Anyone can join in the online discussions and comment on any subject matter here. It is just a matter of registering as a user with your email address. Every day ISX volunteers post a selection of news stories from the South Eastern Press for communities in remote and regional areas. Forums also cover issues of importance for the future work of the ISX including the economic development and social issues forums. By participating you can have your say about the future directions of the ISX work. http://www.isx.org.au/forums/index.php Fri, 18 May 2012 12:54:04 +1000 Phorum 5.2.7 http://www.isx.org.au/forums/read.php?18,9900,9900#msg-9900 http://www.isx.org.au/forums/read.php?18,9900,9900#msg-9900
Updated May 17, 2012 05:52:40

Indigenous women in far north Qld hope a recipe book featuring traditional food and techniques will help curb the rate of chronic disease like diabetes in communities.
Lauren Day

Source: 7pm TV News QLD | Duration: 1min 49sec

Video at [www.abc.net.au]]]> PeterLain Listen to the News... Thu, 17 May 2012 21:59:31 +1000 http://www.isx.org.au/forums/read.php?18,9898,9898#msg-9898 http://www.isx.org.au/forums/read.php?18,9898,9898#msg-9898 [www.abc.net.au]
Posted May 16, 2012 18:07:14


Deborah Mailman is proud of her work with Indigenous artists.
France

Australians are enjoying a high profile at Cannes this year, with all eyes in the film world expected to be watching the groundbreaking work of Aboriginal artists.

Indigenous stories have breathed new life into the Australian film scene, with The Sapphires the latest to come to international attention with a screening in official selection at the French festival that kicks off on Wednesday (local time).

Actor Deborah Mailman, who stars in the feel-good feature about an all-girl singing group plucked from a remote Aboriginal community to play for Australian troops serving in Vietnam, is delighted with the response.

"Yes, it's huge. It's a really great acknowledgement," she said at the launch of Sydney's Film Festival, just days before jetting out for Europe.

"There's obviously something in the film that they went, 'Yeah, we want this, and we want it on the world stage'. So it's wonderful that that's been recognised. And we are very proud of this film, no matter what."

Mailman is already a household name in Australia for her many TV roles and appearances in films such as the musical comedy Bran Nue Dae and the historical drama Rabbit Proof Fence.

But the 39-year-old, who in 1998 beat Cate Blanchett and Rachel Griffiths for the Australian Film Institute award for best actress, is still excited about heading to Cannes for the first time.

"My head, everything is still catching up with the idea of it," she said.


Reinvigorating the industry

From the 1980s film Crocodile Dundee about a knife-wielding bushman to Baz Luhrmann's 2008 sweeping romantic epic Australia, Australian films have long featured Aboriginal characters.

But a batch of films being created by Indigenous artists is reinvigorating the industry, and in 2009 Samson and Delilah, a heartbreaking love story set in a remote indigenous community, won the Camera d'Or at Cannes.

Australians will have a strong influence in France again this year, with Kidman starring in The Paperboy by US director Lee Daniels as well as Philip Kaufman's Hemingway and Gellhorn, which will be shown out of competition.

Kylie Minogue stars opposite Eva Mendes in Holy Motors by Leos Carax, and two Australian directors Andrew Dominik (Killing Them Softly) and John Hillcoat (Lawless) are competing for the top Palme d'Or prize.

Australian filmmaker Cate Shortland, whose 2004 debut feature Somersault was shown in Cannes, said the Indigenous input is part of the reason that Australian film is performing so well.
"The issues that everybody is going through are international issues - about people not going to the cinema as much, and also the amount of money that is put into the blockbusters as promotion so the smaller arthouse films sometimes slip away.

"But I would say that the industry in Australia at the moment seems quite robust and what I am really interested in is the diversity, and the strength of the indigenous work."

Shortland, whose latest work Lore is a German-language film shot entirely in Europe and set at the end of the war in 1945, is pleased about the success of The Sapphires.

"It's fantastic for all of us to be represented in an international market," she said.

Queensland-born Mailman, who grew up in the mining town of Mount Isa, is proud of her work with Indigenous artists, including a new movie about a landmark land rights case Mabo which is premiering at the Sydney festival.

"There's nothing better than working with my mob. And I mean that from my heart," she said.

"It's great to be telling a story that's from us, that's been directed by us, and that is telling our stories."

She said it was hard to put a label on the work coming out now.

"That's a great thing - you can't define it. You're getting all these directors who have been working for years... suddenly finding their particular story-telling skills.

"I think what you see is people coming into their own craft. Which is where indigenous film may be heading."

AFP



“THIS POSTING IS PROVIDED TO THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THIS GROUP WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE COPYRIGHT OWNER FOR PURPOSES OF CRITICISM, COMMENT, SCHOLARSHIP AND RESEARCH UNDER THE "FAIR USE" PROVISIONS OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS AND IT MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED FURTHER WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNER, EXCEPT FOR "FAIR USE."]]> PeterLain Listen to the News... Wed, 16 May 2012 22:00:50 +1000 http://www.isx.org.au/forums/read.php?17,9897,9897#msg-9897 http://www.isx.org.au/forums/read.php?17,9897,9897#msg-9897 [www.abc.net.au]
Posted May 16, 2012 18:07:14


Deborah Mailman is proud of her work with Indigenous artists.
France

Australians are enjoying a high profile at Cannes this year, with all eyes in the film world expected to be watching the groundbreaking work of Aboriginal artists.

Indigenous stories have breathed new life into the Australian film scene, with The Sapphires the latest to come to international attention with a screening in official selection at the French festival that kicks off on Wednesday (local time).

Actor Deborah Mailman, who stars in the feel-good feature about an all-girl singing group plucked from a remote Aboriginal community to play for Australian troops serving in Vietnam, is delighted with the response.

"Yes, it's huge. It's a really great acknowledgement," she said at the launch of Sydney's Film Festival, just days before jetting out for Europe.

"There's obviously something in the film that they went, 'Yeah, we want this, and we want it on the world stage'. So it's wonderful that that's been recognised. And we are very proud of this film, no matter what."

Mailman is already a household name in Australia for her many TV roles and appearances in films such as the musical comedy Bran Nue Dae and the historical drama Rabbit Proof Fence.

But the 39-year-old, who in 1998 beat Cate Blanchett and Rachel Griffiths for the Australian Film Institute award for best actress, is still excited about heading to Cannes for the first time.

"My head, everything is still catching up with the idea of it," she said.


Reinvigorating the industry

From the 1980s film Crocodile Dundee about a knife-wielding bushman to Baz Luhrmann's 2008 sweeping romantic epic Australia, Australian films have long featured Aboriginal characters.

But a batch of films being created by Indigenous artists is reinvigorating the industry, and in 2009 Samson and Delilah, a heartbreaking love story set in a remote indigenous community, won the Camera d'Or at Cannes.

Australians will have a strong influence in France again this year, with Kidman starring in The Paperboy by US director Lee Daniels as well as Philip Kaufman's Hemingway and Gellhorn, which will be shown out of competition.

Kylie Minogue stars opposite Eva Mendes in Holy Motors by Leos Carax, and two Australian directors Andrew Dominik (Killing Them Softly) and John Hillcoat (Lawless) are competing for the top Palme d'Or prize.

