster of
deaths, and many more cases of self-harm.”

ABC: Filling a blank page on the Kimberley emergency
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/06/3209919.htm
6 May 11: “A young Aboriginal person dies by suicide almost
every week in WA’s Kimberley region but it is a story of
life, not death, that Mary Victor O’Reeri tells. Ms O’Reeri
lives in Billard, north of Broome. The dry Aboriginal
community sits over natural springs, believed to be the
home of the rainbow serpent. Billard and other communities
like it in the Kimberley are united by their despair at
what is being described as a chronic pattern, which has
seen 11 deaths since late December and countless attempts
and incidents of self-harm.”

07/05/2011 Interviews with Barb Shaw and Michael Anderson; Speeches by Pat Anderson and Les Malezer

Contents:
* Speech by Pat Anderson, Co-author of the
“Little Children are Sacred” report, on the NT Intervention
* Interview with Barbara Shaw, of the
Intervention Rollback Action Group, on the NT Intervention
* Justice for Aboriginal workers in the NT
– Petition to be presented to Parliament next week
* Interview with Michael Anderson on the
New Way Sovereignty Summit, now concluded
* Background to New Way Sovereignty Summit
– last updated 6 May 11
* Speech by Les Malezer, Co-chair of the
National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples
* Background to National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples
* Tracker: NSW Aboriginal Land Council launches new
rights based magazine
* Koori Mail: Twenty years of publishing is available online
* ANTaR: Reducing over-imprisonment of Aboriginal peoples
* Other Northern Territory (NT) Intervention articles
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Other Aboriginal articles

SPEECH BY PAT ANDERSON,
CO-AUTHOR OF THE “LITTLE CHILDREN ARE SACRED” REPORT,
ON THE NT INTERVENTION:

– Analysis / Opinion

Crikey: Pat Anderson:
intervention neither well-intentioned nor well-evidenced
http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/05/05/pat-anderson-intervention-neither-well-intentioned-nor-well-evidenced/
5 May 11: “Last night Anderson gave a rare public speech
criticising the NT intervention, a policy that apparently
originated thanks to the report she co-authored. Anderson
said the first recommendation of the report was the most
crucial, which was: “It is critical that both [the Northern
Territory and federal] governments commit to genuine
consultation with Aboriginal people in designing
initiatives for Aboriginal communities. [to address child
sexual abuse and neglect].” The following is an edited
extract from Anderson’s speech at the Coalition for
Research to Improve Aboriginal Health conference in Sydney
this morning.”

– News

Australian: Intervention ‘based on ignorance’: Anderson
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/intervention-based-on-ignorance-anderson/story-e6frg6nf-1226050762666
6 May 11: “Pat Anderson, one of the two authors of the
Little Children are Sacred report to the NT government in
2007, told a conference in Sydney yesterday the
intervention was “based on ignorance and prejudice”, and
ignored the report’s central recommendation to consult
indigenous people. As a result, most of the program was
“deeply problematic”, and even with the changes made after
Labor’s 2007 election victory, the policy “adds to the
sense of disempowerment and stress many (indigenous people)
already feel”.”

INTERVIEW WITH BARBARA SHAW,
OF THE INTERVENTION ROLLBACK ACTION GROUP,
ON THE NT INTERVENTION:

– Audio

Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane
Let’s Talk – Indigenous presented talkback:
http://989fm.com.au/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29
19 Apr 11: “Barbara Shaw: Tiga Bayles spoke with Barbara
Shaw. They spoke about the Northern Territory Intervention.”
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasting/audio/98fm-podcast-2011-04-19-76541.mp3

JUSTICE FOR ABORIGINAL WORKERS IN THE NT –
PETITION TO BE PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT NEXT WEEK:

– Media Releases

Rachel Siewert: Greens seek jobs with justice
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/greens-seek-jobs-justice
5 May 11: “The Australian Greens continue to pressure the
Government to act on failings in its flagship Indigenous
housing program SIHIP, which was meant to be a key plank of
the NT Intervention.
Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues has led calls
for the Government to end the failing NT intervention,
raising serious concerns about the treatment of Aboriginal
workers involved in SIHIP.
Senator Siewert will address the Jobs with Justice rally in
Sydney today and present a petition to Parliament next week
calling for back-pay for Aboriginal workers who believed
they would receive real wages for the hours they worked and
who now feel misled and exploited.
“SIHIP was supposed to have an inbuilt Aboriginal
employment scheme, yet reports suggest that CDEP and work
for the dole programs are being used instead,” Senator
Siewert said today.
“This means there are instances of people undertaking
full-time skilled work who are not receiving appropriate
income in return. In some cases Centrelink payments are
being used, half of which are then quarantined through the
Government’s income management regime.” [said Senator
Siewert]”

Stop the Intervention:
Town camp leader speaks in Sydney:
Stop the Intervention, Justice for Aboriginal workers
http://stoptheintervention.org/jobs-with-justice-cdep/media-release/town-camp-leader-speaks-in-sydney
4 May 11: “Barbara Shaw, a town camp leader from Alice
Springs, will speak out in Sydney on Thursday May 5 against
recent calls for a “second Intervention”. …
The rally will launch a petition sponsored by Unions NT and
the CFMEU demanding back pay for Aboriginal people who were
paid on the BasicsCard while doing renovations for the $672
million Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure
Program (SIHIP). …
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert will present the petition to
parliament next week. More than 3000 people have signed,
from unionists on construction sites in Sydney to residents
of remote Aboriginal communities. …
Barbara Shaw said, “Reforms to Community Development
Employment Projects (CDEP) introduced with the Intervention
have taken away thousands of jobs, destroyed community
services and left our people working for quarantined
Centrelink payments. It’s a return to the mission days
where our people are being used as cheap labour – working
for rations””

