17 October 2011
Film Screening: Our Generation
Saturday, October 22
8:30pm
Occupy Melbourne, City Square, cnr Collins & Swanston sts, City
OUR GENERATION is a powerful and upfront documentary on the Australian Aboriginal struggle for their land, culture and freedom – a story that has been silenced by the Australian Government and mainstream media.
Driven by the remote Yolngu of Northeast Arnhem Land, one of the last strongholds of traditional Aboriginal culture in Australia, as well as the voices of national indigenous leaders, historians and human rights activists, the film explores the ongoing clash of cultures that is threatening to wipe out the oldest continuing culture in the world.
With music by John Butler Trio, Yothu Yindi, Xavier Rudd, Gurrumul, Archie Roach, Goanna, Saltwater Band and more.
Film screening hosted by Occupy Melbourne Indigenous Working Group.
For more info on the occupation, visit http://occupymelbourne.org/
05 September 2011
BALLERRT MOOROOP STRONG SPIRIT FESTIVAL
Friday, September 16 at 6:30pm
251 High St
Northcote, Australia
Keep checking in with http://ballerrtmooroop.org
Join us for a very special night to celebrate Indigenous culture and raise awareness of the struggle to save Ballerrt Mooroop College, Melbourne's last Indigenous school. The Ballerrt Mooroop Strong Spirit Festival brings you an amazing mix of four of the most gifted Indigenous performers in the country and the high energy, socially conscious music of Melbourne's best local talent. There will also be a deadly Koori kids dance performance, a Welcome To Country ceremony by Auntie Barbara Williams Weston, speakers from the school and an art auction where you will have the chance to bid on some unique pieces donated by local and international artists. This is a licensed event and food will be available.
This promises to be an amazing night you definitely won't want to miss!
KUTCHA EDWARDS is a Mutti Mutti man from Balranald, New South Wales. As well as being an exceptionally talented singer/songwriter, he has received numerous awards for his work in human rights and Indigenous education. In 2001 he was named National Indigenous Person of the Year for his leadership in education and performance as well as the the Best Male Artist at the Deadly Vibes Awards. [http://www.kutcha-edwards.
JOHNNY MAC and MERIKI HOOD, aka LADY LUCK are two of the most gifted MCs in the country. Johnny Mac has been writing and performing hip-hop for10 years and has been a presenter at 3CR community radio, where he has won awards for the “Beyond the Bar” prison broadcasts. Meriki Hood is the Queen of Payback records where is taking the music industry by storm and showing the world what a real Aboriginal female MC can do! [http://www.paybackrecords.
JESSIE LLYOD is from far north Queensland and comes from a strong lineage of Australian Aboriginal musicians. She studied music in Perth where she performed and toured with her award winning band Djiva for seven years. She is now a successful solo performer and in 2009 was nominated as Female Artist of the Year at the Too Solid Awards. [http://www.jessielloyd.com
JULIA MAHATUWE has been described as “Bjork meets Madonna meets John Pilger.” Peacefully armed with a provocative fusion of original songs, D.I.Y-synthesiser sound-tracks, dance-ritual and footage gathered from around the world, her music manifests to make a difference. From refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border to Britain's Glastonbury festival, she unites music with a commitment to Indigenous rights in a powerful, moving performance.
MATTRIKS is a Melbourne based artist making a name for himself with his unique blend of hip-hop, folk-hop, beat-box and good vibes. Currently spearheading the positive charge from community record label Kinship Records, he has released two albums as well as playing at many festivals around the country where he always pleases audiences with his positive, socially aware music. [http://www.reverbnation.co
SQUID SQUAD are a a theatrical, high-energy 7 piece act who fuse funk, soul, hip-hop, metal, jazz, dubstep, electronic samples and gypsy grooves with booty shakin' ease. They are regularly joined by many different artists such as dancers and a magician and with a guaranteed conga line at every performance, their music is not to be missed! [http://www.myspace.com/squ
We acknowledge that this event takes place on Aboriginal land.
