ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY REPORT:
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
8 May 2012
Australia's Catholic bishops and religious have appealed to Federal Senators not to pass "Stronger Futures Northern Territory 2011 Bill" which would see the Territory's controversial "Intervention" policy extended for a further 10 years.
"We urge the Federal Government to abandon this legislation and develop strategies based on trust and respect which will promote collaboration with the Aboriginal people of the Northern Territory in decision-making relating to their future," said Archbishop Philip Wilson and Sister Anne Derwin rsj, in a statement issued on behalf of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) and Catholic Religious Australia (CRA).
Their call to the Government joins a growing number of voices calling on the Government to halt the legislation which was passed by the Lower House in February this year.
"We need to listen to the Aboriginal people. They are asking for their rights as human beings and citizens of this country to be respected. Deep spiritual and cultural issues must be paramount to any legislation. It is imperative the Government work in partnership with Aboriginal people over the long term rather than rely on quick fixes if lasting change was to be achieved.," Archbishop Wilson and Sr Anne Derwin said.
The ACBC and CRA have joined widespread condemnation of the Government's Stronger Futures Bill which would see the controversial Intervention begun under the Howard Government in 2007, expanded and continued for at least another 10 years.
Opponents of the Bill include former PM, Malcolm Fraser, the Uniting Church of Australia, the Archdiocese of Sydney's Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, NATSICC (the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Catholic Council), ACSJC (the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council) as well as musicians, Paul Kelly, Neil Murray and Archie Roach.
Last Friday, the three musicians dedicated Jimmy Little's iconic song, Blackfella Whitefella to the "Stand for Freedom" campaign against the Stronger Futures Bill when they performed at the memorial concert for the acclaimed Australian singer at the Sydney Opera House.
Jimmy Little died early last month aged 75 and his memorial concert before 2500 people was not only a time to remember one of Australia's most beloved performers but a rallying cry against the any extension or expansion of the Government's controversial Intervention policy.
But perhaps the strongest opposition to the Bill has come from the Yolnu Makarr Dhuni, an assembly of eight nations in the Western, Central and East Arnhem Land areas of the Northern Territory. Not only has the Yulnu Nations Assembly rejected the Government's proposed Bill but has asked all NT Traditional Owners to refuse to participate in any land lease negotiations and approvals for exploration licenses until the Stronger Futures legislation is thrown out.
These leases would cover coal, iron ore and all minerals on their land, says Graeme Mundine, executive officer of Sydney's Aboriginal Catholic Ministry.
"In refusing to continue with negotiations and approvals for exploration licenses, the Yolnu Nations are clearly stating they have had enough of being pressured to agree to things that negatively impact their communities," Graeme says. "Their language, cultures and law are increasingly under threat as interventionist policies combined with the relentless push to mine Aboriginal Land place more and more pressure on communities."
The Government's Interventionist policy now retitled and expanded under the "Stronger Futures" legislation was established to address violence and alcohol abuse in Aboriginal communities. But the Government's heavy handed tactics which includes quarantining welfare payments, were made with little consultation with Aboriginal elders and the communities themselves, and have led to accusations of racial discrimination and an abuse of human rights by the World Council of Churches, Amnesty International and the United Nations.
"The Government seems to have its head in the sand over the Stronger Futures legislation," says Graeme Mundine, pointing out that the Senate Community Affairs Committee's inquiry into the Bill, received more than 450 submissions opposing the legislation together with a petition signed by more than 35,000 people as part of the Stand for Freedom Campaign.
"The Government is ignoring all this informed opposition and instead is pushing its own agenda through flawed legislation instead of committing to a real partnership with Aboriginal people to develop sustainable solutions," he says.
Graeme was on hand last Friday at Amnesty International's NSW Centre in Chippendale for the launch of the sequel to the highly-regarded "This is What We Said" and "Walk with Us" series, which gives voice to the views of Aboriginal people living under the Northern Territory Intervention, or NTER (Northern Territory Emergency Response) as it is often known.
The latest publication, "NT Consultations Report 2011: By Quotations" is a record of what was said by Aboriginal people during 10 Government consultations with Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory last year. Despite taking no official recordings of these consultations, the Government's Stronger Futures legislation is purportedly based on these consultations and the direct wishes of the Aboriginal people.
