Tao, Frank --- "Recent Happenings September 2007" [2007] IndigLawB 55; (2007) 6(30) Indigenous Law Bulletin 23
Recent Happenings September 2007
compiled by Frank Tao
3 September
A special Federal Court sitting in Tennant Creek, Northern Territory (‘NT’) has recognised the Patta Warumungu people as native title holders of about 27 square kilometres of land in the town. The outcome gives the Patta Warumungu people non exclusive rights to reside on, and travel over and across the land; to hunt, gather and use nature resources; and to practice cultural ceremonies. The recognition is the result of three years of negotiations between the traditional owners (represented by the Central Land Council), the NT Government, the Tennant Creek Town Council and various mining companies.
5 September
A report launched by Dr Ros Kidd claims governments stole billions from Indigenous people last century. Hard Labour, Stolen Wages investigates the wages that were either never paid to Indigenous workers, or were ‘managed’ by the government but never returned. In Queensland, only $19.6 million of the $55 million reparation fund from 2002 has been paid out.
5 September
BHP Billiton has awarded a $300 million contract to an Indigenous company called Ngarda Civil and Mining Pty Ltd. The contract is for the operation of the Yarrie iron ore mine near Port Hedland. The contract will count toward BHP Billiton’s aim of having 14 per cent Indigenous employees.
10 September
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (‘RACS’) has heard that Indigenous Australians have the highest rates of childhood ear infections in the world, leading to many learning and behavioural problems. RACS spokesman Dr Chris Perry said that 90 per cent of Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory have severe ear infections. RACS has called on the Commonwealth to provide $10 million annually to address the problem. Dr Perry says that improving the problem could reduce truancy, increasing education and ultimately better employment opportunities.
10 September
NT Chief Minister Clare Martin has stated that she feels that the end of Community Development Employment Projects (‘CDEP’), which employ 7,500 Indigenous people in the Territory, will cut an economic lifeline to many remote Indigenous communities with no practical alternatives for employment. The criticism comes after some 40 delegates from NT remote area communities met to discuss their concerns.
14 September
The United Nations General Assembly has adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (‘UNDRIP’). The non-binding aspirational declaration affirms both the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples around the world. Australia, United States, Canada and New Zealand were the only countries to vote against the UNDRIP. The Federal Government described the UNDRIP as divisive and unworkable.
15 September
The alcohol ban in many Indigenous communities in the NT has commenced. Under the legislation, it is a criminal offence to be in possession of alcohol in prescribed communities. The legislation comes as the Federal Government amended the legislation to exclude some tourists visiting places such as Uluru or Kakadu. The Northern Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (‘NAAJA’) has described the legislation and its most recent change as racist and a perpetuation of race-based legislation.
15 September
The remains of five Iningai people dating back more than 120 years have been returned to Longreach, Queensland. The remains have been held by Edinburgh University since 1892 and were more recently returned to the Queensland Museum and the National Museum of Australia. More than 200 people attended the ceremony at Longreach cemetery.
15 September
The body of legislation that constitutes the NT Emergency Intervention has come into force. The legislation encompasses many restrictions in designated Aboriginal communities, such as the consumption and possession of alcohol, the possession of pornography, and how welfare payments may be spent.
18 September
The Federal Government has announced an extra $100 million over two years to improve children’s health. Health Minister Tony Abbott said the money is to help treat dental, ear, stomach, nose and throat problems diagnosed as a result of the health checks.
18 September
The total cost of the NT Emergency Intervention has grown to $1.3 billion. Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough has announced an extra $740 million for housing, health, police and employment as the next stage of the Government’s plan. The increase comes as the cost of building and repairing housing has grown from $279 million to $793 million over four years.
19 September
The Enduring Voices Project has named a region of Northern Australia (including the NT, Western Australia and Queensland) as the place where local languages are most threatened. The project identified almost 7,000 distinct recognised languages in the world. The Project’s coordinator, Mr David Harrison, says that as many languages have no written form, they are often lost forever. Linguists also say that many dialects have been deliberately exterminated by colonisers taking over territory.
20 September
NT Aboriginal leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu has offered his support for the Federal Government’s NT Emergency Intervention. Mr Yunupingu had been a strong critic of the intervention until he met with Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough.