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Lemezina, Zrinka --- "Recent Happenings September 2008" [2008] IndigLawB 33; (2008) 7(7) Indigenous Law Bulletin 28

Recent Happenings – September 2008

Compiled by Zrinka Lemezina.

1/09

Federal Parliamentary Secretary Maxine McKew today launched her book in Canberra, Contexts of Child Development – Culture, Policy and Intervention. The book maintains that interventions must be able to engage in diverse social, cultural and linguistic contexts in cities, towns and remote communities. Chief Editor Associate Professor Gary Robisnon of CDU’s School for social and policy research, said intervention programs cannot be dealt with as crisis responses but require preventative action.

1/09

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced a plan to recruit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to work on planned transport infrastructure projects as part of a $76 billion nation-building program. Mr Rudd said that "given that a lot of the construction will be taking place in remote regions as we build rail and port infrastructure for the resources boom, there will be real opportunities for Indigenous employment in those areas."

4/09

More than 100 protesters rallied in Tennant Creek against a proposal to establish a nuclear waste dump in NT. The rally called on the Government to honour its pre-election commitment to repeal the Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005 (Cth) which allows nuclear waste to be dumped on NT land. The protesters further called for all nominated dumping sites to be revoked.

10/09

The Toowoomba district court found former ATSIC commissioner Ray Robinson found guilty of using his former position for an improper purpose. The trial arose from two letters sent by Mr Robinson in 2004 supporting the sale of 10 vehicles belonging to Chareleville based Aboriginal agencies.

15/09

The Senate passed a motion to investigate whether NT Governments have appropriately spent money earmarked for disadvantaged and regional communities. Liberal Senator Nigel Scullion says the investigating committee will report back to the Senate in December.

16/09

The Aboriginal Land Rights Movement (ALRM) has asked the UN to investigate “racist policy and practice” by Federal and South Australian (SA) Governments. ALRM is a non-government organisation in SA providing legal aid services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients. The organisation receives $3.5 million in annual funding from the Attorney General’s department; ALRM funding has remained static since 1996 while non-Indigenous legal aid has risen 120% in this time.

16/09

The Government today joined the Opposition to vote against a Senate motion to formally endorse the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the October General Assembly. The Government has not indicated if or when it will endorse the Declaration.

18/09

The Alcohol Education & Rehabilitation Foundation publication First Taste: How Indigenous Australians Learned About Grog, by Dr Maggie Brady was released today at Parliament House. Dr Brady says that ‘prohibition can mean many things … it needs to arise from the grassroots up rather than be imposed.’

19/09

The Victorian Government has announced that it will close the Victorian College of Koori Education to make way for four new ‘Koori pathway’ schools. Recent figures showed one in four Indigenous students does not meet ht year three literacy levels; 30% do not meet year three numeracy levels. Acting Education Minister Jacinta Allan said that ‘the end result will be to prepare these Koori students to eventually make the transition into mainstream education, training and employment.’

22/09

The Federal Government today committed $46.2 million to improving specialist aged care facilities for Indigenous people in remote and very remote communities. For the first time, national quality standards will be set for the 30 remote aged care services around the country.

23/09

Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin announced Federal Reforms that could strip Indigenous councils of responsibility for managing rental properties and force tenants to pay full market rents. The Government will provide $730,000 to the Queensland Department of Housing for tenancy management in Aurukun and is keen to introduce the reforms in Western Australia and NSW. Ms Macklin says that "old housing models have not served communities well. Tenancy management and maintenance lie with Government and tenants must take personal responsibility for their homes."

23/09

Following a nine year battle by academic Stephen Hagan, Queensland Sports Minister Judy Spence announced that the word “nigger” would be removed from a memorial plaque dedicated to Edward Brown at a Toowoomba sports field.

24/09

The Greens introduced a bill into the Senate which, if passed, would set up a special tribunal to look at compensation for the Stolen Generations. Greens Indigenous spokeswoman Rachel Siewert says that the new bill addresses concerns raised by the Senate committee in response to a similar bill brought in June.

25/09

The final public hearing of an inquiry into Indigenous enterprises was held in Parliament House today. Indigenous Business Australia and Reconciliation Australia outlined their work in promoting Indigenous business, governance and leadership.

25/09

The Federal Government today committed to a $200,000 plan to track the effects of climate change in Indigenous communities in NT, with a particular focus on environment, health and employment.

30/09

Tom Murray has been awarded the prize for Best Direction of a Documentary Feature at the Australian Directors Guild awards for his film In My Father’s Country. The film follows a male initiation ceremony in Blue Mud Bay, Arnhem Land.