Statement Opposing the Commonwealth’s Proposal to Compulsorily Acquire the Alice Springs Town Camps

We recognize the right of Tangentyere Council and town camp residents to self-determination. Town camp residents have called upon governments to address overcrowding and poverty in their communities over several years. More often than not, their demands have been ignored.

We support the recent decision by the Council to reject the Commonwealth’s proposal that would transfer control of housing and tenancy management to the Northern Territory Government. Representatives from all town camps voted to maintain community control. This is vital because of a long history of neglect and indifference to the needs of Aboriginal people by Northern Territory Housing. People rightly fear eviction and rent-increases that are beyond their capacity to pay. It is critical that Aboriginal people have the power to shape their own destinies.

We condemn Minister Macklin’s proposal for the Commonwealth to compulsorily acquire the town camps of Alice Springs. We call on the Commonwealth to respect the independence of the Tangentyere Council and to act in good faith in all of its negotiations with the Tangentyere Council.

We recognize the long struggle for land by both town camp residents and Aboriginal land holders throughout Australia. We condemn the Federal Government’s policy of withholding funding for desperately needed housing in Aboriginal communities, before Aboriginal people relinquish control of their land.

It is disgraceful that the party who championed the first land rights legislation in Australia is holding impoverished Aboriginal communities to ransom. This Government has lost its moral compass. We offer our full support to the Tangentyere Council in their struggle.

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See list of organisations and individuals endorsing the above statement: http://stoptheintervention.org/#Towncamps

To endorse the above statement, email <stoptheintervention@gmail.com>

Sources of statement:

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

IRAG (Intervention Rollback Action Group) website:
[scroll down page] http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/

This statement is endorsed by Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (WGAR). Please note, WGAR is not the author of this statement.

Intervention Rollback Action Group – Urgent appeal for funds to travel to Darwin

URGENT, IT’S TIME…for the voices to be heard

Northern Territory intervention Prescribed Area People’s major gathering in Darwin, 18-20 June 2009

Request for support forwarded from IRAG …

INTERVENTION ROLLBACK ACTION GROUP

PO Box 8488 Alice Springs NT 0871.

Phone:

Barbara Shaw 0401 291 166

Marlene Hodder: 08 89525032

Email: rollbacktheintervention@gmail.com

URGENT

IT’S TIME…for the voices to be heard

IRAG is currently working to assist a group of Central Australian town camp and community residents to get to the major gathering of Prescribed Area People which is taking place in Darwin from 18-20 JUNE 2009.

The purpose of the gathering is to discuss the common issues concerning Aboriginal people and to put together, as one voice, a strong public statement.

We have booked a 22-seater bus which leaves Alice Springs on 16 June. Private vehicles from communities and from Alice Springs will also be making the journey, picking up people from Tennant Creek, Barrow Creek and Ali Curung along the way.

We estimate a shortfall in funds of $5,000 at this point in time which will be needed to cover accommodation and food costs, and contingencies (bus costs are covered).

Any donation you are able to make, no matter how small, would help greatly.

Cheques made out to “Intervention Rollback Action Group” should be sent to: PO Box 8488, Alice Springs, NT 0871

or direct debit to:

Bendigo Bank Alice Springs

BSB No: 633-000

A/c No: 134157049

Please visit our website www.rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com

Check out our art sale while you are there.

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Source of request for support:

Marlene Hodder, IRAG <marlene.hodder@bigpond.com>

This request for support was posted by Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (WGAR) as a community service, with the kind permission of Marlene Hodder. Please note, WGAR is not the author of this request for support.

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WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

WGAR website: http://wgar.info/