– Media Release about the rally

Stop the Intervention:
NT Aboriginal community leaders and CFMEU back Sydney rally
http://stoptheintervention.org/jobs-with-justice-cdep/media-release/nt-aboriginal-community-leaders-and-cfmeu-back-sydney-rally
5 May 11: “Community leaders from Amoonguna in Central
Australia and the Darwin office of the CFMEU are supporting
a petition against exploitative working conditions under
the NT Intervention being launched at a rally today in
Sydney. …
Marie Ellis, President of the Amoonguna Community Council
said: “When SIHIP came to town we were told there would be
fulltime jobs with good wages, but instead we were ripped
off and left unemployed. It is another slap in the face
from the government.” …
Mick Huddy, CFMEU organiser in Darwin said: “Aboriginal
workers in the Northern Territory who were engaged on
building upgrades under the federally funded SIHIP program
were paid less than half of the Award which is completely
unacceptable. No worker should be exploited in this way
and the CFMEU stands by these workers and calls for them
to be back paid every cent plus interest.”
Marilyn Dixon from Amoonguna was part of a team of
residents working on a CDEP project renovating an old
community clinic and houses in Amoonguna under SIHIP. Ms
Dixon said, “I was working with a team of ladies from 8am
– 3pm each day. We were cleaning, stripping paint,
painting floods, moving furnitire, removing old kitchens.
I thought we would be getting good pay, but they kept me
on the BasicsCard.””

– Audio about the rally

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA Radio News 06-05-2011
http://caama.com.au/caama-radio-news-06-05-2011
6 May 11: “Strong support for Aboriginal workers in the
Northern Territory following union claims that those
employed to do work under the Federally funded SIHIP
housing program were paid less than half the award rate.”

– News about the rally

Koori Mail: Shaw to speak at Sydney rally
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
5 May 11: “BARBARA Shaw, a town camp leader from Alice
Springs, will speak out in Sydney today against recent
calls for a ‘second Intervention’. A coalition of unions,
the Greens and Aboriginal rights groups are staging the
rally, highlighting gross breaches of Aboriginal workers
rights under the NT Intervention. The rally will take place
at 12pm today outside the office of Indigenous employment
Minister Mark Arbib.”

INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL ANDERSON
ON THE NEW WAY SOVEREIGNTY SUMMIT,
NOW CONCLUDED:

– Audio

Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane
Let’s Talk – Indigenous presented talkback:
http://989fm.com.au/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29
3 May 11: “Michael Anderson: Tiga Bayles spoke with Tent
Embassy founder and Activist, Michael Anderson.”
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasting/audio/98fm-podcast-2011-05-03-87848.mp3

BACKGROUND TO NEW WAY SOVEREIGNTY SUMMIT,
LAST UPDATED 6 MAY 11:

– Event

Indymedia Australia:
New Way Sovereignty Summit, Canberra 22-25 April (Easter Weekend)
http://indymedia.org.au/new-way-sovereignty-summit-canberra-22-25-april-easter-weekend

SPEECH BY LES MALEZER,
CO-CHAIR OF THE
NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA’S FIRST PEOPLES:

– Speech

SBS Audio and Language: Aboriginal:
The Controversial Speech By Congress Co-Chair Les Malezer
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/163041/t/The-Controversial-Speech-By-Congress-Co-Chair–Les-Malezer/in/english
4 May 11: “The National Congress of Australia’s First
Peoples Under Fire Before It Even Begins Its Work
The words were hardly out of his mouth before the attacks
began. Les Malezer, newly-elected Co-Chair of the National
Congress of Australia’s First Peoples caused a storm after
making his views on the Northern Territory Intervention
known, during his acceptance speech. …
Did his speech warrant the attacks on the Congress before
it has begun its work? What do you think?”

– Audio interview

Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane
Let’s Talk – Indigenous presented talkback:
http://989fm.com.au/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29
21 Apr 11: “Les Melzer: Tiga Bayles spoke with Les Melzer,
Co-chair of the National Congress of Australia’s First
Peoples.”
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasting/audio/98fm-podcast-2011-04-21-78062.mp3

See these other interviews:

The Wire: Indigenous activist Les Malezer to co-chair
National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples
[scroll down page] http://www.thewire.org.au/daydetail.aspx?SearchDay=2011-04-20
20 Apr 11

ABC PM: Indigenous congress head defends organisation
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2011/s3202821.htm
28 Apr 11

– News

Koori Mail: Congress co-chairs appeal for a fair go
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php?page=Current+Edition
4 May 11: “THE first elected co-chairs of the National
Congress of Australia’s First Peoples have appealed for a
fair go amid criticism from some Indigenous leaders. Les
Malezer and Jody Broun both told the Koori Mail the
fledgling Congress had the potential to reshape a better
future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
But its first major goal would be to raise its profile and
increase its membership base to become as representative
as possible.”

