Oct 2019

Traditional First Nations’ burial rites are under attack in the Northern Territory

The Bill has been withdrawn ‘for now’. Thank the ministers but keep pressure on NT Govt (in this and other issues) to work closely with Clan/First Nations’ community leaders across the NT.

Yingiya Mark Guyula Mla speaks of serious concern with the bill – section 39 &40
Northern Territory forced to back down on plan to criminalise Aboriginal burial rites

“Is this Government genuine about working in partnership with Aboriginal Nations? This Government is introducing a law that disrespects our culture, and our authority and criminalises our elders and leaders.
The Burial and Cremation Bill was referred to the … Committee in August 2019, and despite receiving submissions that raised serious concerns from the NLC, CLC , NAAJA, the Galpu and Golpu Clans of Elcho Island, and the Member for Nhulunbuy, and hearing evidence from many of these groups, the Committee have tabled their report to the Assembly with no recommendations to amend any part of the legislation.”
Yingiya Mark Guyula Mla

ABC News: Burial bill ‘the worst form of disrespect in the world’ for Aboriginal communities,
Chelsea Heaney, 16 Oct 2019

Katherine Times: Indigenous groups warn Govt not to meddle with traditional burials,
Chris McLennan, 16 Oct 2019

Let’s Talk Podcast: Boe Spearim at 98.9fm discusses concerns with Alastair Nicholson Former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia,
21 Oct 2019

Refer:

Media statement from Yingiya Mark Guyula, Member for Nhulunbuy, NT Legislative Assembly
Media release from the Northern Land Council (NLC)
Media release from ‘concerned Australians’
Yingiya Mark Guyula speaks in language on the secretion 39 &40 that would have criminalizing for practicing traditional law

Call to Action:
Please email and phone the relevant Ministers’, for details please click here
Sign the Get Up Petition: Stop the NT Government from criminalising traditional burials

July 2019

Justice Now for David Dungay:
An Interview with Leetona Rose Dungay

The following is another incident of a Death in Custody. For those wanting justice and closure it is a long and difficult road.

Warning: the details in this article can be distressing to some people

David Dungay Jr, a 26 year old Dunghutti man, died in custody on 29th December 2015 at Sydney’s Long Bay Prison Hospital. The details that led to his death are shocking. The circumstances surrounding the death have been questionable and the investigation has been drawn out.

Interview with Mr Dungay’s mother Leetona

January 2019

Australia slapped with F minus for zero progress in Indigenous affairs

Australia has been given an F minus for its performance in Indigenous affairs in 2018.
The assessment in the Australian Lawyers for Human Rights 2018 Human Rights Report Card released this week is unchanged from 2017.

To read the full article please click here.

January 2018

It’s an F-minus for Indigenous rights

The Northern Territory came bottom of the class, while New South Wales also flunked, but Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory got top marks.
They’re the results by Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, which assessed each state on a range of issues, including the way the treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

To read the full article please click here.

Mining Royalties

Mining royalty payments and the governance of Aboriginal Australia

Distinguished lecture 2017
Professor Ciaran O’Faircheallaigh
Delivered at Griffith University, South Bank campus, 9 August 2017

Please click here to download the lecture (PDF)

Further information:

ABC Big Ideas: Mining royalties and Aboriginal autonomy

McArthur River Mine Compensation Talks
(in: NLC Land Rights News Oct 2017, page 12)

20 March 2015

Rt. Hon. Malcolm Fraser AC CH GCL 1930 – 2015

‘concerned Australians’ is mourning the passing of Malcolm Fraser at the age of 84. Malcolm was a person of dignity and courage who showed tenacity and compassion in his commitment to racial equality and multiculturalism. He will be remembered as a true humanitarian and a good friend.

We offer our deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to his wife Tamie and family.

We are most grateful to him for the support he gave to the Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory over the last eight difficult years. He was a man of integrity who recognised injustice and was prepared to speak out for change. We were profoundly thankful for the support that he gave to the work of ‘concerned Australians’.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu Prays for Australian Aboriginal Peoples
nn World Peace Day, 21 September 2014

International Day of Peace

On World Peace Day 2014, I pray for the rights of the Aboriginal Peoples of Australia to determine their own destiny.

It is a severe indictment on Australia that many of its indigenous people still feel that their culture and dignity are being eroded, and that they continue to be treated as second class citizens – 42 years after the country signed the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Aboriginal elders say that although the Aboriginal Land Rights Act of 1976 transferred control of much of the Northern Territory to Aboriginal peoples, the people never had the opportunity to draw true advantage from the land. They were ill prepared to deal with complex Western bureaucracies, and their efforts have been undermined by under-development and neglect.

The imposition of legislation generally known as the Northern Territory Intervention, in
2007 virtually stripped them of their voice.

Community councils have been closed down and management of many aspects of the peoples’ lives has been transferred to non-indigenous institutions. The exclusion of local Aboriginal perspectives from decision-making is directly eroding customs, laws, languages and land-use aspirations. Nearly 50% of the youth in detention in Australia are Aboriginal, although the Aboriginal population constitutes just 3% of the Australian population.

There are no first-class and second-class citizens on earth, just citizens; sisters and brothers of one family, the human family, God’s family. Our diversity is a Gift from God. It strengthens and enriches us.

All people, regardless of their looks, cultures and beliefs – including the Aboriginal Peoples of Australia – are equally entitled to dignity, to justice, and to the right to participate in decisions affecting their lives.
I support those who have called for a Truth and Justice Commission for Aboriginal Peoples to lay bare the horrors of the past and, finally, commence a national healing process for all Australians.

More: http://nationalunitygovernment.org/node/1113

The National Indigenous Human Rights Awards 2014

Watch this video on YouTube

Rosalie Kunoth-Monks OAM is presented with the first Dr Yunupingu Human Rights Award by Arnhemland Elder, Yalmay Yunupingu at NSW Parliament House. The National Indigenous Human Rights Awards recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons who have made significant contribution to the advancement of human rights and social justice for their people.

Yalmay Yunupingu’s Speech:

“Politics, politics, politics. Policy, policy, policy. Changes, changes, and more changes. What’s next? Are we going to keep living like this and keep being used as a Trojan horse? As new Government gets voted, in comes new policy, “bang”, and then follows by the new changes “bang”. New jobs are created, people are put into positions and they often don’t have any idea how to do their job. Bush schools are criticized, and they say that Indigenous team teachers are inexperienced and unskilled to run bilingual and education programs in our own communities.”

Full text of Yalmay’s speech

May 2011

Aboriginal Leaders meet Navi Pillay in Darwin 20 May 2011

Leaders from 20 different communities spent several hours with the UN Human Rights Commissioner telling her of their concerns about the loss of their rights under the Intervention.

Thank you to those organisations who assisted in making this meeting possible.

Statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (PDF)

Letter to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

We would like to sincerely thank all who added their name to this letter to Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Just over 6,500 signatures were presented by Djapirri Mununggirritj to the Commissioner in Darwin on Friday 20th May.
Signatures were collected from every State and Territory and a large percentage were from NT towns and communities.

Letter to Navi Pillay (PDF)