Australian filmmaker Cate Shortland, whose 2004 debut feature Somersault was shown in Cannes, said the Indigenous input is part of the reason that Australian film is performing so well.
"The issues that everybody is going through are international issues - about people not going to the cinema as much, and also the amount of money that is put into the blockbusters as promotion so the smaller arthouse films sometimes slip away.

"But I would say that the industry in Australia at the moment seems quite robust and what I am really interested in is the diversity, and the strength of the indigenous work."

Shortland, whose latest work Lore is a German-language film shot entirely in Europe and set at the end of the war in 1945, is pleased about the success of The Sapphires.

"It's fantastic for all of us to be represented in an international market," she said.

Queensland-born Mailman, who grew up in the mining town of Mount Isa, is proud of her work with Indigenous artists, including a new movie about a landmark land rights case Mabo which is premiering at the Sydney festival.

"There's nothing better than working with my mob. And I mean that from my heart," she said.

"It's great to be telling a story that's from us, that's been directed by us, and that is telling our stories."

She said it was hard to put a label on the work coming out now.

"That's a great thing - you can't define it. You're getting all these directors who have been working for years... suddenly finding their particular story-telling skills.

"I think what you see is people coming into their own craft. Which is where indigenous film may be heading."

AFP



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Natalie Jones
Broome 6725
May 09, 2012 18:11:08


Teachers say self esteem is boosted when Aboriginal children learn their own language.


Next time your child gets 50 per cent on a test at school, you may want to count your blessings.

For many Australian children, even being able to write an answer in the test is an achievement because the tests are conducted in English, not in their first language or in one of about 20 surviving Indigenous languages.

A parliamentary inquiry has been travelling around the country aiming to determine the potential impacts of including Indigenous languages in early education.

Labor MP Shayne Neumann, who chaired the committee, says Aboriginal children are disadvantaged because they are not tested in their first language, the one they learn at home.

"They go to school and all of a sudden they're taught in English and they're not used to it so by the age of six or seven they're often quite disadvantaged in school and they fall behind and have to catch up," he said.

"One of the things we're concentrating on is how can we make sure there are better outcomes for these kids?

"What can we do to empower and equip teachers who go into these communities?"

A Tjupan woman born in Leonora, Barbara McGillivray, who is also the chair of the Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages and Culture, spoke at the inquiry hearing in Broome.

"Without our languages we haven't got our true identity," she said.

"I believe sincerely that the reasons why some of our people have problems, and people in other cultures too, is that if you've lost your language, you've lost your cultural identity."


Mandatory

Ms McGillivray says it should be mandatory to teach Aboriginal languages in school and they should be introduced early.

"Having that language in kindy and taught as part of the curriculum and not in the fourth term, and not on the okay of the principal being able to make the decision," she said.

In her former teaching days, she says the option proved popular.

"I've taught in the school system and when they had the opportunity to do the Wangatha language, the kids couldn't wait to do it," she said.

"They jumped at the chance and once they got into it they didn't want to stop but they had to because we were only allowed to do it for that five weeks.

"It proved that the parents were quite excited too about the kids coming home and teaching them words that they might've learnt from their buddies at school."

Ms McGillivray says Aboriginal languages should be offered as a subject as regularly as Italian, Indonesian or French.

"I believe it should be taught; if we go to another country, we've got to learn about their country," she said.

"People come to Australia, why not learn about the first people of this country?"

There are a number of WA schools teaching Aboriginal languages.

A principal consultant with the state's education department, Wendy Hewitt, says schools are making headway to increase their offerings.

"At the moment we have about 17 Aboriginal languages being taught across 48 Western Australian public schools in remote, urban, rural and metropolitan regions," she said.

"It's a co-operative effort between the school and the Aboriginal community to decide what Aboriginal language will be taught in that school and then a speaker needs to be identified who can actually teach that language.

"Some of our programs start for kindy and pre-primary students and they run right through to the high schools.

"It really does depend on the school's capacity to provide a language teacher."

Mr Neumann says, however, not enough is being done.

"What we've seen so far is that programs are fragmented, underfunded, siloed and often there are too many pilot programs," he said.

"So, I think there are some big challenges."


Fluent speakers

Ms Hewitt says one of the main challenges is the availability of fluent Aboriginal language speakers.

"Many of the Aboriginal languages we have in the schools are in what we call a revitalisation stage so we need to find people in the communities who can speak the languages and then train them up so they can work in our schools," she said.

It's a problem not just confined to schools.

Barbara McGillivray points out many more Aboriginal languages used to exist.

"There used to be so many more and it's not spoken as fluently and it's a matter of trying to encourage our young people to work with the old people to want to learn their languages," she said.

She is one of those doing her bit to pass on her childhood language to her grandkids.

"We speak Wangai at home, not fluently, but we use words every day and then they've got to go and find out what the words mean through the dictionary.

"And, if kids speak their own language, if they grew up like that, they'd have a better learning outcome."

Shayne Neumann says attempts are being made to revive Indigenous languages.

"In a lot of places the local language has actually lay dormant but there's effort being made in schools and community groups to actually resuscitate that and revive it," he said.

"Kids need, for their vocational and financial security, to understand English but one of the sad things about Australia [is] that at the time of white settlement we had about 250 viable languages.

"Now, there's only about 20 that are continually spoken in various areas so we've seen a loss in those languages and I think, as a country, we've had a disconnect from that and we've suffered as a result."


Lighting up

Ms McGillivray says groundwork is being done to promote Indigenous languages.

"There's a lot of good people, especially in the Perth region, that are heavily involved in language work and I'm sure they'd love to go into the other schools to be able to teach those languages," she said.

"I do know in Broome they teach the Yawuru language and it's absolutely fantastic because it's just a young person."

Ms Hewitt says teachers see the children light up.

"The benefits the Aboriginal kids get from learning their own languages are the self esteem they get because they're doing something they're proud of, they're doing something to engage in their culture," she said.

The kids are also keen to come to school as a result.

Shayne Neumann says there are also other encouraging signs.

"We've got evidence where people are walking down the street and have heard local young Indigenous and non-Indigenous people using the language they'd learnt as a child, in say, daily life and talking and singing songs in it," he said.

"It brings back a sense of the culture, the heritage of our indigenous people and it's just so important."

The national school curriculum, which is due to be fully implemented in WA by the end of 2014, is also expected to contain a focus on teaching Indigenous languages.

While the inquiry and the curriculum may make changes, people like Barbara McGillivray will continue their hard work on the ground and in communities to revive Aboriginal languages.

"It's important that we stand up for our rights, that our languages need to be heard and need to be saved in this country."



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By Francis Tapim

Updated May 15, 2012 07:28:13
South Brisbane 4101

Organisers of an Aboriginal tent embassy in Brisbane say a council decision to evict them could prompt a major protest.

The Brisbane sovereign embassy was set up two months ago in Musgrave Park at South Brisbane, a traditional meeting place for Indigenous people in the inner-city.

Organisers say it is there to promote the political rights of Aboriginal people and is not a protest.

But supporters say the Brisbane City Council evicted them yesterday because the space they are using is needed for the Paniyiri Greek festival this weekend, as well as other events in the coming weeks.

However, tent embassy members say the Greek festival does not have a problem with them being there.