But the transcript record of what was actually said, which is revealed in this latest document published by Concerned Australians, shows a different story entirely, says Graeme pointing out that not only is there a "surprising consistency of views across all the transcripts which give us a direct understanding of what Aboriginal people asked of the Government but shows their desire for an end to the Intervention."
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
8 May 2012
Any legislation should be based on trust and respect with
Aboriginal people directly involved in any decision-making
Aboriginal people directly involved in any decision-making
"We urge the Federal Government to abandon this legislation and develop strategies based on trust and respect which will promote collaboration with the Aboriginal people of the Northern Territory in decision-making relating to their future," said Archbishop Philip Wilson and Sister Anne Derwin rsj, in a statement issued on behalf of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) and Catholic Religious Australia (CRA).
Their call to the Government joins a growing number of voices calling on the Government to halt the legislation which was passed by the Lower House in February this year.
"We need to listen to the Aboriginal people. They are asking for their rights as human beings and citizens of this country to be respected. Deep spiritual and cultural issues must be paramount to any legislation. It is imperative the Government work in partnership with Aboriginal people over the long term rather than rely on quick fixes if lasting change was to be achieved.," Archbishop Wilson and Sr Anne Derwin said.
THE ACBS and CRA have joined widespread condemnation
of the Government's Stronger Futures Bill
of the Government's Stronger Futures Bill
Opponents of the Bill include former PM, Malcolm Fraser, the Uniting Church of Australia, the Archdiocese of Sydney's Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, NATSICC (the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Catholic Council), ACSJC (the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council) as well as musicians, Paul Kelly, Neil Murray and Archie Roach.
Last Friday, the three musicians dedicated Jimmy Little's iconic song, Blackfella Whitefella to the "Stand for Freedom" campaign against the Stronger Futures Bill when they performed at the memorial concert for the acclaimed Australian singer at the Sydney Opera House.
Jimmy Little died early last month aged 75 and his memorial concert before 2500 people was not only a time to remember one of Australia's most beloved performers but a rallying cry against the any extension or expansion of the Government's controversial Intervention policy.
Archbishop Philip Wilson urges Federal Senators
to reject Stronger Futures Legislation
to reject Stronger Futures Legislation
These leases would cover coal, iron ore and all minerals on their land, says Graeme Mundine, executive officer of Sydney's Aboriginal Catholic Ministry.
"In refusing to continue with negotiations and approvals for exploration licenses, the Yolnu Nations are clearly stating they have had enough of being pressured to agree to things that negatively impact their communities," Graeme says. "Their language, cultures and law are increasingly under threat as interventionist policies combined with the relentless push to mine Aboriginal Land place more and more pressure on communities."
Graeme Mundine Executive Officer of
the Australian Catholic Ministry supports calls
for an end to the Intervention
the Australian Catholic Ministry supports calls
for an end to the Intervention
"The Government seems to have its head in the sand over the Stronger Futures legislation," says Graeme Mundine, pointing out that the Senate Community Affairs Committee's inquiry into the Bill, received more than 450 submissions opposing the legislation together with a petition signed by more than 35,000 people as part of the Stand for Freedom Campaign.
"The Government is ignoring all this informed opposition and instead is pushing its own agenda through flawed legislation instead of committing to a real partnership with Aboriginal people to develop sustainable solutions," he says.
Sister Anne Derwin RSJ
of Catholic Religious
Australia joins Bishops
calling for halt to Stronger
Futures legislation
of Catholic Religious
Australia joins Bishops
calling for halt to Stronger
Futures legislation
The latest publication, "NT Consultations Report 2011: By Quotations" is a record of what was said by Aboriginal people during 10 Government consultations with Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory last year. Despite taking no official recordings of these consultations, the Government's Stronger Futures legislation is purportedly based on these consultations and the direct wishes of the Aboriginal people.
But the transcript record of what was actually said, which is revealed in this latest document published by Concerned Australians, shows a different story entirely, says Graeme pointing out that not only is there a "surprising consistency of views across all the transcripts which give us a direct understanding of what Aboriginal people asked of the Government but shows their desire for an end to the Intervention."
Comments