22 August 2011
Online Petition to Save Melbourne's Last Aboriginal School
To Martin Dixon, MP, Victorian Minister of Education
Whilst the Ballerrt Mooroop College (BMC) committee were planning to improve their current programs and further meet the needs of Victorian Indigenous educationally disengaged children and youths, the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) and the Glenroy Specialist School (GSS) were holding meetings to not only poach BMC's adjacent sporting and the community open-space reserves, but to bulldoze the school's cultural precinct and the multi purpose Gymnasium / 'Gathering Place'.
BMC was not properly consulted throughout this process, in fact, were not told of the plans at the beginning of the process at all.
Following the protest by BMC a mediation process between GSS and BMC was put into place and a 'compromised draft plan' was being developed between the two schools. The Victorian Government through DEECD completely undermined the mediation process and outcomes and ordered the GSS original plan to be built while BMC were waiting to discuss the issue with you, which your department was well aware of.
We request that work on the building is stopped immediately and proper consultations are put into place with all parties, including local residents, who are losing their valued open-space recreational land. Many local residents have advised us that they don't like the way the DEECD is seen to have set up one disadvantaged group against the other.
We also request a meeting with you to further explain our situation.
Go here to sign the petition:
http://www.ballerrtmooroop.org/node/77
Whilst the Ballerrt Mooroop College (BMC) committee were planning to improve their current programs and further meet the needs of Victorian Indigenous educationally disengaged children and youths, the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) and the Glenroy Specialist School (GSS) were holding meetings to not only poach BMC's adjacent sporting and the community open-space reserves, but to bulldoze the school's cultural precinct and the multi purpose Gymnasium / 'Gathering Place'.
BMC was not properly consulted throughout this process, in fact, were not told of the plans at the beginning of the process at all.
Following the protest by BMC a mediation process between GSS and BMC was put into place and a 'compromised draft plan' was being developed between the two schools. The Victorian Government through DEECD completely undermined the mediation process and outcomes and ordered the GSS original plan to be built while BMC were waiting to discuss the issue with you, which your department was well aware of.
We request that work on the building is stopped immediately and proper consultations are put into place with all parties, including local residents, who are losing their valued open-space recreational land. Many local residents have advised us that they don't like the way the DEECD is seen to have set up one disadvantaged group against the other.
We also request a meeting with you to further explain our situation.
Go here to sign the petition:
http://www.ballerrtmooroop.org/node/77
Statement for Amnesty Homelands campaign from Rosalie Kunoth-Monks
Hello,
My name is Rosalie Kunoth-Monks. I am an Amntayerr and Alyawerr woman born by a creek bed in a small community called Utopia in 1937.
Today I am fighting for that community's survival, and I am asking for your help.
My homelands, the place where my family and community have lived for generations, could soon be lost. The government is stripping funding for essential services on our homelands; effectively forcing us into larger towns and cities like Alice Springs.
This means we could soon be forced to choose between living in third world conditions in our own country, or abandoning our way of life. If we are forced to leave it will sever our sacred connection to the land that has held us, our language and our traditions since time immemorial.
What we've learned is that the government isn't listening, so we need to come together as Australians and speak out. Will you stand with me, and call on the Australian government to respect Aboriginal homelands? http://ow.ly/5ZkFw
Rather than listening to us, the government still acts like they know what's best for Aboriginal people. But on my homelands life expectancy is longer and health is better. In Utopia, we've been 'closing the gap' for a long time!
That's because here we can live with our way of life intact. People like my aunt Kathleen, who has exhibited her art in Milan and Tokyo but still paints her stories of this land most days at the local women's centre. Or Joycie - a talented young community health worker who combines traditional bush medicine with Western medicine. We don't want to move to larger towns where we'll be dispossessed of our land and feel like second or third class citizens.
This is our way of life, our culture, our home - and the government has no right to make us abandon it. Together we're turning a special painting into a visual petition - with each name represented in a dot on the painting. Add yours now: http://ow.ly/5ZkFw
The thought of leaving my homelands - I couldn't imagine it. I want my grandchildren to be citizens of the globe - but first and foremost, to be solid in their identity as Aboriginal people of the Alyawerr and Anmatyerr tribal groups; with their language, their responsibilities and the care of their land intact.
Help this untold story be heard and stand in solidarity with me now: http://bit.ly/DontAbandonHomelands
Thank you,
Rosalie
My name is Rosalie Kunoth-Monks. I am an Amntayerr and Alyawerr woman born by a creek bed in a small community called Utopia in 1937.
Today I am fighting for that community's survival, and I am asking for your help.
My homelands, the place where my family and community have lived for generations, could soon be lost. The government is stripping funding for essential services on our homelands; effectively forcing us into larger towns and cities like Alice Springs.
This means we could soon be forced to choose between living in third world conditions in our own country, or abandoning our way of life. If we are forced to leave it will sever our sacred connection to the land that has held us, our language and our traditions since time immemorial.
What we've learned is that the government isn't listening, so we need to come together as Australians and speak out. Will you stand with me, and call on the Australian government to respect Aboriginal homelands? http://ow.ly/5ZkFw
Rather than listening to us, the government still acts like they know what's best for Aboriginal people. But on my homelands life expectancy is longer and health is better. In Utopia, we've been 'closing the gap' for a long time!
That's because here we can live with our way of life intact. People like my aunt Kathleen, who has exhibited her art in Milan and Tokyo but still paints her stories of this land most days at the local women's centre. Or Joycie - a talented young community health worker who combines traditional bush medicine with Western medicine. We don't want to move to larger towns where we'll be dispossessed of our land and feel like second or third class citizens.
This is our way of life, our culture, our home - and the government has no right to make us abandon it. Together we're turning a special painting into a visual petition - with each name represented in a dot on the painting. Add yours now: http://ow.ly/5ZkFw
The thought of leaving my homelands - I couldn't imagine it. I want my grandchildren to be citizens of the globe - but first and foremost, to be solid in their identity as Aboriginal people of the Alyawerr and Anmatyerr tribal groups; with their language, their responsibilities and the care of their land intact.
Help this untold story be heard and stand in solidarity with me now: http://bit.ly/DontAbandonHomelands
Thank you,
Rosalie
16 April 2011
Second NT intervention on table
from The Australian 6 Apr 2011
A SECOND federal intervention into the Northern Territory is being considered by Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin.
Ms Macklin said significant action was still needed to improve conditions on remote communities.
In Adelaide yesterday, Ms Macklin said the Gillard government would not rule out a another federal takeover of key services when the intervention, initiated by the former Howard government in 2007, ends next year.
"The legislation for the NT emergency response goes until August next year, so all of these issues will be considered over the next year or so," Ms Macklin said.
"If we look around the Northern Territory, we can see that there has been some significant improvements," she added.
"But I'll be the first person to say there needs to be a really, really serious long-term investment by the commonwealth and the Northern Territory in services and support."
Ms Macklin said indigenous communities needed a good police presence, strong school attendance rates and healthy children.
The NT government refused to comment on the possibility of another intervention.
However, Opposition Leader Terry Mills said he would support one if Aboriginal people were involved in the development of programs, and it was carried out "with conviction" by the people on the ground.
"There is no question as to the requirement of an urgent response," Mr Mills said. "We can't afford a casual or a delayed response."
Both the Central and Northern land councils refused to comment.
The Howard government launched the intervention in 2007, on the back of the Little Children are Sacred report, which identified high levels of child abuse in indigenous communities.
Last month, Tony Abbott called on Julia Gillard to work with him on developing a new intervention, which would see more police and teachers sent into the Territory, compulsory work-for-welfare programs established and stricter enforcement of alcohol restrictions.
Ms Macklin's comments yesterday comes as the Australian Federal Police's role in the intervention and a trial program to boost school attendance rates wind down.
Officers from the AFP were sent into remote communities in 2007, with the goal of establishing police stations and building trust between law enforcement and locals.
The officers will leave the Territory by July 1.
07 April 2011
Support the Lake Tyers Blockaders!
ANTaR Victoria has been in touch with the government regarding the current dispute at the Lake Tyers Community and is appealing to raise funds to support the Lake Tyers Blockaders. ANTaR Vic is currently accepting donations on their behalf. Donations can be made by cheque, money order, credit card, cash or through Give Now.
Address: ANTaR Victoria, 67 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Phone: (03) 9419 3613
Email: antar@antarvictoria.org.au
Alternatively, contact blockade spokeswoman Leanne Edwards directly to donate into her account on 0488 195 217.
08 March 2011
Jenny Macklin you can't hide, you're committing genocide!
MAIC activists showing that Jenny Macklin should not be able to go anywhere in this country without protest.
Chanting outside the windows where Minister Jenny Macklin was speaking: "Stop, stop, stop the Intervention, sack, sack, sack Jenny Macklin!"
MAIC activists leaflet unionists and IWD marchers. Many of whom signed petitions and made donations. Great support!
07 March 2011
TODAY!! Snap action against Jenny Macklin's IWD cocktail party
Join MAIC at the 'International Women's Day Rally for Equal Pay', today at 5.30pm at the State Library of Victoria.
Jasmine Ali will be speaking for MAIC, specifically addressing the inequalities that Aboriginal women face due to the exploitative NT Intervention.
We welcome people to join the march following the speeches. Alternatively, MAIC welcomes activists to attend a protest of Jenny Macklin's appearance at a IWD cocktail party at the Bella Union bar (inside Trades Hall, cnr Lygon and Victoria Streets). We will begin the protest at 6.30pm, but welcome people to attend after the march as well.
MAIC supports the objectives of IWD, however the hypocrisy of the Minister of Indigenous Affairs speaking at this event, whilst administering a program that is continuing the oppression of Aboriginal women, is not something we can let go without criticism...and action!
Please invite everyone you know to this snap action--women and men are welcome at both. See you at the rally and then at Trades Hall!
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Last year, a resolution was released by Indigenous women at the Defending Indigenous Rights Conference Alice Springs 6-9 July 2010, it is timely to re-publish this statement below.
Women’s Statement
To Prime Minister Julia Gillard:
We, the women, mothers, grandmothers, aunties, sisters in support of our men who are the shared caregivers of the NT wholeheartedly demand the NTER be abolished immediately.
The media has heralded your promotion to PM as a breakthrough for women. All this talk is a slap in the face for Aboriginal women whose communities are being devastated by this government’s racist intervention.
For three years the removal of our human rights has been justified with lies about protecting women from violence and feeding our children. We are living proof of the damage it has caused to us as Indigenous peoples of the NT who are trying to survive, live and practice our way of life. Shame on you!
We call on you, and Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, to abolish this law that takes away our human rights as Indigenous peoples of this country.
Minister Macklin consistently claims that women support Income Management and the Intervention. This is not the truth. Under current policies we have no choice and no change and now a big cloud is covering our struggle and journey. The Working Futures policy is about closing our homelands and communities. This is damaging and destructive to our families, our language, law, culture, everything that is important to us. This is our identity, passed down through generations, and this is what makes us the oldest unique culture in the world.
Income Management, cuts of the Community Development Employment Program (CDEP), the bi-lingual education ban in schools, compulsory five year leases over our land and housing – all these measures are taking away our control over our lives and our communities. Your legal discrimination against us has given a licence to racists to abuse us in the street, in supermarkets and to attack our kids at school.
We call for the immediate end of the NT Intervention and the resignation of Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Women earn on average 18% less than men and the gender pay gap is getting worse! This International Women’s Day, take to the streets to demand action on pay justice.
Rally Tuesday 8 March, 5:30 pm
State Library, Corner of Swanston Street and Latrobe Street
Followed by a lively march to a range of city targets ending at Parliament House!