BACKGROUND TO NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA’S FIRST PEOPLES:

WGAR News: Proposed national Indigenous body (29 Aug 09)
[scroll down page] https://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/290809-un-expert-calls-nt-intervention-discriminatory/

WGAR News: More media responses to proposed national Indigenous body (31 Aug 09)
[scroll down page] https://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/310809-more-media-responses-to-un-expert-james-anaya/

WGAR News: Still more media responses to proposed national Indigenous body (3 Sep 09)
[scroll down page] https://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/3-sep-2009-governments-review-of-aboriginal-housing-scheme-in-the-nt/

WGAR News: Proposed National Indigenous Representative Body (22 Sep 09)
[scroll down page] https://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/23/22-sep-2009-ampilatwatja-anti-intervention-walk-off-speaking-tour/

WGAR News: New Way Summit delegates unanimously reject government sponsored Rep body (31 Jan 10)
https://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/new-way-summit-delegates-unanimously-reject-government-sponsored-rep-body/

WGAR News: Proposed National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (2 Feb 10)
[scroll down page] https://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/02022010-national-day-of-action-saturday-13-february-2010-2/

WGAR News: New National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (9 May 10)
http://www.indymedia.org.au/2010/05/08/wgar-news-new-national-congress-of-australias-first-peoples-9-may-10

WGAR News: Co-Chairs of National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples elected (21 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/21/wgar-news-elders-speak-out-on-the-northern-territory-nt-intervention

WGAR News: National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (24 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/24/wgar-news-two-urgent-petitions-on-the-nt-intervention-sign-by-early-may-2011

WGAR News: National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (29 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/29/darwin-gathering-for-aboriginal-people-living-in-prescribed-areas-under-the-nt-interventi

WGAR News: Les Malezer defends National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (30 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/30/wgar-news-keep-the-poison-out-of-muckaty-community-rally-on-may-7-2011

TRACKER:
NSW ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL LAUNCHES
NEW RIGHTS BASED MAGAZINE:

– New Website

The Tracker magazine
http://www.thetracker.com.au/main.html?src=%2F
“NSW Aboriginal Land Council launches new rights based publication
The NSW Aboriginal Land Council has launched a new monthly
rights-based magazine called Tracker. The publication, with
an initial print run of 35,000 copies, is being distrbuted
throughout the nation via newsagenices, plus to the homes
of every one of the 20,000-plus members of the NSW
Aboriginal Land Council network. … And as you’d expect,
you’ll soon be able to get all the Tracker news online –
thetracker.com.au is currently under construction, and
should be ready to go live in June 2011. Until then, we
hope you’ll consider subcribing to the print edition of
Tracker – it’s just $39.95 PER YEAR and gives the most
comprehensive behind-the-news coverage of Indigenous
affairs in the nation.”

– Audio

Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane
Let’s Talk – Indigenous presented talkback:
http://989fm.com.au/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29
20 Apr 11: “Chris Graham: Tiga Bayles spoke with Chris
Graham Managing Editor of Tracker Magazine, former editor
and founder of the National Indigenous Times newspaper and
former Journalist for the New South Whales Aboriginal Land
Council. They spoke about the new Tracker Magazine.”
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasting/audio/98fm-podcast-2011-04-20-71151.mp3

KOORI MAIL: TWENTY YEARS OF PUBLISHING IS AVAILABLE ONLINE:

Koori Mail online archive is available at this link:
http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/koorimail/

The Koori Mail Online Collection
http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/koorimail/
“The story of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Australia is a big one, and important for our nation. That
it has been able to be told for 20 years and through 500
editions of the Koori Mail is a matter of enormous pride
and privilege for my Bundjalung people. The Koori Mail’s
first edition was just 24 pages, all black and white
(except for the masthead), and read by about 25,000 people.
Today, the newspaper averages close to 100 pages, is alive
with colour, and reaches more than 100,000 readers right
around Australia every fortnight. … The Koori Mail Board
is delighted that, with the help of the Australian
Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
(AIATSIS), we are now able to bring that story to life in
digital form. It is our gift to the nation.”
Russell Kapeen, Bundjalung man,
Chairman, Koori Mail (since 1995),
Chairman, Kurrachee Co-operative

– News

Indymedia Australia: Twenty years of iconic Indigenous
newspaper goes online and global
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/05/04/twenty-years-of-iconic-indigenous-newspaper-goes-online-and-global
4 May 11: “Twenty years – more than 35,000 pages – of an
Australian publishing icon will be available online from
this week, thanks to a unique project undertaken by the
nation’s premier Indigenous research organisation. The
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Studies (AIATSIS) in Canberra has partnered with
the Koori Mail to digitise the newspaper’s back archive*.
The massive online collection will be officially launched
in a special ceremony in Canberra tonight, also marking
publication of the Koori Mail’s 500th edition.”

PSNews: Koori Mail delivers for online research
http://www.psnews.com.au/Page_psn263f6.html
“The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Studies (AIATSIS) has completed a unique program
of digitising 20 years of indigenous news and placing it
all online. More than 35,000 pages of the weekly Koori Mail
newspaper have been developed into a collection by AIATSIS
and posted on the internet. The collection features two
decades of stories, photos and cartoons published in the
Koori Mail dating back to the very first edition in May
1991, and will be launched this Saturday (7 May) on the
occasion of its 500th edition.”