The embassy says any attempt by police or the council to forcefully remove them will only jeopardise the festival, because the incident will escalate into a major protest.

They say Aborigines will converge on Musgrave Park in support of the tent embassy.

The embassy says it has attracted thousands of residents to cultural events in the park since it started and are not interested in a violent confrontation with police.

They hope the council will resume talks over the issue.
Compromise needed

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says he did not have a problem with the tent embassy until it expanded.

Mr Quirk says he has forged good relations with the Aboriginal community and wants that to continue.

However, Mr Quirk says the tent embassy has to compromise and move to an adjoining site to make space for other activities.

He says local elders have also expressed concerns about the direction being taken at the campsite.

"The embassy has grown in numbers - there are a lot of people now sleeping there overnight," Mr Quirk said.

"Council was prepared to allow a peaceful protest to continue but it would need to be scaled-down basis and in another location.

"My relationship with Indigenous elders in this city remains strong and from my point of view that will continue."

Mr Quirk says the council has offered to move the embassy several hundred metres to an adjoining site.

"I am not going predict what might and might not happen in the future," he said.

"I will just say this that my position was made very clear on Saturday and I am giving every opportunity for this to occur.

"We will just wait and see so that area of land is needed and again I have made an offer for an alternate site."

Mr Quirk says it is time for the protest to move because there are several festivals and events coming up in Musgrave Park, including NAIDOC Week.

"I made it clear when I met with them last Saturday that while we had shown patience as a city," he said.

"[However], it was time for them to move - to do it on a piece of Indigenous-related land which is further up - only a few hundreds metres from their site where they are at the moment.

"But again, it would need to be a scaled-down process."

Queensland Greens spokeswoman Libby Connors says a confrontational approach will almost certainly lead to a violent showdown.

"The Lord Mayor should resume negotiations and calm everybody down," she said.

"People are gathering because they are getting worried that their right to use the park is under threat.

"We know for years the Aboriginal community has accepted and respected Paniyiri [Greek festival]."


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By Chrissy Arthur
Posted May 14, 2012 08:48:35
Longreach 4730

A natural resource management group says it is concerned about whether the State Government will continue to fund a Wild Rivers ranger program in western Queensland.

Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ), based at Longreach in the state's central-west, says the former Labor government had promised 10 Wild River rangers.

It also promised funding for pest and weed control, after inland river systems were protected under Wild River laws.

DCQ spokeswoman Leanne Kohler says it has had no guarantee the funding will be forthcoming and she is concerned.

"I would have to say I am - I am trying not to be - I am trying to be quite hopeful because I can see benefits in the program," she said.

"This program is more than just the Wild River ranger program.

"We also have a central-west regional pest management strategy, a joint venture with RAPAD [the Remote Area Planning and Development Board], which is funded through the Wild River program as well.

She says the Wild River ranger program under the new Government has been renamed.

"It is actually now the Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger program," she said.

"Our contacts cannot confirm at this stage whether in western Queensland that program is going to go ahead under the new Government.

"Certainly it was under the old but we haven't got any guarantees at this stage."

However, the State Government says it does expect Wild River rangers to be appointed for the western region.

In a statement, Environment Minister Andrew Powell says the Government has committed to 40 additional Indigenous rangers over the next three years.

He says 30 to be based on Cape York and the remaining 10 in western Queensland.

Mr Powell says now local government elections have been completed, consultation will continue on the $600,000 weed and pest program and how it should be implemented.


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Darwin 0800
Posted May 10, 2012 15:49:12

Cash bonus offers aim to lure teachers to north Photo: After one year of working at a remote school, teachers would be entitled to a bonus of $10,000, and $20,000 after two years.

The Federal Government hopes new Budget funding will entice teachers to work in remote schools across the Northern Territory.

More than $10 million in Stronger Futures funding will be used to keep teachers in the Territory and attract more to come by offering cash bonuses.

After one year of working at a remote school, teachers would be entitled to a bonus of $10,000, and $20,000 after two years.

School Education Minister Peter Garrett says he hopes to draw interstate teachers to the Territory.

"I know that there are teachers working in other states who would like to come and work in remote communities," he said.

"They might want to work in communities where there is a high proportion of Aboriginal kids in the schools."

More cultural awareness training will be given to new teachers working in northern Australia and remote schools.

Mr Garrett says new teachers need to be more prepared.

"They may not have had a lot of life experience or teaching experience," he said.

"I think that they can teach effectively coming into those schools but there are challenges for them.

"One of the things that we are doing is making sure that there are components for cultural awareness for teachers who may want to work in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities."


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By Myles Morgan
Updated May 09, 2012 14:41:08
Darwin 0800

Mixed reaction to Budget as funds go walkabout. Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin says Stronger Futures measures in the Northern Territory will be boosted by almost $4 billion over the next decade. (ABC News)

The federal Opposition says Budget funding for a number of vital Aboriginal programs in the Northern Territory has been cut.

Opposition Indigenous Affairs spokesman Senator Nigel Scullion says tens of millions of dollars earmarked for Stronger Futures programs have disappeared.

"Intensive literacy and numeracy programs, $160 million, they're going," he said.

"The mobility programs of almost $30 million, they're going; reduced substance abuse of $10 million dollars, they're all going.

"I don't think that is doing really well."

The Federal Government has confirmed spending on some Indigenous programs is being cut but says the money saved will be allocated to other Indigenous initiatives.

But Northern Territory Labor Senator Trish Crossin says while funding has been reduced in Indigenous youth leadership and mobility programs, the literacy and numeracy funding is being redirected to the Stronger Futures initiative and, overall, there has been an increased investment.

"So Senator Scullion is wrong when he talks about a reduction in funding," she said.

The Federal Government says it will redirect the savings from those programs to other Budget measures.

The Budget papers say the savings will be almost $100 million.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin says a huge commitment has been made to the Stronger Futures and Close the Gap campaigns.

"There is $3.4 billion dollars over ten years," she said.

She says the money will help improve policing, education, co-ordination and health services in the Territory.

Ms Macklin says a decade-long commitment of funds will give peace of mind to Indigenous people.

"The fact that we are giving a ten-year commitment means that Aboriginal health services, for example, have got security of funding over a long period of time," she said.

"That will not only enable them to deliver excellent services but to employ local Aboriginal people to the greatest extent possible."

Ms Macklin says Stronger Futures measures in the Territory will be boosted by almost $4 billion over the next decade.

Over the next financial year, nearly $30 million will be spent on improving Aboriginal children and youth programs, and $55 million on remote policing, building more stations and funding drug police.

This year's Budget also puts $6 million towards improving Indigenous housing, including removing asbestos from existing homes.

The Government says it will continue to tackle alcohol abuse in the Territory and will employ 12 alcohol licensing inspectors.

The Territory Government says the Budget will improve health and education systems, and infrastructure.

Treasurer Delia Lawrie says the allocation of $26 million to Territory health will boost four major urban projects and remote programs.

She says incentives offered to dentists to relocate to remote communities will also benefit the Territory.

The Alice Springs Chamber of Commerce says small business has taken a hit in the Federal Budget.

Spokeswoman Kay Eade says the Government has not taken into consideration how they can assist small business in tough economic times.

"They have got to think that businesses in Australia are the ones that keep the economy strong," she said.

