LATEST NEWS/EVENTS

MEDIA RELEASE: DPP RE BRISCOE CASE

MR DPP re Briscoe case 8.1.13

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APARTHEID AT BORROLOOLA – a disappointing Christmas for some

http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/12/24/no-room-at-the-inn-for-aboriginal-customers-in-borroloola/

LAY CHARGES FOR BRISCOE DEATH IN CUSTODY

Please support the family of Kwementyaye Briscoe who died in custody in the Alice Springs Watchhouse earlier this year.

A rally held in Alice Springs on Friday 5th October called for charges to be laid against the police responsible who were found by the coroner to have shown a lack of duty of care.

Following is a facts sheet titled “Justice for Kwementyaye Briscoe”.

Briscoe fact sheet

The following letter is being circulated by the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning for endorsement by organisations.

Briscoe letter for endorsement

There is also a petition which can be printed and circulated throughout the community.

Justice_for_Briscoe_petition

http://www.change.org/petitions/justice-for-kwementyaye-briscoe-lay-charges-against-police

We ask the Australian community to stand up and demand Justice for Mr Briscoe and for an end to deaths in custody.

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Media release 20 September 2012 for immediate release

Lay charges for Briscoe death

Prominent human rights lawyer George Newhouse is calling for charges to be laid against NT police for the death of Kwementyaye Briscoe in an Alice Springs watch house.

In his findings delivered on Monday, NT Coroner Greg Cavenagh found that police negligence was responsible for Mr Briscoe’s death, but did not recommend charges.

Mr Newhouse is acting for the Briscoe family in the aftermath of the coronial inquest. He says that charges are essential, both for ensuring basic justice and to send a message that this conduct is unacceptable and will be punished.

He has briefed a QC in Sydney on the case, seeking an opinion on appropriate criminal charges and potential civil action.

“The coronial inquest has provided us with the truth about the Briscoe case – now we need to see justice.”

“Coroner Cavenagh was clear that responsibility for Mr Briscoe’s death lies at the feet of police. If it was not for their callous indifference to the wellbeing of this vulnerable man, who had been taken into their care against his will, Mr Briscoe would be alive today.”

“I believe this extreme level of negligence is criminal. It is important that the DPP review the case immediately and lay charges against the appropriate officers”.

“Aboriginal Australians continue to die in custody in shameful numbers. Yet not a single police officer has ever been convicted. We can not let Mr Briscoe be just another statistic. The deaths must stop – justice must be seen to be done”.

Contact: Geroge Newhouse 0422 255 109

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Report of the NT Co-ordinator General for Remote Services, Olga Havnen, into her findings – link to this report available under “Resources/Info”.

Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Bill 2011 and two related bills have passed through the Lower House and are due to go to the Senate this week.

MR Briscoe 17.9.2012

Kalkaringi Statement 17.9.2012

Keynote address by Eddie Cubillo, Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Northern Territory

Racism in the Justice System Aug 2012

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MEDIA RELEASE FROM DAMIEN CURTIS in relation to the Stronger Futures question to Prime Minister Gillard

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 23 July 201

Leaders outraged as Indigenous issues sidelined by Prime Minister

Indigenous leaders and human rights groups are outraged that their question to the Prime Minister concerning the human rights validity of the recently passed Stronger Futures legislation was not asked, despite it being in 4^th place in last Saturday’s Google Hangout with the Prime Minister.

The question, posted by Stand For Freedom director Damien Curtis, received 9000 votes in just 4 days, making it one of the fastest growing and most successful questions in the online competition. It finished in 4^th place, ahead of the carbon tax questions heavily lobbied for by commentator Andrew Bolt.

However, those supporting the question were bitterly disappointed when, out of a total of 17 questions put to the Prime Minister, their question did not appear, even though a pre-recorded Youtube video had been submitted of Aboriginal leader Barbara Shaw asking the question.

Along with the winning top 3, the other questions asked included 5^th, 6^th, 8^th and 13^th positions, 8 unlisted questions, and bizarrely 52^nd and 88^th positions (with 100 votes between them).

When asked why the question did not feature in the programme, Eyal Halamish, CEO of organisers OurSay, said that they tried hard to get the question in, “but this was up to Fairfax and the Prime Minister’s office, at the end of the day.”