ANTaR: REDUCING OVER-IMPRISONMENT OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES:

– Media Release

ANTaR – Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation:
New report confirms reducing over-imprisonment is critical
to close the gap
http://www.antar.org.au/new_report_confirms_reducing_over_imprisonment_is_critical_to_close_the_gap
5 May 11: “The National Director of ANTaR says a report
released today confirms the urgent need for governments to
reduce the disproportionate number of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people being imprisoned.
Jacqueline Phillips says the latest report from the
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows the
imprisonment rate of Indigenous Australians has increased
by more than 50 per cent over the last decade.
“While ANTaR applauds the commitment by governments to
reduce the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous
Australians in areas such as employment, education and life
expectancy, it is impossible to close the gap in these
areas while the numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people in our prisons continues to skyrocket,”
Ms Phillips said.
“It is simply outrageous that Indigenous Australians
comprise more than a quarter of all people in prison,
when they are just 2.5% of the total population.”

ANTaR’s National Call to Action is available at this link:
http://www.antar.org.au/sites/default/files/Call%20to%20action%20to%20reduce%20Indigenous%20imprisonment%20final%20version.pdf

See:

WGAR News: Joint National Call to Action to reduce imprisonment of Indigenous people (16 Apr 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/16/wgar-news-joint-national-call-to-action-to-reduce-imprisonment-of-indigenous-people

– Audio

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA Radio News 06-05-2011
http://caama.com.au/caama-radio-news-06-05-2011
6 May 11: “Calls for Governments to reduce the
disproportionate imprisonment rate of Indigenous
Australians following the latest report from the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare which shows numbers have
increased by more than 50 per cent over the last decade.”

– News

Ninemsn: Indigenous prison rates jump by 52pc
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8245436/indigenous-prison-rates-jump-by-52pc
4 May 11: “Indigenous imprisonment rates have jumped by
more than 50 per cent over the past decade, with a report
showing they now account for a quarter of the prison
population.The incarceration level climbed in a decade
which started with the Sydney Harbour Bridge reconciliation
walk and included an apology to the stolen generations.”

OTHER NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION ARTICLES:

– Audio

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
Ned Hargraves on CAAMA radio
http://caama.com.au/17110
5 May 11: “Walpiri man Ned Hargraves tells CAAMA radio
about how his people continue to struggle with the Northern
Territory Intervention.”

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA Radio News 05-05-2011
http://caama.com.au/caama-radio-news-05-05-2011
5 May 11: “The Central Land Council has welcomed the move
to take away large blue signs put up on Aboriginal land and
Community Living Areas by the Australian Government during
the intervention in 2007.”

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA Radio News 04-05-2011
http://caama.com.au/caama-radio-news-04-05-2011
4 May 11: “The Australian Greens are calling for an end to
talk by the Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott for a
‘new intervention’ and short term strategies that would
come with this.”

– Analysis / Opinion

Eureka Street: Eyeballing injustice
http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=26042
1 May 11: “Remember the Northern Territory Intervention of
2007. The Howard Government regularly trotted out Noel
Pearson as a respected Aboriginal leader as a supporter of
this intervention. And yet one month ago, Noel Pearson
finally distinguished his own North Queensland Intervention
from the NT proposal. … Once again to quote Noel Pearson:
… The difference from the (Northern) Territory is that
the Cape York scheme encourages community members to take
up their responsibilities. If people are being responsible,
they are not affected by income management.” Frank Brennan

– News

Catholic Leader: Jobs part of justice for indigenous people
http://www.catholicleader.com.au/news.php/top-stories/jobs-part-of-justice-for-indigenous-people_73366
8 May 11: “A BISHOP and the head of a ministry to
Aboriginal Catholics have attacked the Federal Government’s
“one shoe fits all approach” to solving problems in remote
Aboriginal communities, particularly as regards the
Northern Territory intervention. Bishop Christopher
Saunders of Broome and executive officer of Sydney
archdiocese’s Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Graeme Mundine
have also criticised the dismantling of the Community
Development Employment Program (CDEP), seeing the decision
as contributing to problems in remote indigenous
communities.”

ABC Alice Springs: Signs can go ‘by request’
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/05/05/3208735.htm
5 May 11: “The controversial blue signs banning alcohol and
pornography in prescribed areas are no longer ‘legally
required’, but the government has put the onus on
Aboriginal communities to request their removal in writing.
… Central Land Council’s David Ross says resentment from
the Aboriginal community has not abated in the four years
the signs have been in place. “They’ve been a running sore
since the Intervention, people felt it criminalised them
and it made them feel deeply shamed,” he said.”

Australian: 700 abort NT income scheme
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/abort-nt-income-scheme/story-e6frg6nf-1226050091296
5 May 11: “MORE than 700 people in the Northern Territory
have pulled out of voluntary income-management despite the
financial bonuses built into the scheme, prompting welfare
groups to declare there is an exodus from the federal
government program.”

BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:

Creative Spirits:
Northern Territory Emergence Response (NTER)
– “The Intervention”:
http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/politics/northern-territory-intervention.html

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Northern Territory National Emergency Response:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Territory_intervention

STICS (Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney):
http://stoptheintervention.org/

Crikey – NT Intervention:
http://www.crikey.com.au/topic/nt-intervention/

The Greens: Rachel Siewert: Northern Territory Intervention:
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/category/issues/indigenous-rights/northern-territory-intervention

IRAG (Intervention Rollback Action Group):
Mparntwe – Alice Springs:
http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/

Jobs with Justice:
http://jobswithjustice.wordpress.com/

MAIC (Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective):
http://maicollective.blogspot.com/

ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation)
– NT intervention:
http://www.antar.org.au/issues_and_campaigns/nt_intervention

‘concerned Australians’:
Without Justice there can be no Reconciliation:
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/

New Matilda – northern territory intervention:
http://newmatilda.com/tag/northern-territory-intervention

Amnesty International Australia:
Looking back at the Northern Territory Intervention:
http://www.amnesty.org.au/indigenous-rights/comments/24460/

Treaty Republic: Northern Territory Intervention:
http://treatyrepublic.net/search/node/Northern%20Territory%20Intervention

Defending Indigenous Rights:
http://defendingindigenousrights.wordpress.com/

Intervention walk-off’s Blog:
http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/

Australian Human Rights Commission:
Northern Territory ‘Emergency Response’ intervention:
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/intervention/index.html

FAIRA; Human Rights Law Resource Centre; NACLC:
Australia’s compliance with CERD – Fact Sheet 2:
Northern Territory Intervention:
http://www.hrlrc.org.au/files/Fact-Sheet-2-NT-Intervention.pdf

Green Left: Northern Territory intervention: myths and facts:
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/39732

WGAR (Working Group for Aboriginal Rights):
http://wgar.info/

OTHER ABORIGINAL ARTICLES:

– Analysis / Opinion

Countercurrents.org : Royal Wedding, Censorship,
Holocaust Commission And Holocaust Denial
http://www.countercurrents.org/polya020511.htm
2 May 11: “The recent British Royal Wedding involved
extraordinary Royal censorship of world media that mirrors
British Establishment ignoring of its immense genocidal
crimes over the last few centuries. … ” Dr Gideon Polya

30/04/2011 “Keep the poison out of Muckaty” – Community rally on May 7, 2011

Contents:
* Join the Tennant Creek community for a rally on May 7
* Background to Muckaty nuclear waste dump
* Aboriginal Sovereignty to the International Court of Justice
* Les Malezer defends National Congress of Australia’s
First Peoples
* Background to National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples
* Tony Abbott in Alice Springs, Northern Territory
* Other Northern Territory (NT) Intervention articles
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* More on the First Nations political party
* Other Aboriginal articles

JOIN THE TENNANT CREEK COMMUNITY FOR A RALLY ON MAY 7:

– Rally Poster

Beyond Nuclear Initiative:
NO WASTE DUMP AT MUCKATY – KEEP THE BARKLY NUCLEAR FREE
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/110507_tc-rally-poster_final.pdf

– Rally

Beyond Nuclear Initiative:
Community rally- keep the poison out of Muckaty
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.com/2011/04/28/community-rally-no-waste-dump-at-muckaty/
28 Apr 11: “Join the Tennant Creek community for a rally on
May 7, 2011 to say: Keep the poison out of Muckaty
We the Waramungu language group are supporting Muckaty
traditional owners very strongly, against the radioactive
waste dump on their country. It might destroy and kill
wild animals and country. Do not place it there!
Ankkul Warumungu apparr wangka jara kajji wangkan ankkul
jarni Wirlya!
Alinya nyirinjiki radioactive waste dump ajurnu nginyi
manu kuna.
Amapan parla ninkun muru warinyi kuyu kapi manu.
Yama! Nyirinji mana ala kana”

Beyond Nuclear Initiative:
May 7-8 Tennant Creek community rally
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/may-7-8-tennant-creek-community-rally/
22 Apr 11: “Help Stop the Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump …
Muckaty Traditional Owners are organising a weekend of
action against the waste dump on May 7-8, 2011. We hope
that you can support us either by joining us in Tennant
Creek or by making a donation to assist in organising the
weekend of action. Organisations are encouraged to send
short statements of support to be read out at the rally.”

BACKGROUND TO MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:

Beyond Nuclear Initiative:
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/

Beyond Nuclear Initiative: Muckaty:
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/muckaty/

YouTube: Muckaty Voices:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcuNpT84Ovo

Proposed Radioactive Waste Dump at Muckaty, NT
Briefing Paper – February 2011
Jim Green B.Med.Sci.(Hons.), PhD
National nuclear campaigner – Friends of the Earth, Australia
Friends of the Earth: http://www.foe.org.au/anti-nuclear/issues/oz/nontdump/Dump%20briefing%20Feb%202011.pdf

Nuclear Territory News: Waste Dump News:
http://ntne.ws/articles/article.php?section=waste

WGAR News: Nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory (2 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/02/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-in-the-northern-territory-2-mar-10

WGAR News: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (20 Mar 10)
http://groups.google.com.au/group/foblmail/browse_thread/thread/ddc393bb66205849

WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump (28 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/28/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-close-the-gap-day-28-mar-10

WGAR News: Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump (4 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/03/wgar-news-muckaty-radioactive-waste-dump-welfare-quarantining-4-apr-10

WGAR News: National day of action against Muckaty nuclear waste dump: 12th April!
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/10/wgar-news-national-day-of-action-against-muckaty-nuclear-waste-dump-12th-april

WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump: Senate inquiry in Darwin; Nationwide protests (17 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/16/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-senate-inquiry-in-darwin-nationwide-protests-17-apr-10

WGAR News: Update: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (23 Apr 10)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/22/wgar-news-raw-sewage-dumped-in-ampilatwatja-aboriginal-worker-dismissed-23-apr-10

WGAR News: Update on Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (2 May 10)
https://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/02052010-update-on-muckaty-station-nuclear-waste-dump/

WGAR News: “Muckaty Voices” film; Senate Report into nuclear waste dump plan (16 May 10)
https://indymedia.org.au/2010/05/16/wgar-news-muckaty-voices-film-senate-report-into-nuclear-waste-dump-plan-16-may-10

WGAR News: Federal Court legal challenge over nuclear waste dump (13 Jun 10)
http://lists.perthimc.asn.au/pipermail/blackgreensolidarity/2010-June/002933.html

WGAR News: PM Gillard: No change on Muckaty nuclear waste dump (12 Jul 10)
http://lists.perthimc.asn.au/pipermail/blackgreensolidarity/2010-July/002965.html

WGAR News: Legislation passes enabling a nuclear waste dump to be built at Muckaty, NT (1 Mar 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/01/wgar-news-legislation-passes-enabling-a-nuclear-waste-dump-to-be-built-at-muckaty-nt

WGAR News: Federal Court challenge over nuclear dump resumes in August (16 Mar 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/16/wgar-news-federal-court-challenge-over-nuclear-dump-resumes-in-august

WGAR News: Interview with Kylie Sambo, Mark Lane and Dr. Jim Green about Muckaty nuclear waste dump (21 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/21/wgar-news-protest-blockade-by-lake-tyers-aboriginal-women-continues

WGAR News: Nuclear waste legislation must wait until objections heard in Federal Court (23 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/23/wgar-news-international-day-for-the-elimination-of-racial-discrimination-harmony-day-21-m

WGAR News: Aboriginal groups protest against nuclear waste dump (26 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/26/wgar-news-police-used-to-break-blockade-by-aboriginal-women-of-lake-tyers

WGAR News: Crisis in Japan and Muckaty Nuclear Waste Dump (2 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/02/wgar-news-online-petition-about-aboriginal-workers-exploited-under-sihip-housing-program

WGAR News: Muckaty Traditional Owners speak out (14 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/14/wgar-news-deaths-in-custody-and-aboriginal-incarceration-rates

WGAR News: Help Stop the Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump – May 7-8 (24 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/24/wgar-news-two-urgent-petitions-on-the-nt-intervention-sign-by-early-may-2011

ABORIGINAL SOVEREIGNTY TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE:

– Audio

The Wire: Revolutionary step towards indigenous sovereignty?
[scroll down page] http://www.thewire.org.au/daydetail.aspx?SearchDay=2011-04-29
29 Apr 11: “The debate about Indigenous sovereignty has
raged for decades. It’s taken a new turn as an Aboriginal
leader prepares to launch an application to the
International Court of Justice. Interviewed in this story:
Michael Andersen, leader of the Euahlayi people;
Don Alton, Australian National University;
Craig Jones, Native Title and Indigenous affairs commentator;
Bridget Lewis, Queensland University of Technology.”

– Media Release

Call for dramatic return to proactive political action at
Aboriginal summit
By Michael Anderson and Ellie Gilbert
Indigenous Peoples: http://indigenouspeoplesissues.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10062:australia-call-for-dramatic-return-to-proactive-political-action-at-aboriginal-summit&catid=54:australia-indigenous-peoples&Itemid=76
Indymedia Australia: http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/26/call-for-dramatic-return-to-proactive-political-action-at-aboriginal-summit
26 Apr 11: “Canberra 25 April 2011, Anzac Day — The
Aboriginal New Way Sovereignty Summit here over Easter was
informed that given the state of Aboriginal Affairs in
this country today it is now time to make a dramatic
return to proactive political action.
Within the coming months legal submissions will be
completed for two challenges. The International Court of
Justice (ICJ) will be asked for an Advisory Opinion on the
status of the Aboriginal Sovereignty.
The second legal challenge will be in the European Court of
Human Rights where an application will be made for
compensation and reparation from the British in respect to
the colonisation, dispossession, usurpation of our natural
wealth and resources.”

LES MALEZER DEFENDS NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA’S FIRST PEOPLES:

– Audio

ABC PM: Indigenous congress head defends organisation
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2011/s3202821.htm
28 Apr 11: “The new National Congress of Australia’s First
Peoples has been under fire in some newspapers for days –
but now its recently elected co-chairman has publicly
defended the body. Les Malezer is a long-time Indigenous
activist who’s spent decades defending Indigenous rights
from Queensland to the United Nations in New York. Now he’s
spoken to PM in his first major interview since being
elected. [No. Les Malezer’s first major interview since
being elected was with The Wire. See below for details.] Mr
Malezer says the new congress will work, because of its
strong ethical framework – and that he’ll welcome any
criticism – or suggestions – in the lead up to its first
meeting, in Canberra, in June. It’s the first national
Indigenous representative body since ATSIC was disbanded.”

