Lemezina, Zrinka --- "Recent Happenings - October 2008" [2008] IndigLawB 40; (2008) 7(8) Indigenous Law Bulletin 24

• Recent Happenings – October 2008
• 01/10
• 02/10
• 07/10
• 08/10
• 10/10
• 10/10
• 10/10
• 11/10
• 13/10
• 13/10
• 15/10
• 20/10
• 24/10
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• 27/10
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• 30/10

Recent Happenings – October 2008

Compiled by Zrinka Lemezina.

01/10

The Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Partnership reports that Aboriginal children are being removed from their families at a similar rate to that of the Stolen Generations of the 1920s. The Partnership has recorded 669 children as being in state care in the last financial year; 700 children were forcibly removed from their parents during the 1920s.

01/10

Alice Springs creators of the play Ngapartii Ngapartii have called on the Federal Government to introduce a National Indigenous Languages policy, following the release of its discussion paper to Government in July. Today, only 145 of the 300 languages that were spoken at the time of colonisation are still spoken; 110 of those are endangered, and 17 are not expected to survive another generation.

02/10

Lawyers acting for Reggie Wurridjul and Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation addressed the High Court today, arguing that the Federal Government’s compulsory five-year takeover of Aboriginal townships is unconstitutional, that the abolition of the permit system has opened up sacred sites and undermined Native Title rights. The outcome of the challenge to the Intervention will impact on more than 70 Aboriginal communities currently controlled by the Federal Government.

07/10

Research from the University of Tasmania confirms that 75% of Indigenous Australians live in cities and towns but still suffer social isolation. Researcher Rowland Atkinson said that the findings conflict with popular representation of Aboriginal people in remote locations and the corresponding allocation of Indigenous funding.

08/10

Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard has announced that the Government will allocate $4.8 million on literacy and numeracy programs for Indigenous children. The funding will be spent on intensive literacy tuition, increased access to books and promoting reading and writing.

10/10

Forty men staged a protest on the roof of the Port Augusta prison in South Australia (SA). Peter Christopher of the Public Service Association attributes the protests to prison overcrowding. Chief Executive of the SA Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Neil Gillespie agrees that ‘there has been an issue with overcrowding for quite some time.’

10/10

The Director of the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress is urging the Federal Government to create a 10 year plan to address Indigenous health. Stephanie Bell of the Congress says that an effective Indigenous health plan requires key performance indicators and ‘a commitment beyond a three year election term’.

10/10

The Family Responsibilities Commission has started to quarantine welfare payments in four north Queensland Aboriginal communities. The commission has the power to control payments where recipients break the law, fail to send their children to school or to maintain their homes.

11/10

The Federal Government announced fundamental changes to the CDEP program: the program will now only apply in remote regions and are to be classified as welfare rather than wages.

13/10

The NTER Review Board today submitted its Report to the Federal Government. The Report found that ‘the situation in remote communities and town camps was – and remains – sufficiently acute to be described as a national emergency. The NTER should continue.’ The Government has confirmed that it intents to continue and strengthen the NTER.

13/10

Tjanara Goreng Goreng was today sentenced for five counts of emailing confidential material while working as a federal public servant. The charges related to information about sexual abuse and petrol sniffing in Mutitjulu, NT. Ms Goreng Goreng, sentenced to a three-year good behaviour bond and a $2000 fine, said, ‘I thought [the people of Mutitjulu] were being seriously oppressed and they weren’t being given enough information to support them.’

15/10

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma has called for urgent health services to address a pattern of suicide in the Narrogin Aboriginal Community in WA. Four Aboriginal people have committed suicide since April; four more have attempted suicide in the last few weeks. Mr Calma said that mental health of the community was suffering due to ‘the long term stress of living in situations of disadvantage and racism’ and will seek the Federal Government, WA Government and local council to urgently implement culturally appropriate health services.

20/10

Commonwealth Attorney-General Robert McClelland today announced changes to improve the operation of Native Title. The Federal Court will now take on a central role in managing all claims, determining which claims will be referred to mediation and whether mediation should be before the Court or the Native Title Tribunal. Mr McClelland says that the Court will encourage more negotiated settlements, which are more flexible and ‘key to achieving practical outcomes.’ Implementing legislation will be introduced in 2009.

24/10

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has said that, despite measures introduced under the NTER, the shortage of doctors in Aboriginal communities is worsening.

24/10

A Brisbane District Court jury today found Lex Wotton guilty of inciting a riot on Palm Island in 26 November 2004. Aboriginal activist and friend, Sam Watson said the verdict was ‘business as usual in the sovereign State of Queensland … there is no justice for Aboriginal people within the courts of Queensland.’ Mr Wotton is currently discussing a possible appeal with his lawyers.

27/10

Twenty-two police officers will receive QPS Valour Awards, the highest police bravery awards, for their involvement in the 2004 riots on Palm Island. Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson says that ‘the officers there showed great restraint, courage and outstanding judgment in terms of the way they handled the matter.’ The unrest was a response to the death in custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee.

28/10

Central Land Council (CLC) Director David Ross today rejected proposals to introduce legislative amendments requiring remote Indigenous people to accept jobs outside their home communities. Mr Ross said that such requirements have not worked in the past because ‘we’re talking about traditional people who are very much a part of the culture here. Opportunities can be there, but this is about people’s spiritual and emotional wellbeing as well.’ Mr Ross spoke at the launch of a Regional Partnership Agreement with mining company Newmont Asia Pacific, creating employment opportunities for the Warlpiri communities of Yuendumu, Lajamanu and Kalkarindgi.

30/10

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd today announced a $20 million initiative creating 2000 six-year boarding scholarships for Indigenous children over the next 20 years. The announcement adds to existing Indigenous boarding scholarship schemes that support approximately 250 students annually.