The Northern Territory Council of Social Services says the Budget is a win for lower and middle income earners.

Executive director Wendy Morton says, after many years of waiting, this Budget does address some of the needs of these people.

She says it is the first time in 20 years there has been an increase in the youth allowance.

The Housing Institute of Australia says the Budget has failed to deliver anything to help make housing more available or affordable.

HIA Senior economist Andrew Harvey says many jurisdictions have a housing crisis.

"I think Queensland, it's fair to say, still has the weakest residential building market in the country so, certainly, some relief would have been welcome in that state more than anywhere else, but other states are doing it tough, too," he said.

The Northern Territory Cattleman's Association says the Budget does not plan for the future.

Executive director Luke Bowen says there are no investments to grow pastoral and agricultural industries despite growing demand from Asia.

"The Budget has probably been reasonably kind to agriculture, while not delivering any particular strategies for growth," he said.

But Mr Bowen says the association is glad a $2 billion program that was under threat of being cut has been spared.

He says the five-year "caring for our country" program helps farmers and Traditional Owners sustainably manage their lands.


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By Jano Gibson

Posted May 10, 2012 10:44:30
Maningrida 0822

West Arnhem Shire acting chief executive Alex Douglas says demand for new Indigenous housing is outstripping supply in some Top End communities.

More than a hundred new homes have been built in the community as part of the $700 million Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP).

Tenants have already been allocated to most of the new houses.

Mr Douglas says the last seven properties have attracted an enormous amount of interest and many applicants will simply miss out.

"With only seven houses left out of the approximately 100 that were built, there are some 200 applications still to be processed, and obviously many of those will not be dealt with and the demand can't be satisfied," he said.

"Trying to fit a family unit into a one or two bedroom unit is just not going to be practical.

"Family demands generally mean there will be expectations from other family members to help with accommodation."

Mr Douglas says a similar supply shortage could arise in at least one other community in the West Arnhem region.

"I won't be surprised if we see the same problem occur in Gunbalanya, which is our other growth town," he said.

"I don't believe it will be as critical in our other two island communities, which are Warrawi and Minjilang, simply because they are smaller communities."


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By Iskhandar Razak

Updated May 10, 2012 13:02:35
Call for Aboriginal clubs to combat grog problems Photo: The Larrakia Nation has already suggested that police-free, designated drinking facilities be built for itinerants in the Territory. (Dave Hunt, file photo: AAP)
Map: Darwin 0800

An anthropologist and land rights activist wants Aboriginal people to set up social clubs of their own.

Dr Bill Day a lot of the alcohol-fuelled violence and road accidents on Northern Territory streets happens because Indigenous people do not have clubs to go to.

He says if Aboriginal people had something like an ethnic Greek or Italian club, it would help Aboriginal problem drinkers, as well as giving the wider Indigenous community a place to belong.

The Larrakia Nation has already suggested that police-free, designated drinking facilities be built for itinerants.

Dr Day says an actual club where Indigenous cultural ceremonies can be held and celebrated is a better and safer option for everyone.

"A club would provide a sort of good atmosphere for having a drink," he said.

"(It could) also provide meals and family activities, rather than just being for the sake of alcohol, and entertainment and perhaps sports fields."

He says security guards or bouncers could be used at the clubs.



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By Iskhandar Razak

Posted May 10, 2012 15:25:45
Katherine 0850

The Member for the Northern Territory seat of Katherine says he is open to the idea of non-aromatic Opal fuel being rolled out across the region.

Health, community and government organisations in Katherine have agreed to push for Opal to stop people sniffing petrol.

Willem Westra van Holthe says Opal is being used in Central Australia and if it is working there, then Katherine should follow suit.

"The Alice Springs model seems to be working quite well," he said.

"It has made some very, very significant inroads into petrol sniffing."

Health workers say up to 100 young people are sniffing petrol in Katherine and nearby communities.

A working group of organisations in the town has agreed to push for Opal to be rolled out across the Katherine area.

Mr Westra van Holthe says the group may face an uphill battle convincing the community.

"There will be some resistance to the idea from some groups who feel that Opal fuel might damage engines and things like that," he said.

"But ... we are looking at potentially saving people's lives."


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By Iskhandar Razak

Posted May 10, 2012 15:25:45
Katherine 0850

The Member for the Northern Territory seat of Katherine says he is open to the idea of non-aromatic Opal fuel being rolled out across the region.

Health, community and government organisations in Katherine have agreed to push for Opal to stop people sniffing petrol.

Willem Westra van Holthe says Opal is being used in Central Australia and if it is working there, then Katherine should follow suit.

"The Alice Springs model seems to be working quite well," he said.

"It has made some very, very significant inroads into petrol sniffing."

Health workers say up to 100 young people are sniffing petrol in Katherine and nearby communities.

A working group of organisations in the town has agreed to push for Opal to be rolled out across the Katherine area.

Mr Westra van Holthe says the group may face an uphill battle convincing the community.

"There will be some resistance to the idea from some groups who feel that Opal fuel might damage engines and things like that," he said.

"But ... we are looking at potentially saving people's lives."


“THIS POSTING IS PROVIDED TO THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THIS GROUP WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE COPYRIGHT OWNER FOR PURPOSES OF CRITICISM, COMMENT, SCHOLARSHIP AND RESEARCH UNDER THE "FAIR USE" PROVISIONS OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS AND IT MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED FURTHER WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNER, EXCEPT FOR "FAIR USE."]]> PeterLain Drug & Alcohol Issues Mon, 14 May 2012 10:50:42 +1000 http://www.isx.org.au/forums/read.php?18,9884,9884#msg-9884 http://www.isx.org.au/forums/read.php?18,9884,9884#msg-9884
Indigenous people claim a right to participate fully in government water planning which affects their country and livelihoods.

This was the message conveyed by Traditional Owners affected by the Tindal Limestone Aquifer (Mataranka) Water Allocation Plan in a written submission and DVD to the Northern Territory Government.The submission was prepared on behalf of participating Traditional Owners by the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Alliance Ltd. (NAILSMA), Northern Land Council (NLC) and Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA).

Northern Land Council CEO, Kim Hill said the NT Government’s Mataranka water allocation planning process highlights the need to better engage Aboriginal peoples in all water management reforms. “As First Australians, Aboriginal peoples have expertise in managing water resources and a vested interest in managing their traditional lands and waters, which has not been acknowledged by the Northern Territory Government water planning process to date.”

The submission includes provisions for a Strategic Indigenous Reserve (SIR) to be stated in the Plan and recommendations for its recognition under the NT Water Act. A SIR is recognised by Traditional Owners as a water entitlement to support future water trading and economic development that also provides an opportunity to meaningfully participate in government water management processes.

The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Alliance Ltd. (NAILSMA) together with the Northern Land Council (NLC) is working with Indigenous people across north Australia to assert Indigenous rights to water. NAILSMA and NLC have most recently been working with Mataranka Traditional Owners to discuss the potential opportunity for an Indigenous allocation of water for commercial purposes within the Mataranka Water Allocation Plan.

NAILSMA CEO Joe Morrison said, “The SIR is a great opportunity for governments to seriously consider the future economic development of Indigenous communities in all water plans across the north of Australia and for Indigenous communities to develop their economic aspirations to benefit future generations.”

Chair of the Mataranka Traditional Owner Water Allocation Reference Group (MTOWARG), Alan Maroney said meetings hosted by the Northern Land Council and NAILSMA and the subsequent founding of the Reference Group have been valuable to Traditional Owners as an opportunity to discuss contemporary water issues and Indigenous water resource management.

“Addressing the issue of Aboriginal representation in water planning through this group has brought us together to consider our interests in the submission to the Water Plan,” said Mr Maroney.

Mr Maroney said the Reference Group is concerned about the impact of over extraction on sacred sites, particularly that water used by the mining industry does not come under the NT Water Act and subsequently is not considered in the Plan.

“We need to make sure that water extraction does not affect sacred sites within that Plan area. Mines must be made accountable for their water use in all water planning”, said Mr Maroney.

Co-Chair of MTOWARG, Marjorie Hall said a collaborative approach to water planning is needed. “We should be working together.... Consult each other, come into one voice and talking together. Getting agreement - not just putting us aside. We own this land, we own this country. We must participate in water planning with government.”

The Reference Group would like to share their story. To watch a short version of their submission to the Plan, ‘Making Our Submission Our Way’ go to the NAILSMA website. The Reference Group have dedicated the DVD to family who have passed away and to future generations.



Further information:

View video by Mataranka Traditional Owners - 'Making Our Sumission Our Way' [www.nailsma.org.au]

Mataranka Indigenous Water Forum web page gives background on planning and engagement process [www.nailsma.org.au]]]> PeterLain Listen to the News... Sun, 13 May 2012 22:35:16 +1000 http://www.isx.org.au/forums/read.php?17,9883,9883#msg-9883 http://www.isx.org.au/forums/read.php?17,9883,9883#msg-9883
Updated May 10, 2012 14:16:55

View a selection of the works from unDisclosed, the 2nd National Indigenous Art Triennial at the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, from May 11 - July 22, 2012.

GO TO VIEW: [www.abc.net.au]]]> PeterLain Indigenous Business focusing on Arts and Culture Thu, 10 May 2012 15:07:47 +1000 http://www.isx.org.au/forums/read.php?18,9882,9882#msg-9882 http://www.isx.org.au/forums/read.php?18,9882,9882#msg-9882 [www.abc.net.au]
Catherine Clifford

Posted May 10, 2012 10:20:37
Tamworth 2340

A Native Title claim for a large area of north-western New South Wales is to be heard by the Federal Court.

The Gomeroi native title determination application was filed in the Federal Court on 20 December 2011 and accepted for registration by the Native Title Tribunal on 20 January 2012.

Nineteen applicants on behalf of the Gomeroi People have launched the action against the NSW Attorney-General.

The Native Title claim is bounded by the Queensland border to the north, the Castlereagh River to the west, the Hunter and Goulburn Rivers in the south and the western slopes of the New England Tablelands in the east.

It covers 18 local councils, including nearly all those in the New England North West, five councils in the state's Central West and two in the Upper Hunter.

The application excludes freehold land, residential leases and exclusive agricultural and pastoral leases.

The matter has been listed for callover in Sydney before Justice Jayne Jagot of the Federal Court on May 28



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Updated May 10, 2012 11:04:41

Map: Perth 6000

A Greens MP has called for the State Government to extend the public comment period on amendments to the Aboriginal Heritage Act.

The laws date back to 1972 and govern the way developers, miners and researchers can access a site listed on the Aboriginal heritage register.

Aboriginal groups have previously said the laws leave them powerless, while miners complain of excessive red tape in getting permission to start work.

The proposed changes are currently open for public comment but Greens MP Robin Chapple says the five week comment period is not long enough.

"They're major proposals and to then put it out for a five week comment, of which the Indigenous people most probably won't even see the advert let alone have time to comment, I think is totally wrong," he said.

However, the Minister for Indigenous Affairs Peter Collier says the consultation process has been extensive and he will not be extending the public comment period.

"But it is not just a cold five weeks, we didn't just start from the commencement of that consultation period," he said.

"The consultation has been taking place from a previous twelve months so there's already been an enormous amount, a significant amount of dialogue that's taken place with the interested parties."



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BY: PATRICIA KARVELAS From: The Australian May 08, 2012 8:09PM

Under new spending unveiled by Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin, State governments, including Western Australia and South Australia, will receive a $43.4 million investment. Source: The Australian

MEASURES to "close the gap" between black and white Australia will receive $5.2 billion, with the centrepiece a $3.4 billion 10-year package to continue the Northern Territory intervention with a focus on employment and housing.

And under new spending unveiled by Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin, State governments, including Western Australia and South Australia, will receive a $43.4 million investment.

It will ensure about 38,000 Aboriginal people in approximately 350 remote communities across Australia will receive services including power, water and sewerage, supplementing the efforts of State and Territory Governments.

An extra $21.2 million will give people in the Torres Strait Region access to better infrastructure, including water projects, sewerage infrastructure, roads and housing.

While the Government unveiled key parts of its funding for the Northern Territory intervention in the weeks before the Budget, today they revealed they would also spend $427.4 million over 10 years to place more local Aboriginal people in Indigenous Engagement Officer jobs in the Northern Territory. These local Aboriginal people will boost the Government's presence on the ground in communities.

The Government has also said it will spend $283.5 million on remote Indigenous housing as part of the Northern Territory intervention.

The Government is also providing $63 million over four years for the Special Broadcasting Service Corporation to establish a free-to-air national indigenous television channel for all Australians, which will be staffed predominantly by Indigenous people.


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By Tony Allan
Tuesday, 08/05/2012



A free-to-air national Indigenous television channel will be set up by SBS, staffed mainly by Indigenous Australians.

The Federal Budget provides $63 million over four years for the service, which will be available via satellite, as well as on a regular SBS digital channel.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has promised it will have "its own distinctive identity" and a high level of editorial independence.

In another cultural project, the Federal Government will provide $6.4 million to digitally record the collections of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Studies, which it says are of "unique world significance" but under threat from deterioration.

The Government will spend $10 million on what it calls a "grassroots initiative" to build community understanding and support for recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in the constitution.

Overall, the Budget promises $3.4 billion over ten years for a range of services to Indigenous Australians in rural and remote areas. This includes nearly $700 million to improve community safety and tackle alcohol abuse, and $206 million for basic services to 9,000 people living on outstations and homelands.

Another 50 Aboriginal Working on Country ranger positions will be created in remote Northern Territory communities over four years, with 100 Indigenous traineeships for locally-available jobs. Aboriginal communities are also expected to benefit from the Remote Jobs and Communities Program.

The Federal Government will extend the Cape York Welfare Reform Trial for another year, at a cost of nearly $12 million. It will also ask the newly-elected Queensland Government to make a contribution to funding the programs, which include better budgeting, child protection and improving school attendance.

The Clontarf Academies, which encourage Aboriginal school participation through sport, will be extended into NSW. And from 2015, the Government will double the size of the Home Interaction Program, from 50 to 100 sites, to better prepare disadvantaged Indigenous children for starting school.

The Budget allocates funding to continue operation of nine creches in isolated NT Aboriginal communities, to prepare up to 225 children for school. The program will cost $30 million over the next decade.