See Les Malezer’s first major interview since being elected:

The Wire: Indigenous activist Les Malezer to co-chair
National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples
Produced by Chrissy Kavanagh and Tibike Jurecska
[scroll down page] http://www.thewire.org.au/daydetail.aspx?SearchDay=2011-04-20
20 Apr 11: “In a few short months, the first ever National
congress of Australia’s First Peoples will kick off
discussions about how to address the many issues facing
Indigenous people. Long time Indigenous activist Les
Malezer has just been elected to co- chair the new body. He
says there’s a long list to grapple with, but told Chrissy
Kavanagh why he thinks the congress is a step forward.
Report features Les Malezer”

– Related Audio

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA RADIO NEWS 28-04-11
http://caama.com.au/caama-radio-news-28-04-2011
28 Apr 11: “* Former ALP national president Warren Mundine
says he is concerned Government will use the establishment
of the new National Congress of Australia’s First People’s
to pay off Aboriginal Organizations against each other.
* The new co-chair of the National Congress of Australia’s
First People’s Lez Mehltzer says he is keen to focus on
self determination and decision making within communities.”

BACKGROUND TO NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA’S FIRST PEOPLES:

WGAR News: Proposed national Indigenous body (29 Aug 09)
[scroll down page] https://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/290809-un-expert-calls-nt-intervention-discriminatory/

WGAR News: More media responses to proposed national Indigenous body (31 Aug 09)
[scroll down page] https://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/310809-more-media-responses-to-un-expert-james-anaya/

WGAR News: Still more media responses to proposed national Indigenous body (3 Sep 09)
[scroll down page] https://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/3-sep-2009-governments-review-of-aboriginal-housing-scheme-in-the-nt/

WGAR News: Proposed National Indigenous Representative Body (22 Sep 09)
[scroll down page] https://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/23/22-sep-2009-ampilatwatja-anti-intervention-walk-off-speaking-tour/

WGAR News: New Way Summit delegates unanimously reject government sponsored Rep body (31 Jan 10)
https://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/new-way-summit-delegates-unanimously-reject-government-sponsored-rep-body/

WGAR News: Proposed National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (2 Feb 10)
[scroll down page] https://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/02022010-national-day-of-action-saturday-13-february-2010-2/

WGAR News: New National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (9 May 10)
http://www.indymedia.org.au/2010/05/08/wgar-news-new-national-congress-of-australias-first-peoples-9-may-10

WGAR News: Co-Chairs of National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples elected (21 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/21/wgar-news-elders-speak-out-on-the-northern-territory-nt-intervention

WGAR News: National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (24 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/24/wgar-news-two-urgent-petitions-on-the-nt-intervention-sign-by-early-may-2011

WGAR News: National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (29 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/29/darwin-gathering-for-aboriginal-people-living-in-prescribed-areas-under-the-nt-interventi

TONY ABBOTT IN ALICE SPRINGS, NORTHERN TERRITORY:

– Media Release

The Greens: Rachel Siewert:
Abbott fails to learn from Territory visit
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/abbott-fails-learn-territory-visit
29 Apr 11: “Tony Abbott has failed to learn about the
underlying issues facing the Northern Territory as he
continues to pursue ineffective, hard-line measures on
issues such as alcohol abuse and education, according to
the Australian Greens.
Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues said that Mr
Abbott’s comments highlight the fact that he has missed
the point of his visit to the NT.
“Mr Abbott continues to show that he simply doesn’t
understand the issues or how to move forward in the
Northern Territory,” Senator Siewert said today. …
“There needs to be outreach to parents and a consultative,
partnership approach between the Government and
communities. Supporting parents and students in a positive
way is much more likely to deliver long term improvements,”
concluded Senator Siewert.”

– Video

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
Tony Abbott in Alice Springs
http://caama.com.au/tony-abbott-in-alice-springs
29 Apr 11: “Tony Abbott pops into Alice Springs to get a
personal feel for what’s happening, particularly in remote
Australia… he also had talks with Bess Price, Alison
Anderson and Ian Conway traditional owner here in Alice, as
well as many others to talk about the affects of the
Intervention and what are the next best step to take to
tackle the problems that plague the town.”

ABC 7.30: Tony Abbott on the intervention
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2011/s3202990.htm
28 Apr 11: “TONY ABBOTT, OPPOSITION LEADER: I think the
intervention has made a difference. It hasn’t been perfect.
Nothing is perfect, but it has made a difference and I
think the challenge now is to build on that to try to see
if we can extend the intervention to Alice Springs and the
other major centres of the Territory, so that we ensure that
everywhere in the Territory the kids go to school, the
adults go to work and the ordinary law of the land is
observed.”

– Audio

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA Radio News 29-04-2011
http://caama.com.au/caama-radio-news-29-04-2011
29 Apr 11: “The Federal Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott says
he will not remain silent about the situation of Aboriginal
people in Central Australia, following his talks with local
Aboriginal leaders.”

ABC NewsRadio: NT Government rejects Opposition Leader’s
call for another intervention in the Territory .. (audio)
http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/newsradio/audio/20110428-hampton.mp3
28 Apr 11

– News

Australian: Tony Abbott and Aboriginal elders sit down in dirt
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/aboriginal-australia/abbott-elders-sit-down-in-dirt/story-e6frgd9f-1226046554337
29 Apr 11: “TONY Abbott has made good on a promise to sit
down in the dirt with traditional owners and discuss plans
for a second intervention, but is yet to commit to any
proposals to curb problem drinking and violence in central
Australia. … Mr Abbott’s meetings in Alice Springs have
been strictly controlled, with no journalists allowed to be
present at meetings with indigenous leaders. He has come
under fire from locals who say Mr Abbott is only meeting
with sympathetic voices.”

