Editors --- "Update: Torres Strait Island Issue; Deaths of Senior Leaders; Director - Indigenous Law Centre; Wik Bill to Go to Senate; Dreamtime Memories; Date Change" [1997] IndigLawB 97; (1997) 4(7) Indigenous Law Bulletin 2
Update
Torres Strait Island Issue
This issue focuses on Torres Strait Islanders, about whom the ILB has published relatively little information to date. We would like to continue to publish articles of interest to Torres Strait Islanders in the future. To that end, we encourage you to send further contributions to the address on this page.
Deaths of Senior Leaders
We have been saddened recently by the deaths of three prominent Australians; that of Burnam Burnam on 18 August, of David Mowaljarlai on 24 September, and of Nugget Coombs on 29 October. The deaths of all three represent the loss of an enormous amount of knowledge, experience and wisdom to Australia, but most especially to the indigenous communities of which they were a part. We at the Indigenous Law Centre extend our sympathies to their families and their people.
Director - Indigenous Law Centre
Applications are invited for appointment as Director of the Indigenous Law Centre, Faculty of Law. The appointee will be expected to provide leadership to the Centre's staff, guide and promote the Centre's research, publication, conference and public information activities, prepare detailed submissions and advice on indigenous legal issues, undertake teaching responsibilities in the Faculty of Law, lead fund-raising, and encourage the Centre's relationship with indigenous and other organisations and groups in the wider community.
This position is offered under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Recruitment and Career Development Strategy. Applicants should note that Aboriginality is a genuine occupational qualification as authorised under s14(d) of the Anti Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) for positions under this strategy.
Inquiries regarding the position should be directed to Professor Garth Nettheim, Chair, Indigenous Law Centre on phone (02) 9385 2787, facsimile (02) 9385 1175, or email <g.nettheim@unsw.edu.au>
Wik Bill to Go to the Senate
On 27 October the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Native Title tabled its majority and minority reports. The Native Title Amendment Bill 1997 ('the Wik Bill') is due to go to the Senate in mid-November.
On 21 September there were rallies around Australia to support native title. A rally in the Sydney Domain was postponed to 11 October, when it had a very good attendance of approximately 12-15,000 people.
On 12 October the Sea of Hands, organised by Australians for Native Title (ANTAR, phone (02) 9810 1382) was displayed on the lawn outside Parliament House, Canberra. Over 65,000 signed cut-outs of hands were spread out, representing people's opposition to the Wik Bill. As there was such a fabulous response to, and publicity of, this event, the National Indigenous Working Group has asked ANTAR to reconstruct the Sea of Hands outside Parliament House, Canberra, from 17-24 November, while the Wik Bill is before the Senate. This time they expect 100,000 hands.
Dreamtime Memories
Unfortunately, the ILB was given the wrong title for Shirley Amos' wonderful cover painting on the October 1997 issue. Its correct title is 'Dreamtime Memories', not 'The Hunter'.
Date Change
Please note this alteration to Jenny Clarke's article in the Indigenous Law Bulletin of October 1997: on page 4, the last line of para 3 should read 'in granting tenements after 1994' not 1995.
Special Back Issues Offer
Get a complete set of back issues of the Indigenous Law Bulletin for only $176! Normally a complete set would cost around $274. Our special discount takes one third off this price. This offer cannot last, so make sure you contact us by 28 November to place your order.
(This offer is for a complete set of issues of the Aboriginal Law Bulletin from August 1981 to March 1997, for Indigenous Lam Bulletin issues from April to July 1997, and the Indexes to Vols I and II of the ALB, and includes postage. Note that a few issues are only available as photocopies.)