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BY: REBECCA PUDDY
From: The Australian May 08, 2012 12:00AM

NORTHERN Territory Police Commissioner John McRoberts is in central Australia this week to lead a taskforce to tackle rising crime in Alice Springs.

Mr McRoberts arrived in the desert city yesterday, days after police arrested three Aboriginal teenagers over the rapes of two European backpackers as they slept in their car in Alice Springs.

The commissioner will go on night patrol with police and meet with chief executives of all government departments and Aboriginal leaders.

Some people in Alice say the creation of the taskforce has come too late. Residents have called for help for the past 15 months, amid relentless anti-social behaviour and violence, a local anti-crime campaigner said.

Alice Springs publican Geoff Booth, who successfully ran for council on the back of his Action for Alice campaign, said a significant amount of damage had already been done. "It's fantastic that he (the commissioner) is coming down but it's unfortunate that it's 15 months too late.


"There's a lot of anti-social behaviour on the streets, a lot of crime, a lot of break-ins at commercial properties and a lot of places have closed their businesses in town.

"Now they're coming out and saying there will be zero tolerance to crime -- well, that's what we were calling for last year and we were criticised for it."

Mr McRoberts said more policing was not the solution to the social dysfunction, calling on all government departments to intervene to address the root causes.

"There are kids not going to school, there are people abusing alcohol, there are people who are just becoming a nuisance and engaging in crime, and it is not only the responsibility of the police to intervene in those people's lives," he told ABC radio. "They need intervention from a variety of government agencies and a variety of non-government organisations, so they don't continually go through the revolving door called the criminal justice system."



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Published 4:03 AM, 8 May 2012 Last update 4:03 AM, 8 May 2012

AAP

Australia's richest man, Andrew Forrest, has tacitly criticised the nation's richest woman, Gina Rinehart, for employing foreign workers instead of indigenous labour.

The Fortescue Metals Group chairman told The Australian newspaper his "heart bleeds" when indigenous Australians are overlooked for jobs filled by employees from overseas.

Without mentioning Hancock Prospecting's Mrs Rinehart by name, Mr Forrest said he hoped other mining magnates would reconsider their enthusiasm for temporary skilled migrants.

"I would say to people who look to 457 (visas): first recognise that Australia has changed and you must change with it and look first to your indigenous brothers and sisters to fill those jobs," he told The Australian.

Mrs Rinehart has been a vocal supporter of bringing semi-skilled migrants to Australia to help fill skills shortages that threaten to delay and raise the costs of mining projects. Her Roy Hill Project, worth some $7 billion, is expected to require up to 10,000 workers.

Mr Forrest has long been a supporter of indigenous workers, having established the Australian Employment Covenant in 2008 aiming to create 50,000 indigenous jobs.

Mr Forrest made his comments at a breakfast in Perth on Monday, saying that so far 10,501 Aboriginal Australians had been employed through the covenant.

He accused the federal government of "stalling and procrastinating" on a study of his proposal for the opening of 25 vocational training and employment centres across the country, saying "every day it continues Aboriginal people are dying", according to The Australian.


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by: STUART RINTOUL
From: The Australian
May 08, 2012 12:00AM


THE Catholic Bishops Conference has urged senators to reject the federal government's legislation to extend the Northern Territory intervention.

The call echoes concerns by indigenous, church and welfare organisations, former prime minister Malcolm Fraser, former family court judge Alastair Nicholson, former Aboriginal affairs minister Ian Viner and former university chancellor and Supreme Court judge Frank Vincent who have all accused the government of listening to Aborigines but not hearing their concerns.

The co-chair of the National Congress of Australia's First People, Jody Broun, also expressed concern yesterday that the legislation could be rushed through parliament "in the shadow of the federal budget".

Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin again rejected the criticism, saying the government had given "a clear commitment to Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory to work with them over the next 10 years to overcome the unacceptable levels of disadvantage too many people still face".

"Our Stronger Futures package provides funding for vital services like health professionals, drug and alcohol workers, police and teachers," she said. "It tackles the issues Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory told us were the most urgent: getting kids to school to get a decent education, tackling alcohol abuse and ensuring there are jobs in communities."

"Our 10-year commitment gives Aboriginal people certainty that these services will be there for the long term.

"It means service providers can work with local communities to recruit and train local Aboriginal people and build up local Aboriginal organisations. We also have a clear commitment to increase and support local Aboriginal employment as part of all our Stronger Futures investments."

In its statement yesterday, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Catholic Religious Australia, representing 8000 Catholic clergy, said the Northern Territory National Emergency Response had achieved some successes in housing, employment and education, but the intervention continued to raise "serious human rights concerns".

"We need to listen to the Aboriginal people," they said.

"They are asking for their rights as human beings and citizens of this country to be respected. Deep spiritual and cultural issues must be paramount in any legislation.

"Working in partnership with Aboriginal people over the long term - rather than "quick fixes" - creates real changes that will continue.

"Social inclusion does not result from intervention, imposition, discrimination and exclusion."



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Venue: National Museum of Australia, Canberra
When: 28 February - 3 March, 2013
Calling for Expression of Interest

Due by 8 June 2012

Selling Yarns 3: weaving the nation's story will expand on themes raised in previous Selling Yarns conferences and bring to the fore contemporary issues and modes of practice that have emerged to symbolise and captivate expressions of Indigenous life and culture.

Selling Yarns 3 will be held over four days. In the spirit of the event each day will be composed of a mixture of activities to add to the knowledge base and enjoyment of those who attend. These activities include the presentation of formal conference papers, workshops, demonstrations, a market day and story telling sessions from conference delegates.

Conference program (subject to change)

Thursday 28 February 2013 Conference papers and Showcase presentations.
Delegate workshops and demonstrations.

Friday 1 March 2013 Conference papers and Showcase presentations.
Delegate workshops and demonstrations.

Saturday 2 March 2013 Delegate workshops
Sunday 3 March 2013 Market day and demonstrations.

Workshops for the general public and delegates.
The themes of Selling Yarns 3 specifically relate to:
· the transfer of Indigenous knowledge
· production of material and collaborative partnerships
· the Indigenous fabric and fashion market, and
· contemporary modes of practice.

[center][/center]Conference papers and Showcase presentations
Conference papers provide the opportunity for more formal presentations to be delivered. There will also be the opportunity for an individual to convene a panel on a specific topic in each session.

Showcase presentations have been designed for conference delegates to present in a less formal way on a specific project or individual work. This can be given by one person or as a group.

Workshops and demonstrations
In addition to the conference a series of practical workshops and demonstrations will be presented for the delegates and the general public that address artistic professional development in fibre and textile techniques.

Market day
A craft and design market to complement the conference and workshop programs will be held at the National Museum of Australia on Sunday 3 March. Indigenous artists are invited to present and sell their work directly to the public.

Selling Yarns 3: Weaving the nation's story is a conference, workshop, market day, and exhibition program that promotes and showcases textile and fibre craft and design practices of Indigenous artists from across Australia.

Selling Yarns 3 will align its activities with the Canberra 100 centenary celebrations in 2013 and will primarily explore the place of Indigenous textile practices in the story of nation building in Australia. Its primary focus is to demonstrate that through cultural practices a dialogue can be had that draws all interested parties together for the benefit of a rich and sustainable Indigenous culture, and to promote and share contemporary Indigenous textile practice.

