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Houston, Jacqui --- "Recent Happenings" [2004] IndigLawB 48; (2004) 6(4) Indigenous Law Bulletin 23


Recent Happenings June 2004

compiled by Jacqui Houston

1 June

Paul Lennon, Premier of Tasmania, will meet with some of the State’s Aboriginal community to start the formal consultation process in regard to the return of land on Cape Barren, Clarke Island and Goose Island to its traditional owners.

1 June

The Australian Labor Party (‘ALP’) has called for a senate inquiry into the Federal Government’s plan to abolish the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (‘ATSIC’) at the end of this month. While not opposing the abolition as such, the ALP has expressed concern over some of the proposed changes to the administration of Indigenous affairs via a transfer of current programs to mainstream agencies.

2 June

A report for the Menzies Research Centre, ‘Do Indigenous Youth Have a Dream?’ has suggested linking family allowance payments to school attendance as a method of ensuring Indigenous children improve their school attendance rates in the Northern Territory (‘NT’).

5 June

The Ewamian people have signed Memoranda of Understanding (‘MoU’) with two pastoralists in Far North Queensland, ensuring the protection of specific sacred sites. The MoUs give recognition to the Ewamian people as traditional owners of the land and allows them access to pastoral properties for cultural practices.

7 June

Peter Shaeffer, the barrister who represented Peter Gunner and Lorna Cubillo in their Stolen Generation case against the Federal Government says that the United Nations Human Rights Commission may be the next legal avenue through which to take the matter.

11 June

The Victorian Government has signed the Yorta Yorta Cooperative Management Agreement, giving formal acknowledgment to the Yorta Yorta people. While the agreement does provide for participation in the management of the lands, it does not grant any power to recommendations given to the State Environment Minister nor can it end current logging agreements within the region.

11 June

The NSW State Government will provide $9million to establish a centre on the NSW north coast for young Indigenous offenders. Based upon a centre in the south-west of the State, the centre will target first-time offenders.

15 June

Queensland Stolen Wages Executive will meet with the State Indigenous Affairs Minister to reopen negotiations into resolving the stolen wages compensation matter.

16 June

Tasmania’s Heritage Minister, Ken Bacon, has promised consultation with the Aboriginal community and other relevant parties with a view to introducing a reformed Aboriginal Relics Act to Parliament. In his pledge to introduce the changes during this term of Government, Minister Bacon noted that the most important changes to the 1975 Act will be those which greater protect sacred Aboriginal sites in the State.

17 June

The North Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service (‘NAALAS’) has failed in its challenge to the 1998 decision of NT Chief Minister Shane Stone to appoint Hugh Bradley as NT Chief Magistrate on a 2-year contract and on a salary above the set rate. The High Court ruled that the appointment was valid and that Mr Bradley’s integrity was not compromised by an appointment which varied from the standard circumstances.

18 June

Federal Court Judge Robert French has expressed the view that the single Noongar land claim in Western Australia is likely to fail due to ‘apathy, lack of interest, or divided opinions held by members of the relevant native title claim groups.’ The Federal Court has ordered a regional conference be held where the judges for all six claims will meet.

22 June

The NT Government has announced changes to the HomeNorth loans scheme. The changes raise income cut-offs and reduce minimum deposits required in an attempt to improve the rates of Indigenous home ownership. Housing Minister John Ah Kit announced the changes backed by studies which reveal home ownership is linked to greater health and happiness among the population.

24 June

The Full Court of the Federal Court has ruled in favour of the SA Government in its appeal against the Federal Government’s compulsory acquisition of land near Woomera for a nuclear waste repository. The ruling is a great victory for the Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta, senior Aboriginal women, who have fought to preserve their sacred land and protect themselves and future generations from the Commonwealth’s nuclear waste dump plans.

24 June

The Federal Government is refusing to sign an agreement negotiated between the WA Government and the Bardi and Jawi people from the Dampier Peninsula. In an example of problems highlighted by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner’s 2003 Native Title Report, the Government will not support the settlement and is instead pushing for evidence supporting the 1996 claim to be resolved in court.

25 June

Children’s Court Magistrate Sue Gordon, who investigated the response of government agencies to reports of child abuse and family violence in Aboriginal communities, says that the Government’s planned mandatory reporting guidelines are inadequate. WA Health Minister Jim McGinty announced the guidelines this week which require the Health Department to report sexually transmitted diseases in children under 14 to Police and the Department of Community Development. The Aboriginal Legal Service WA has backed the calls for mandatory reporting on suspected abuse by people with ‘first-line’ contact with children.

29 June

Wollongong City Councillors in NSW have voted to allow the Sandon Point Aboriginal tent embassy to remain and have called on the State Government to finalise the Sandon Point Commission of Inquiry. The tent embassy has been a fixture at the Sandon Point housing development for three years as a protest to protect ancient burial and tool-making sites.

29 June

The Qld Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy has sacked its Indigenous Executive Director, Barbara Nicol Flick, after she took leave without prior approval to visit her sick father for 4 days. While the Department insists it acted within the terms of the contract and the requirements of the Office of the Public Service Commissioner, Ms Nicol Flick will appeal the decision which she says afforded her no dignity and has damaged her reputation.

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