Get the message Labor? Aboriginal Rights, Not the Intervention!

MEDIA RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE

August 26, 2010

Event details:
Friday 27 August 2010
12:00pm ALP Head Office
360 King St,
West Melbourne

Get the message Labor? Aboriginal Rights, Not the Intervention!

This Friday Aboriginal rights activists protest against the Northern Territory Intervention.
The action will target the ALP Headquarters, as the Intervention has cost the previous government votes in the recent elections.

The huge swing to the Greens in remote Indigenous communities is a rejection of the paternalistic policies of the Intervention. This is particularly shown in areas affected by then Intervention, where the Greens outpolled the ALP on a platform opposing the NT Intervention.

All aspects of the Intervention have come under increasing criticism following condemnation last year from groups such as Amnesty International and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights.

The protesters have labelled the Intervention as racist and argue that it has had a negative impact on the lives of Indigenous people in the Northern Territory.

Indigenous Activist, Sharon Firebrace, said “The huge swing to the Greens in remote Indigenous communities is a rejection of the paternalistic policies of the Intervention. It is time for the ALP to ditch the Intervention- it has not mandate and it is not working.”

For interviews or more information contact:
Sharon Firebrace: 0401 414 967
Chris Peterson: 0431 311 520

After the Election: What does it all mean for stopping the NT Intervention?

Monday, 23 August 2010, 6.30pm

New International Bookshop in Trades Hall

cnr Victoria and Lygon Streets

A few weeks ago Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective held a forum asking the question: “Who will stop the NT Intervention?” 

At the event we invited representatives from various political groups and the unions to offer their analysis of how to get rid of these racist policies. 

Following the close of polls on Saturday, we will see either a Labor Government committed to the NT Intervention, or a Liberal Government committed to th...e NT Intervention. It is clear that we can not leave it to parliament to overturn these barbaric laws.

During this special post-election meeting, Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective will be presenting an overview of the NT Intervention and a rundown of what the new political situation means for the campaign. Importantly, we will be discussing the sort of action we can take to fight this latest attack on Aboriginal rights.

All welcome for a night of discussion and action!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=146480522048680

Federal Election 2010 - Who will stop the NT Intervention?

On 9 August 2010, MAIC held a forum which discussed the elections and the NT Intervention. Go to our Facebook group to see some clips of the speakers. Here are some photos from the night.

Shannon Price, Chair of the forum

David Glanz speaks for MAIC

Dr Richard Di Natale from The Greens

Kevin Bracken from the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA)

Sharon Firebrace from the Socialist Alliance

The MAIC organisers of the event were pleased with the attendance and the quality of the speakers. There were some particularly good contributions during the questions and comments time as well. Stay tuned for a follow-up event after the election results are in!

Federal Election 2010:

Who Will Stop the NT Intervention?

  

It will take more than voting to get rid of the NT Intervention.

Even if The Greens hold the balance of power in the Senate it will still require the power of grassroots movements, such as the land rights movement of the 1970s to win real Aboriginal rights.

It is no surprise that Tony Abbott is 100% committed to the failed policies of the NT Intervention. If he is elected he will extend the racist Intervention that his party brought in.

Gillard’s Labor government supported the implementation of the Intervention under Howard and have entrenched Intervention policies—Rudd’s apology to the Stolen

Generations rings very hollow.

The Greens are the only party with members in parliament who have consistently opposed the Intervention. It would be good if the Greens increase their vote in this election, and if Labor remains in power rather than Abbott. This will demonstrate a

clear vote against the continuation of racist policies like the NT Intervention.

We encourage you to join us in discussion about what we can do to take a stand against this latest attack on Aboriginal rights.

Speakers:

Kevin Bracken (Maritime Union of Australia)

Richard Di Natale (candidate for The Greens)

Sharon Firebrace (candidate for Socialist Alliance)

David Glanz (Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective)

Monday, 6:30pm

9th August 2010

Trades Hall

cnr Victoria and Lygon Streets

Carlton South

Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective (MAIC) meets every Monday, 6:30pm at the New International Bookshop. The bookshop is located in the basement of the Trades Hall building located on the corner of Lygon and Victoria Streets in South Carlton. All welcome!

www.maicollective.blogspot.com

Find us on Facebook:

‘Melbourne Anti Intervention Collective’