The activity will provide an opportunity for practitioners, academics, industry leaders and the general public to come together to extend the conversations about the place of contemporary Indigenous textiles in the broader national arena. An exciting program for delegates and the general public will foster artistic and cultural exchange, and create professional development opportunities.

This is the premier national forum for Indigenous textile artists in the country. Previous Selling Yarns forums have managed to re-establish the pre-eminance of Indigenous artistic traditions on the national art stage. There is currently no other forum that provides this opportunity which promotes cultural, technical and intellectual exchange between Indigenous and non-indigenous industry stakeholders, as well as between generations of artists.

Selling Yarns 3 is presented in partnership with:

National Museum of Australia
The Australian National University Research School of Humanities and the Arts
The Australian National University School of Art
Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre
Advisory Committee
Dr Louise Hamby, Adjunct Fellow, Digital Humanities Hub, Research School of Humanities and the Arts, The Australian National University
Valerie Kirk, Head of Textiles, ANU School of Art, The Australian National University
Avi Amesbury, Executive Director, Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre
Catrina Vignando, General Manager, Craft Australia
Jilda Simpson, Yuwaalaraay women, Doctorate candidate, Australian National University Research School of Humanities
Mary-Lou Nugent, Travelling Exhibitions, National Gallery of Australia


Download Conference papers and Showcase presentation, Expression of Interest form at [www.sellingyarns.com]

See also INDIGENOUS ARTISTS' DESIGNS HIT CATWALK at [www.isx.org.au]

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May 7, 2012


Toomelah, a small community near the New South Wales - Queensland border faces an uncertain future.

A QUARTER of a century after Marcus Einfeld wept at the sight of Toomelah's children playing in raw sewage, the community has been told it must accept an intervention-style takeover or face the demolition of the township and relocation of residents.

The former Aboriginal mission just shy of the Queensland border in the state's north-west, which shot to the national spotlight in 1987 when Mr Einfeld's human rights commission inquiry found 500 people were sharing one tap, has reached crisis point again.

The threat of drastic action to tackle poverty, poor health, truancy, rundown infrastructure, alcohol and drug abuse, violence and chronic unemployment was made during a series of meetings between government agencies and residents over the past three weeks.

While the NSW government denies either option is under consideration, it acknowledged previous attempts to address Toomelah's problems had failed and new approaches were being canvassed.

''The situation in Toomelah is shocking and heartbreaking,'' the Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Victor Dominello, said.

''It cannot be acceptable to any government or any community leader.''

But the prospect of forced removal or government intervention similar to that in the Northern Territory has terrified the fraught township of about 300, where many blame successive government policies for the pitiful state of their home.

One official said Toomelah, serviced by more than 60 government and non-government agencies, was ''the most depressing place in the world'' and there were few options left. ''The place is squalor at the moment,'' the official said. ''It would be better off to relocate everyone because you cannot sustain it. People live like this because they choose to.''

When the Herald visited last week, sewage pooled in the open between houses, numerous buildings were gutted by vandals, rubbish littered the streets, and residents talked of multiple suicide attempts each month.

''I drove in there last week and I cried,'' said an elder, Madeleine McGrady - who moved away a year ago for health reasons. ''I've never seen it so bad.''

The school, which the Herald was told only half of Toomelah's children attend, was broken into eight times in the Easter holidays, she said.

Others blamed a lack of help from the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, which stopped funding the local land council more than two years ago after it failed to meet its legal responsibilities.

But the state body said it has been helping, particularly over the past few years.

''Ultimately, the Toomelah community must be empowered to tackle their own problems and the NSW Aboriginal Land Council will continue to assist in this regard,'' a spokesman said.

The community now fears it could be one of at least four NSW Aboriginal communities, including Walgett and Wilcannia, facing intervention-style programs.

''[We were told] they're going to come in and bulldoze the whole community down, every structure, and the only thing that's going to be left standing is our cemetery,'' a resident, Glynis McGrady, said.

A spokeswoman for the federal Indigenous Affairs Minister, Jenny Macklin, said the Commonwealth had not proposed ''appointing a government manager to the community or relocating the community''.

She would not say why a senior departmental official, James Christian, attended meetings at Toomelah last week, or when the minister herself last visited the stricken township.


Read more: [www.smh.com.au]



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Updated May 07, 2012 11:15:50

Four Corners reporter Liz Jackson discusses the 20th anniversary of the event which would pave the way to Native Title.
Liz Jackson

Source: ABC News | Duration: 2min 16sec]]> PeterLain Listen to the News... Mon, 07 May 2012 21:49:33 +1000 http://www.isx.org.au/forums/read.php?18,9868,9868#msg-9868 http://www.isx.org.au/forums/read.php?18,9868,9868#msg-9868 [www.abc.net.au]
By Gail Liston

Posted May 02, 2012 14:04:08
Yuendumu 0872

An Indian fashion designer is showcasing designs from a remote central Australian Aboriginal community at Sydney Fashion Week.

The artists come from the group Warlukurlangu Artists in Yuendumu, 300 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs.

Roopa Pemmaraju is reproducing the designs painted by the artists on handmade fabrics in India.

She says connecting with the art centre in Yuendumu has been pivotal to the success of her collection.

"I wanted some artisans which had more in-depth work and beautiful colours for different international markets and people who would really support me for this cause," she said.

"Each artist has a collection, like there would be like a shift dress, a long dress, a dress which would go with a skirt and a shirt. It's like a story that's built within one artist."

Cecilia Alfonsa manages the art centre and says the exposure to the new medium came about because Warlukurlangu Artists won an export award last year.

"Warlukurlangu Artists won the export awards last year for the Northern Territory in the arts and culture section and so through some contacts that I made when we won that award I was put on to Roopa, who's a fashion designer," she said.

"She's really interested in working with Indigenous designs to produce a catwalk collection."

She says the fashion industry has generated a viable revenue stream for the community.

"One of the things we have found is that the artists are really happy to have their designs used," she said.

"We also do jewellery. They tend to get jealous if their designs are not used but it's also proved to be a really fantastic alternative income stream for the art centre, particularly in these very difficult economic times."

See also "SELLING YARNS 3: WEAVING THE NATION'S STORY" at [www.isx.org.au]

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By Jano Gibson
Posted May 03, 2012 15:27:06
Map: Darwin 0800


The Northern Territory Opposition says the reason the Government is amending its liquor laws is because its original legislation has failed.

The Liquor Amendment Bill will see people fined $70 for drinking in a public place within two kilometres of a licensed venue.

If individuals are fined three times within 12 months, they will be added to the banned drinkers register.

Opposition alcohol policy spokesman Peter Styles has told Parliament the Government is playing catch-up.

"It is a bit like shifting the deckchairs on the Titanic," he said.

"They seem to be failing.

"There are more and more people going on the banned drinker register.

"There are no deterrents.

"The Government is desperately trying to fix what initially was poorly thought out legislation."

Alcohol Policy Minister Delia Lawrie responded by telling a group of visiting school students in the public gallery that Mr Styles was ignoring the benefits of the alcohol reforms.

"For the students of Darwin High, you just met the parliamentarian nicknamed Eeyore," she said.

"He is the harbinger of doom and gloom.

"According to him, there is absolutely nothing going right in the Territory, at all, ever, anywhere."



