REINSTATEMENT OF THE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT
On 29 October the Greens introduced legislation in the Senate designed to restore the Racial Discrimination Act in areas affected by the federal intervention in the Northern Territory. The Act was suspended in 2007 so the Government could implement aspects of the Northern Territory Emergency Response, including compulsory welfare quarantining and alcohol bans in many remote communities.
The Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister, Jenny Macklin, told the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in July that she would restore the Act in October, but that has now been pushed back to late November.
The Greens Indigenous affairs spokeswoman, Senator Rachel Siewert, says Indigenous Territorians cannot afford to wait any longer.
“They should have moved straight away to remove the exemption from the RDA and that’s what we’re doing,” she said. “We’re not trying to fiddle around to make those measures that are discriminatory somehow consistent with the RDA. They simply need to change the Northern Territory Emergency Response so that it isn’t discriminatory.”
Now is the time for all electors to lobby their politicians, and in particular their senators, to emphasise the importance of this Act being reinstated.
Following is the link to a complete list of senators’ contact details: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/Senators/contacts/los.htm
Statement by representatives from “prescribed communities” (presented to the Federal Member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon, on 29 October 2009):
Macklin breaks another promise – Racism is not a “special measure”
Minister Jenny Macklin has once again broken a clear promise given to Aboriginal people in the NT. On many occasions she gave her word that the Racial Discrimination Act (1975) would be re-instated in the October sittings of parliament this year. Minister Macklin also gave this promise to the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, following a complaint by many of us from ‘Prescribed Areas’.
This is unacceptable treatment. Racism and divisions increase and living conditions deteriorate each day the Act remains suspended and the Intervention measures remain in place. We are like outcasts – denied basic rights afforded to other Australians.
We know the government is playing legal games as our lives get worse. They are keeping the RDA suspended so they can threaten the Alice Springs town camps with compulsory acquisition and force communities to sign long term leases.
When they finally re-instate the RDA it will to entrench the racist intervention – not to restore our rights. The Minister is claiming that the Intervention can be classified as a series of “special measures” under the RDA, operating “for the benefit” of Aboriginal people.
How would the Minister like it if someone took her house, quarantined her money, controlled where she shopped, ate and slept, and then told her it was all for her benefit?
The Minister will claim that her department has “consulted” with Aboriginal people, that we have somehow given consent to these laws.
But the consultation process was a sham from the beginning. Public servants mostly patronised communities with a government story about how the Intervention is working.
The “Future Directions for the NTER” document that consultations are based on gave no real choice to Aboriginal people about the Intervention. Leaked documents from the Minister’s office prove that we were never consulted about compulsory acquisition of our land under the 5-year lease, because the government knew we would not consent.
We were asked which brand of compulsory Income Management we would like, what kind of alcohol controls or police powers. But communities have said many times we want an end to all racist control measures.
We clearly made these statements again through this round of “consultations”. Get rid of the laws. We want the resources wasted on “Intervention” to go directly to communities to meet our real social needs.
The Minister will not get away with this. The idea that taking Aboriginal land, housing and basic human rights away “for our benefit” is the same paternalism that created the Stolen Generations.
The people at Ampilatwatja have walked off in protest against the Intervention and we are standing up across the NT. We are part of a growing movement around the country – including unions, human rights and church groups. Rudd’s Apology feels hollow two years on – we have been betrayed once again. We are calling for protest rallies across Australia on February 13 2010.
Racism is not a special measure. No more broken promises – it’s time to break the Intervention.
Protestors after presenting statement at Warren Snowdon's office
ANTaR CAMPAIGN
27 October 2009
ANTaR launched its campaign:
A Better Way | ANTaR – Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation
Source: www.antar.org.au
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Upcoming Events
11 November 2009 6 pm House 5, Mt Nancy Town Camp, Alice Springs
IRAG meeting – all welcome
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14 November 2009: Activity Day at Mt Nancy Town Camp
Banner designing and painting – time to be advised depending on the weather (hot, very hot or extremely hot)
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Note:
Follow on from “Racism Hurts – Enough is Enough” gathering deferred till December
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12 December 2009
International Human Rights Day Celebrations
Plans underway for an event in Mparntwe-Alice Springs
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13 February 2010 “SORRY IS NOT ENOUGH”
National Day of Action
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Byron Bay,
Alice Springs, Darwin, Perth
2nd Anniversary of the Apology to the Stolen Generations
Still no compensation
Still a racist NT Intervention
Still Deaths in Custody
Less jobs, more imprisonment for Aboriginal people
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