November 17th - International Day of Action on the NT Invasion
November 8, 2007 by Rachel Siewert
The Government’s current top-down approach in the Northern Territory simply will not succeed. But John Howard doesn’t seem to want to listen.
Join groups around Australia and the world on November 17th - an International Day of Action on the NT Invasion.
For any plan tackling the growing problems of child and alcohol abuse in the NT to succeed in the long-term it is absolutely essential to have genuine community engagement and ownership of these programs and initiatives. The Government’s NT Intervention has neither of these factors in place, with politicians instead opting to legislate over people thousands of miles away, without consultation or conversation.
I am particularly concerned about the Government’s use of an emotive problem as an excuse to overturn communal ownership of land and scrap the permit system. Both communities and the police agree that the permit system is an effective way of helping to keep grog-runners and carpet-baggers out of remote communities so why did Howard scrap the permit system over townsites?
A law-and-order approach to banning alcohol on Aboriginal communities could increase the levels of violence and abuse if it isn’t backed up by rehabilitation and counselling programs. I am dismayed by the punitive quarantining of 50% of income support payments as food and rent vouchers, and removal of 50% of income support (and 100% of family tax benefits) if children miss school without a good reason. There is already compelling evidence that these punitive approaches do not work. At the same time the Government has failed to support community schemes that voluntarily put aside welfare monies (like Tangentyere’s Centrepay scheme), which have cost communities thousands of dollars to run.
This is an insult to the hard work of Aboriginal people who have been campaigning for basic services in remote communities. Schools, health care, housing, policing and social services are desperately needed by these communities. It is estimated that the housing backlog alone for Northern Territory Aboriginal communities is half a billion dollars.
How can Australia continue to tolerate Indigenous life expectancy being 17 years below that of non-Indigenous life expectancy?
One week before the Australian Federal election, on November 17th, various groups across Australia will be taking action to show opposition to the Federal government’s intervention into the Northern Territory.
More Info:
My website - rachelsiewert.org.au
National Aboriginal Alliance
Women for Wik
Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation
Oxfam Australia
Koori Mail
Stand up and show both major parties your opposition to the NT Intervention
Get Involved on November 17th!
Actions happening around the country:
(if you are planning any action, or if you hear of events going on not listed here, please add info in the comments)
Brisbane
11am, Queens Park, crn George and Elizabeth Sts
This rally and march is being held in protest against the Howard government’s policies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This involves a march, so you are reminded to bring a hat and a bottle of water. A number of Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory will be holding a rally or meeting in solidarity at noon that day. For more information contact Sam Watson, mobile 0401 2274 443, email watson@oznetcom.com.auDarwin
10am, Saville Hotel, crn The Esplanade and Peel St
Walk with us down to Raintree Park for music, BYO picnic, speakers and information. Alternatively, meet us directly at Raintree Park at 10:45amPerth
10am, Wesley Church, crn Hay and William Sts
The federal intervention into the Northern Territory is more about uranium mining and radioactive waste disposal than it is about child protection. Indigenous issues will only be heard if Indigenous people and their supporters raise their voices.Proposed Speakers:
- Prof. Ted Wilkes (National Drug Research Institute Curtin University)
- Dennis Eggington (Aboriginal Legal Service)
- Natasha Moore (Indigenous Guild Officer, Curtin Uni)
- Patricia Dudgeon
- WA Deaths in Custody Watch Committee
- West Australians for Racial Equality
- Rachel Siewert (Australian Greens)
- Annolies Truman (Socialist Alliance)
- MC: David Collard
Contact:Â Alan 0428 250 155
It is quite obvious that the Federal Goverenment is trying every trick in the book to unblock the NT landrights legislation for Mining Companies. The Government gets paid billions of dollars from Mining Companies both to federal and state Governments. One can only imagine the billions that will be paid out of Roxby Downs mines which the mining companies have only offered a few crumbs to those Aboriginal communites in that region. the Few crumbs in that region has caused the three major Abogirinal groups to fight amongst themselves.
Already I have heard that the mining company involvement in the APY lands has trebled in twelve months I can only feel sorry for the NT Aboriginal Communites who do not have the equal playing field to fight for their cause.