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Protesting “punitive” welfare reforms

About 50 protestors crowded outside Redfern Centrelink offices on March 13 to protest the Government’s expansion of welfare reforms, aimed at Aboriginal communities. The reforms, which include the quarantining of Indigenous welfare payments under a food ration system, are set to be exported to Queensland and Western Australia reports Sarah Malik in the South Sydney Herald of April 2008.

 

The protest was part of a campaign held at Centrelink offices nationwide, protesting against the Federal government’s continuation of the Howard-era  intervention laws passed in August last year.

“This dehumanising process of using ration cards is demeaning for the Aboriginal community,” said Greg Eatock of the Aboriginal Rights Coalition. “It shows a lack of political will and is inconsistent with the Labor Government’s election platform about [Indigenous] self- governance.”

The intervention laws, passed in August last year as the Northern Territory Emergency Response Bill 2007, included bans on alcohol and X-rated pornography in 73 Aboriginal townships, the takeover of Aboriginal community leases and quarantining of Aboriginal welfare payments in the Northern Territory.

Activists were concerned at the implication the welfare reforms would have for welfare rights in general. “I think the racist nature of this policy and the extreme punitive nature of this policy has implications for all of Australian society,” said Paddy Gibson.

Others were concerned that the failure to repeal the Northern Territory intervention laws was contradictory to Labor’s promises in the apology. “One month ago I watched in awe as our Prime-Minister issued a heartfelt apology to the Stolen Generations. I wanted to believe we can heal… As I stood in the Press Gallery on 13 February I wanted to believe all of these attacks on our humanity would end,” said Nicole Watson of the Jumbunna Aboriginal Education Centre.

“These reforms are very similar to the protectionist reforms our grandfather’s fought…Our people will continue to fight and defeat the very government that seeks to deny our humanity.”

A Centrelink spokesperson declined to comment on the welfare expansion.

“Centrelink’s position is that we encourage people to have freedom of speech. Our only concern is that we can conduct our business in a peaceful manner,” said Paul Creedon, a spokesperson for Centrelink.

Photo: Andrew Collis - Greg Eatock, Alex Bainbridge and Darren Bloomfeld

Source: South Sydney Herald April 2008 - www.southsydneyherald.com.au