The Guardian 6 February, 2008
"Sea of black faces" bound for Canberra
Darren Coyne
Politicians returning to Canberra for the first sitting of Parliament this month will be greeted by a "sea of black faces", according to the organisers of the proposed rally. The Aboriginal Rights Coalition in Sydney has called on Aboriginal people to converge on Canberra in support of Northern Territory communities affected by the controversial intervention legislation rammed through Parliament last year by the Howard government.
Spokesman Greg Eatock said large numbers of Aboriginal people from all over Australia already had indicated they would join the rally, and the convergence was being supported by many Aboriginal organisations.
Mr Eatock said the rally would call on the Labor Government to "turn back former Prime Minister John Howard and former Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough’s racist legacy".
In a rallying call to Aboriginal people across the country, the Aboriginal Rights Coalition circulated a statement condemning the previous government, and challenging the new Labor government to deliver its pre-election promises.
"In the final months of government, John Howard introduced a package of punitive, racist and paternalistic measures against Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. Aimed at controlling Aboriginal lives and land, the legislation was a stark violation of basic human rights and dignities", the statement said.
"Federal Labor is promising a new era in Aboriginal affairs. They are pledging to say sorry to the Stolen Generation and to sign the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People."?(The government has now committed to saying "sorry" on February 13.)
"They have promised to restore both the CDEP [Community Development and Employment Program] and the permit system, which will ameliorate some of the worst effects of the NT intervention.
"Unfortunately, there are aspects of Labor policy that are still disturbingly similar to the Liberals. Plainly discriminatory measures such as mandatory welfare quarantines, compulsory land acquisition and the presence of non-Aboriginal ‘business managers’ with extraordinary powers are being suffered under right now.
"We will mobilise for the reinstatement of the Racial Discrimination Act; demand immediate review of the NT intervention; end racist welfare quarantines, compulsory land acquisition and ‘mission manager’ powers", the statement said.
Mr Eatock said Aboriginal people wanted Aboriginal control of Aboriginal affairs.
"The federal election revealed overwhelming opposition to the intervention among Aboriginal communities. When Labor MPs in affected areas emphasised political differences to the Coalition, they consistently received over 80 percent of the vote, with 95 percent in the town of Wadeye", he said.
"Despite government claims that the intervention is a response to the [Pat] Anderson and [Rex] "Wild Little Children Are Sacred" report, there have been no new charges laid in connection with child sexual abuse in the Northern Territory.
"No new community-based services to ensure the safety and protection of children have been established, and there has been a notable duplication of services — particularly in the area of child health checks.
"Huge amounts of public money have been wasted, with $88 million alone going towards bureaucrats to control Aboriginal welfare."
Mr Eatock said a vibrant, mass convergence on Canberra on the first day of Federal Parliament would be an important step in challenging the "lingering legacy of Howard’s racism".
"We can strongly push for an immediate end to what Aboriginal communities have themselves described as an invasion", he said.
"We can send a strong signal to [Prime Minister] Kevin Rudd and his new government to put Aboriginal rights at the centre of their agenda; to massively increase the resources available to communities across Australia, and to respect Aboriginal control of Aboriginal affairs."
Meanwhile, welfare quarantining has started for Aboriginal people in Alice Springs town camps and nearby communities.
Officers from Centrelink have spent the past month visiting camps and the communities of Ingerreke and Amoonguna to explain the changes, which came into effect last week.
Those affected will have half their welfare payments held back for use on food, rent or utility bills.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin said the new Labor government had decided to continue with the quarantining because the program had been successful and well received in other communities.
The new Government has so far rejected calls to wind back the intervention and has been coy on an actual timeframe for its pre-election commitments.
Koori Mail
Transport to Canberra
Tuesday February 12 Convergence
Buses from Sydney:
The Block, opposite Redfern Railway Station
Be there at 7am for 7.30am departure
Ring Janene 0416 490 481 to book your seat on the bus
$20 ($10 concession)
Aboriginal Rights Coalition, Sydney
Car-pooling from Melbourne
Contact Jacinda Kleidon at ANTaR Vic for information
ph: 03 9419 3613
fax: 03 9417 2691
www.antarvictoria.org.au