Family gathering and rally on NT Intervention - 18th November, 2007 10am

Where: Redfern Community Centre
When: 10am, Sunday 18th November, 2007
Rally: along Cleveland Street to Victoria Park
Speakers: Shane Phillips & NT community representatives 

WEAR RED AND BRING YOUR BANNERS, YOUR FLAGS, PLACARDS…AND MOST OF ALL, YOUR MOB!!

On Saturday 24th a new Federal Government will be decided.  This meeting and rally, one week out from the election, is our chance to ensure Aboriginal voices are heard loud and clear and the injustices of the Government’s invasion of Aboriginal communities in the NT are known about.

Of all the criticisms of the 11 year Howard Government, their legacy in Indigenous Affairs will surely be remembered as a low point in the history of this country.

They were elected in 1996 on a wave of racism sparked by the former Liberal candidate Pauline Hanson and have since been unrelenting in their attacks on Indigenous rights and politics.  We can see this in their approval of the Hindmarsh Island Bridge, amendments to native title after Wik, the Reconciliation convention, the mounting of legal action defending past Government’s removal of children, the white-washing of Australia’s history, abolition of ATSIC, axing of the CDEP and now with the measures in the NT to name only a few.

In the NT the Government’s so-called emergency intervention followed the Anderson & Wild report on the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse in the NT.  The Federal Government initiated an ‘emergency response’ and have since passed several laws giving them wide ranging powers over Aboriginal people’s lives, land, resources, stores and enterprises.  These include new powers to manage welfare benefits of all Aboriginal people in the NT, changes to land rights (eg axing of permit system to communities), assumption of 5 year lease over Aboriginal land and greater controls by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (eg Minister can determine who can live in the community) and changes to bail and criminal law.

The Anderson & Wild report noted serious issues and the need for an urgent community led response.  No-where did it recommend taking Aboriginal land, abolishing the CDEP or control of the lives of Aboriginal people as if they're children.  This intervention has been criticised as compromising human rights, democracy, freedom, self-determination and Indigenous rights.  Others have said if these powers can be exercised over Aboriginal communities in the NT it can happen in NSW  as well.

Come along to this family friendly gathering at the Redfern Community centre where we will walk along Cleveland St to Victoria Park and join up with other events are being held in the Park.

Meet 10am, Sunday 18th November, 2007.