Title: Recent Happenings - [2006] ILB 57; 6(22)pg24
Author: Houston, Jacqui
Last saved by: wai
Company: Indigenous Law Bulletin

Recent Happenings October 2006
compiled by Jacqui Houston

2 October
After a meeting with Woorabinda Council, Police, QBuild (Queensland Department of Public Works) and the Department of Housing in central Queensland, Housing and Works Minister, Robert Schwarten, has agreed to temporarily restore the Council’s housing maintenance funding.  The Minister froze the funds last week claiming that the Council was not effectively dealing with vandalism problems in the community.

3 October
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Tom Calma, has spoken of his concerns with the Federal Government’s Crimes Amendment Bill 2006 (Cth).  Mr Calma argued that the Bill does not address family violence in Indigenous communities, despite the Government’s introductory comments.  Mr Calma described the Bill as ‘in conflict with every major inquiry into the role of cultural background and customary law in the legal system, including the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.’

5 October
The Alice Springs Office of the new National Indigenous Violence and Child Abuse Taskforce (‘NIITF’) has opened with 33 members from state and territory police, federal police and the Australian Institute of Criminology.  Members of the NIITF will gather, examine and use intelligence on violence and abuse issues; assisted by interpreters.  The taskforce is empowered to compel witnesses to give evidence.  At this stage, the NIITF is authorised to remain until 30 June 2007.

7 October
The Northern Territory (‘NT’) Government has proposed a campaign aimed at warning Indigenous communities about mobile phones and associated plans.  The proposal from Consumer Affairs Minister Syd Stirling comes after reports of excessive debt following consumers in remote communities signing up for plans paid through a direct debit from their bank account.  According to Mr Stirling, it is the Government’s role to ‘contact community stores and councils right across the Territory and ask that they promote, within their community, an understanding of what these contracts can lead to.’

8 October
New standing orders are to be debated in New South Wales (‘NSW’) Parliament next month which will, among other things, give acknowledgment to Indigenous Australians as traditional owners.  The proposed statement says: ‘We acknowledge the traditional owners, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation.  We also acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands we represent and thank them for their custodianship of country.’

9 October
Elouise Cobell, an American Indian activist who launched the largest class action ever brought against the United States Government for recovery of stolen wages has told an Australian audience that Indigenous claimants for stolen monies in Australia should use the courts to recover their money.  Talking of her own harrowing fight, Ms Cobell stated: ‘We have made a lot of progress compared to what has happened here in Australia because we have more of a voice, because we are in court and we’re forcing the United States Government to do the right thing.’

10 October
Protesters have handed a petition to Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, calling on him to sack Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley over the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee.  The group of around 200 protesters marched from Brisbane to State Parliament for the first sitting since the last State election.

12 October
After Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough appointed former NT deputy police commissioner John Valentine to the role of leading the review of policing levels in remote Indigenous communities, the Queensland Government has said that it will not take part in the review.  Queensland’s Police Minister, Judy Spence, believes that her State’s ‘level of policing in Indigenous communities would set a benchmark for other states to follow.’

18 October
The Tasmanian Government has today announced a compensation package for members of the stolen generation and their children.  The package and apology has been applauded by Gary Highland, National Director of Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (‘ANTaR’) who says that the leadership shown by Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon is in stark contrast to that displayed by Prime Minister John Howard.  ANTaR plans to monitor the operation of the $5million compensation fund to ensure that Indigenous Tasmanians are fairly compensated.  The bill to create the compensation scheme will be introduced to Parliament at the end of this month.

23 October
A report – Breaking the Silence: Creating the Future – which was commissioned by the NSW Government in 2003 remains largely ignored according to the Aboriginal Child Sexual Assault Taskforce chairperson, Marcia Ella-Duncan.  Ms Ella-Duncan has written to the Premier Morris Iemma to condemn him for his inaction over the report which found that child sexual assault within Indigenous communities in the State had reached epidemic proportions.  The taskforce, which comprised one non-Indigenous and five Indigenous members, made 119 recommendations to adequately address the problems.

24 October
The four land councils in the NT – Anindilyakwa Land Council, Central Land Council, Northern Land Council and Tiwi Land Council – have written to The Bulletin magazine to assure the Government and the public that those with an interest in attending court sittings on traditional land will be given permits to do so.  The letter highlights the councils’ belief that proposed changes to the permit system are unnecessary on the grounds of media access to legal issues on traditional lands.

25 October
The Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia (‘WA’) has issued a warning about the Electoral Legislation Amendment Bill due to be passed in State Parliament this week.  Should the Bill pass, prisoners in the WA will no longer have the right to vote in State elections.  CEO Dennis Eggington says that the amendments will further marginalise already disadvantaged Western Australians, most particularly, Indigenous people.  ‘[T]he right to vote … is a fundamental civil liberty and human right that should be enjoyed by people without discrimination.’

27 October
The WA Law Reform Commission has today released its report on Aboriginal customary laws with recommendations including the creation of an independent commission on Indigenous affairs.  The WA Government has committed to ‘looking at’ the report but has so far ruled out repealing mandatory sentencing for burglary offences.  The report also recommends an independent review of the youth curfew in Northbridge and the establishment of Aboriginal courts which consider traditional punishment methods.