ABC: NT rejects Abbott’s call for second intervention
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/28/3202248.htm?site=indigenous&topic=latest
28 Apr 11: “The Northern Territory Government says it
supports a visit by Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott
to Alice Springs town camps but does not back his call for
a second intervention. … Territory Minister for Central
Australia, Karl Hampton, says more federal politicians
should follow the lead of Mr Abbott and see the town camps
for themselves. But he says the Territory Government will
not back an extension of the intervention.”

OTHER NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION ARTICLES:

– Analysis / Opinion

Crikey:
NT Intervention: the divide between opinion and evidence
http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/04/29/nt-intervention-the-divide-between-opinion-and-evidence/
29 Apr 11: “Opposition leader Tony Abbott appeared on The
7.30 Report, interviewed by Chris Uhlmann against the
backdrop of the NT:
CHRIS UHLMANN: I spoke with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott
earlier today and asked if the intervention had achieved
its primary aim, protecting children.
TONY ABBOTT, OPPOSITION LEADER: I think the intervention
has made a difference. It hasn’t been perfect. … ” Eva Cox

– Audio

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA Radio News 29-04-2011
http://caama.com.au/caama-radio-news-29-04-2011
29 Apr 11: “An Alice Springs native title holder says she
is upset a the way the ABC’s 730 report had twisted her
opinions on the Northern territory intervention.”

– Video

ABC 7.30: Broken promises
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2011/s3202987.htm
28 Apr 11: “Welcome to the program, coming from Alice
Springs. … First to one of the promises that came with
the intervention, better housing for Indigenous community.
The Government pledged millions to build new homes, but
have they been delivered?”

BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:

Creative Spirits:
Northern Territory Emergence Response (NTER)
– “The Intervention”:
http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/politics/northern-territory-intervention.html

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Northern Territory National Emergency Response:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Territory_intervention

The Greens: Rachel Siewert: Northern Territory Intervention:
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/category/issues/indigenous-rights/northern-territory-intervention

IRAG (Intervention Rollback Action Group):
Mparntwe – Alice Springs:
http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/

Jobs with Justice:
http://jobswithjustice.wordpress.com/

STICS (Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney):
http://stoptheintervention.org/

MAIC (Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective):
http://maicollective.blogspot.com/

ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation)
– NT intervention:
http://www.antar.org.au/issues_and_campaigns/nt_intervention

‘concerned Australians’:
Without Justice there can be no Reconciliation:
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/

Crikey – NT Intervention:
http://www.crikey.com.au/topic/nt-intervention/

New Matilda – northern territory intervention:
http://newmatilda.com/tag/northern-territory-intervention

Amnesty International Australia:
Looking back at the Northern Territory Intervention:
http://www.amnesty.org.au/indigenous-rights/comments/24460/

Treaty Republic: Northern Territory Intervention:
http://treatyrepublic.net/search/node/Northern%20Territory%20Intervention

Defending Indigenous Rights:
http://defendingindigenousrights.wordpress.com/

Intervention walk-off’s Blog:
http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/

Australian Human Rights Commission:
Northern Territory ‘Emergency Response’ intervention:
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/intervention/index.html

FAIRA; Human Rights Law Resource Centre; NACLC:
Australia’s compliance with CERD – Fact Sheet 2:
Northern Territory Intervention:
http://www.hrlrc.org.au/files/Fact-Sheet-2-NT-Intervention.pdf

Green Left: Northern Territory intervention: myths and facts:
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/39732

WGAR (Working Group for Aboriginal Rights):
http://wgar.info/

MORE ON THE FIRST NATIONS POLITICAL PARTY:

– Opinion

NT News: Editorial: Indigenous party divisive
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/04/28/228331_opinion.html
28 Apr 11: “THE establishment of an Aboriginal political
party in the Territory is unfortunate. Despite what many
southerners think, the Territory has achieved a remarkable
level of racial harmony. A political party based on nothing
more than skin colour threatens that peaceful co-existence.”

See:

WGAR News: First Nations political party and the NT elections (29 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/29/darwin-gathering-for-aboriginal-people-living-in-prescribed-areas-under-the-nt-interventi

OTHER ABORIGINAL ARTICLES:

– News

ABC: Indigenous language linked to drop in drug abuse
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/29/3203798.htm
29 Apr 11: “New research shows young Aborigines and Torres
Strait Islanders who speak an Indigenous language are less
likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. The Australian Bureau of
Statistics (ABS) has released the results from its fourth
study into the wellbeing of Indigenous children and young
people.”

ABC: Bishop urges more Indigenous jobs creation
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/29/3203426.htm
29 Apr 11: “The head of Australia’s Catholic Social Justice
Council says measures to reduce welfare dependency will
fail in remote Indigenous communities unless the Government
creates additional jobs. … He [Bishop of Broome,
Christopher Saunders] wants the Government to create jobs
where Indigenous people are paid to maintain and improve
their own communities. “There are a number of things that
happen in a community when you become creative,” he said.”