“We see this as blatant suppression of a widely held concern, that of the lack of human rights protection for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. This forum was not, as it claimed, an opportunity to hold our Government to account. It was a carefully orchestrated PR stunt by the Prime Minister. Once more, the Government has succeeded in gagging any dissent when it comes to its discriminatory polices towards the First Australians”, said Damien Curtis.

Barbara Shaw, who pre-recorded the question on video, said: “Why is it that we have these policies placed upon us, but when we legitimately question authorities about them, we get shut out? This is another clear example of the Government not fairly engaging with Aboriginal issues. Again, we have been pushed to the back.”

Les Malezer, co-chairman of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, said he was “deeply disappointed”. “The questions put to the PM have not been to the forefront of this nation’s political priorities… I welcome the enlightenment on refugee rights, on children in custody, on gay rights and other new age reforms, but like all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people I refuse to accept that we are the doormat for all these agendas.”

To see the question in 4^th position: http://oursay.org/hangout-with-the-prime-minister?show_questions=true

To view the question as recorded by Barbara Shaw: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zPq7FaD1a8

CONTACT

Barbara Shaw, 0401 291 166

Damien Curtis, Director, Stand For Freedom campaign, 0420 400 284

www.standforfreedom.org.au

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29th June 2012

SHAME, AUSTRALIA, SHAME

Stronger Futures?   Stolen Futures

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Media Release from the  Yolngu Nations Assembly and the Alyawaar Nation 27.6.2012

MR Yolngu Nations Assembly and the Alyawaar Nation 27.6.12…

Alarming statistics

At the end of 5 years of the Northern Territory Emergency Response/Intervention into Aboriginal communities and town camps (‘prescribed areas’) by which time the plan to stabilise, normalise and exit those communities should have been completed, the following document shows alarming statistics about the reality of the situation for many many Aboriginal people.

Disturbing NTER Statistics 21.6.2012
IRAG MR 21.6.12

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IMPORTANT DOCUMENT – RECENTLY RELEASED

UN statement 16.5.12

Yolngu Nations Assembly Statement 24.4.12

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A campaign is under way to let all Senators know that this legislation is flawed, wrong and not what people asked for.

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‘STRONGER FUTURES’ SUBMISSIONS to the Senate Inquiry can be viewed at http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/strong_future_nt_11/submissions.htm

SUBMISSIONS FROM THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

IRAG submission 1.2.2012

Submission to Stronger Futures Inquiry Yuendumu (1)

Submission to Stronger Futures Inquiry Yuendumu _2_

Submission to Stronger Futures Inquiry B. Shaw

Submission to Stronger Futures Inquiry M. Carlton and D. Kunoth

Submission to Stronger Futures Inquiry R Silverton

http://aboriginal-leaders-nt.com/submission/stronger-futures.html

SF submkission Ramingining

Summary SF new laws by P Gibson Nov 2011

SEAM NT 2009 Evaluation Report

ACOSS Media Statement re NTER 23.11.11

Joint Statement 25.11.2011

TRANSCRIPTS FROM ‘STRONGER FUTURES’ CONSULTATIONS CONDUCTED BY FAHCSIA DURING 2o11

Alice Springs SF consult 2.8.2011

Alice Springs Town Camps SF Consult 14.7.11

Kintore SF Consult 21.7.11

Mutitjulu SF Consult 16.8.11

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MEDIA RELEASE 7.6.2011

The Intervention is a failure

Two documents, handed to Prime Minister Gillard at the Alice Springs Desert Park on 7.6.2011

Message for Minister Macklin 7.6.11

Rebuilding from the ground up Working doc 14.5.11.

IRAG FACTS SHEET

GENERATION ONE – NO SOLUTION TO ABORIGINAL UNEMPLOYMENT

GenOne Facts

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ICERD Complaint copy

Report on the situation in Australia

http://workersbushtelegraph.com.au/2010/08/27/committee-on-the-elimination-of-racial-discrimination-cerd-report-on-australia/

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“Walk with Us: Aboriginal Elders Call Out to Australian People to Walk with them ion their Quest for Justice”is a follow up to “This Is What We Said” and documents what elders from the Northern Territory are saying about the intervention.  It includes a Statement by Elders made on 7th February 2011 and extracts from a press conference given by Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Canberra on 25th May 2011.

For information on how to obtain this book in your home state please email: rollbacktheintervention@gmail.com