Houston, Jacqui --- "Mapoon Alcohol Management Plan Abandoned" [2004] IndigLawB 12; (2004) 5(30) Indigenous Law Bulletin 4

• Mapoon Alcohol Management Plan Abandoned

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Mapoon Alcohol Management Plan Abandoned

by Jacqui Houston

Mapoon Aboriginal community have been forced to abandon their Alcohol Management Plan (AMP) and submit to the imposition of a Queensland Government-drafted AMP. The Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy assert that they aim to achieve their vision “by working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities to develop and implement appropriate policy solutions at state, regional and local levels.”[1] Despite this, the Government rejected the Mapoon community’s AMP and its Ministers subsequently remained non-committal to attempts to negotiate between the two plans. By 26 February the Queensland cabinet were deliberating on the matter and determined to continue with the implementation of the Government plan, albeit at a later date. The plan will now come into force on 14 April with a Government review to be conducted in 12 months time.

With the support of the Mapoon community, the Mapoon Justice Group has now moved to legal action challenging the legitimacy of legislation targeted specifically at Indigenous people. Mapoon Justice Group Chairperson Christine Cooktown said “we have little to lose and much to gain by taking on this archaic legislation, but if proven in the federal courts, the house of cards built by the Beattie Government around alcohol management may well come tumbling down.” Contact is invited from other Indigenous communities interested in participating in class action against the Beattie Government. Contact Ricky Guivarra, interim Coordinator of Mapoon Justice Group on 07 4090 9124 or at [e-mail].

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[1] www.indigenous.qld.gov.au/about/vision.cfm. DATSIP’s vision is “to provide outstanding leadership within Government on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues.”