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by: PATRICIA KARVELAS
From: The Australian
May 04, 2012 12:00AM


FORMER ALP president and indigenous leader Warren Mundine has vowed to push the Gillard Government to overhaul its indigenous jobs strategy after he was recruited to lead mining magnate Andrew Forrest's GenerationOne campaign.

The campaign, which aims to end the disparity between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians in one generation, was previously lead by former ALP national secretary Tim Gartrell.

"Over the years, there have been good intentions, but there has been far too much training for training's sake without leading to a job. I see the (Vocational Training and Employment Centres) VTEC approach as the right direction," Mr Mundine told The Australian.

"I want to continue to work with Government to get the right mix of policies and programs, but I'm also going to hold them accountable. We need to look at training models that guarantee employment, because employment is the key to ending indigenous disadvantage," he said.

Mr Forrest praised Mr Mundine saying: "Warren is an outstanding indigenous leader who believes strongly in the power of employment as the best way to rid indigenous communities of welfare dependency and end the disparity.

"Warren's first task is to hold the federal government to its 2008 promise to provide the training necessary to deliver jobs committed under the 50,000 jobs campaign.

"More than 330 employers have now made commitments of over 61,000 jobs. 10,000 of those have been filled but we need the government to deliver on its 2008 promise under the Australian Employment Covenant (AEC) to provide the training, especially to the long term unemployed."

Indigenous leaders have criticised the federal government for not funding jobs programs backed by Mr Forrest.

Mr Mundine said he looked forward to the challenge of working with business, government and indigenous communities across Australia to deliver real jobs.

"I'm excited and honoured to be taking up this new role and look forward to cranking up the campaign and getting the VTEC policy implemented," said Mr Mundine.

"There is only one way to tackle welfare dependency in indigenous communities and that's to give people the best alternative - a career. The government must deliver on their commitments. If they do the disparity between our people will be made redundant."

Mr Mundine has a long history in indigenous employment, through his involvement in the setting up of the AEC, as Chairman of the Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce and working with some of Australia's largest corporations.

Mr Forrest thanked outgoing CEO Tim Gartrell for taking the GenerationOne campaign from its launch to 250,000 supporters and driving the development of the VTEC policy. Mr Gartrell will shortly commence a new role as Campaign Director for Reconciliation Australia.


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“The Yolnu Makarr Dhuni, an assembly of eight [Aboriginal] nations in the Western, Central and East Arnhem Land areas of the Northern Territory, have released a statement rejecting the Federal Government’s Stronger Futures legislation …… . Graeme Mundine, ACM Sydney

To read this statement in full, go to go to [www.isx.org.au] where you will find "Statement of NT Elders" which is a link to a PDF file containing the full. statement.]]> PeterLain Listen to the News... Thu, 03 May 2012 17:01:32 +1000 http://www.isx.org.au/forums/read.php?18,9863,9863#msg-9863 http://www.isx.org.au/forums/read.php?18,9863,9863#msg-9863 [www.abc.net.au]

Posted May 03, 2012 09:51:18
Indigenous children in remote Aboriginal communities Photo: Indigenous Australian children are much more likely to suffer from hearing problems than non-Indigenous children. (file photo: ABC)
Map: Perth 6000

The head of a West Australian hearing centre says the prevalence of middle ear disease in Aboriginal children has reached crisis point.

Research from the Telethon Speech and Hearing Centre shows more than 50 per cent of Aboriginal children under the age of 12 tested in Perth cannot pass a simple hearing test.

In the Pilbara town of Roeburn that figure is 80 per cent.



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The Centre's Paul Higginbotham says poor living conditions, genetics, passive smoking and bad nutrition all contribute to the problem.

He has labelled the problem a health disaster which must be addressed.

"You cannot solve the problems of disadvantage in Aboriginal Australia without tackling this issue of ear health," Mr Higginbotham said.

"It cannot be solved in a bandaid way; we as a state can solve the problem but we need a strategic, holistic approach to it.

"We need to expect and demand change within a generation; we can do it.

Mr Higginbotham will talk about the issue at a parliamentary breakfast in Perth today where he will call for better programs and more funding to tackle the problem.]]> PeterLain Listen to the News... Thu, 03 May 2012 10:58:32 +1000 http://www.isx.org.au/forums/read.php?18,9862,9862#msg-9862 http://www.isx.org.au/forums/read.php?18,9862,9862#msg-9862 [www.abc.net.au]
PM
By Tom Nightingale

Updated May 01, 2012 19:34:33


A South Australian Aboriginal community has launched a trial of neighbourhood watch night patrols, but critics say it has taken too long to get this far.

There are ongoing issues of community safety, of children being out late at night, of children being at risk and this was a way to try and quieten down communities at night.

The night patrols are already a vital part of community safety in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, but over the border in South Australia the patrols barely exist.

The patrol teams are typically made up of senior local leaders and are regarded as a crucial complement to police work.

They call police if a crime is suspected, send children and teenagers home and refer others to health or welfare agencies.

Aboriginal communities in northern South Australia are culturally similar to those in the NT, but for the past eight years no night patrols have taken place.

"There are ongoing issues of community safety, of children being out late at night, of children being at risk and this was a way to try and quieten down communities at night," said Jonathan Nicholls from the service body, Uniting Communities.

"It is a big step. It's something the community has been asking for for years and which the State Government has been slow to respond to."

Now, seven men and women from the community of Amata have volunteered to go on patrol. They rotate nights and work from 7.00pm to 11.30pm.
Better chance of success

It is the first such patrol in the APY Lands for eight years. Back then the concept was trialled and failed dismally.

At the time, the only police presence was based outside the region because there were no houses for local officers to live in.

Mr Nicholls says there are now four police officers living and working in Amata, so this trial has much more chance of working.

"Now when you trial a night patrol, people who participate can feel much more confident that if a situation gets messy there are some police officers who can come in and intervene," he said.

Night patrols were recommended in an independent inquiry into child sex abuse in the region four years ago. But since then, the South Australian Government had not done anything to enact patrols.

Instead, the new trial came through local residents asking the Federal Government's Co-ordinator General for Remote Indigenous Services, Brian Gleeson.
Audio: Night patrol trial to begin in SA (PM)

Mr Gleeson is a former senior UN diplomat with a brief to better organise government services in some remote areas. He says night patrols are necessary because there are fewer other local services.

"You cannot have a top down approach and assume that this is going to be accepted by everybody," he said.

"For example the police you know will operate 24 hours a day. In places like Amata they do not operate 24 hours a day. They operate on a standard roster system so therefore you have to have a supplemented system to facilitate if you like that extra set of services."

In many Aboriginal areas, police work is also complemented by Indigenous liaison officers.

There are two such roles in Amata, but a freedom of information statement last November revealed they had been unfilled for two and five years respectively.

Both positions are still vacant, but South Australian police say the job is done by those in other communities as needed.

The seven night patrollers in Amata have been trained by a local Senior Constable, Ben O'Leary. He says the patrols are already proven handy as extra eyes and ears.

"They do act as deterring crime, especially during the school holidays where you know children are out and about probably more later at night," he said.

"We haven't had an issue where they haven't reported crime to us. They take pride in actually being able to tell us about what’s happening within the community, which is definitely a good thing for us."

The trial will be evaluated in August.


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