We demand:
• Wipe out the gender pay gap: equal pay for women!
• End the NT Intervention: Scrap the basic cards; fund jobs and services in Indigenous communities on award wages!
• Abolish youth and disability wages: pay the full adult rate for all!
• Stop the exploitation of overseas students and temporary residents – prosecute employers who pay less than the award wage!
• Fund pay equity: tax the rich, scrap handouts to big business and stop the war!
• For affirmative action & fully funded training programs to end the sex segregation of the workforce!
• End the mandatory double domestic shift: Free 24 hour childcare! Fully funded social services! All carers to be paid a living wage!
• Scrap Centrelink enforced dependency on partners and parents – an independent living wage for all!
• Victory to the community sector workers and federal public servants now – no gradual phase-in period!
• Union democracy: the right of union members to decide the goals and priorities of their unions through full discussion and majority vote. Free speech within unions!
• Strengthen our unions: scrap WorkChoices lite! Abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission!
• Solidarity with low paid and exploited workers everywhere!
Women earn on average 18% less than men and the gender pay gap is getting worse! This International Women’s Day, take to the streets to demand action on pay justice.
Rally Tuesday 8 March, 5:30 pm
State Library, Corner of Swanston Street and Latrobe Street
Followed by a lively march to a range of city targets ending at Parliament House!
We demand:
• Wipe out the gender pay gap: equal pay for women!
• End the NT Intervention: Scrap the basic cards; fund jobs and services in Indigenous communities on award wages!
• Abolish youth and disability wages: pay the full adult rate for all!
• Stop the exploitation of overseas students and temporary residents – prosecute employers who pay less than the award wage!
• Fund pay equity: tax the rich, scrap handouts to big business and stop the war!
• For affirmative action & fully funded training programs to end the sex segregation of the workforce!
• End the mandatory double domestic shift: Free 24 hour childcare! Fully funded social services! All carers to be paid a living wage!
• Scrap Centrelink enforced dependency on partners and parents – an independent living wage for all!
• Victory to the community sector workers and federal public servants now – no gradual phase-in period!
• Union democracy: the right of union members to decide the goals and priorities of their unions through full discussion and majority vote. Free speech within unions!
• Strengthen our unions: scrap WorkChoices lite! Abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission!
• Solidarity with low paid and exploited workers everywhere!
+++++++++++++++++++
Details of the event that the Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin is speaking at:
International Women's Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some countries like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, IWD is a national holiday. The first IWD was run in 1911. International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.
This year is the IWD Global Centenary and we think that's something worth celebrating! The ACTU and the VTHC are proud to be hosting a cocktail evening at historic Trades Hall.
This year is the IWD Global Centenary and we think that's something worth celebrating! The ACTU and the VTHC are proud to be hosting a cocktail evening at historic Trades Hall.
Join Ged Kearney, President Australian Council of Trade Unions and Melba Marginson, Executive Director, Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women's Coalition to mark this important date
Tickets $20.00 including food service and the musical stylings of La Mauvaise Reputation.
To register, contact Debbie Gower, ACTU Event Manager by telephone03-8676-7263 or email dgower@actu.org.au
For more information about International Women's Day - CLICK HERE!
For more information about International Women's Day - CLICK HERE!
04 March 2011
We sent them a message
What a way to start the year for MAIC! 300 people braved the Melbourne cold and drizzle, standing in solidarity with exploited workers in the Northern Territory, demanding Aboriginal rights. We chanted for equal pay and jobs with justice. We called for an end to the 'work for rations' system of many Aboriginal people living under the racist NT Intervention.
Friday's protest was at its most lively when we took to the march along Swanston Street. We reclaimed the corner of Bourke and Swanston, the symbolic heart of Melbourne, and heard from Jenna Tipuamantumirri from the Tiwi Islands. Jenna explained the devestating impact that welfare quarantining has had on herself and her family. Highlighting the racism of the BasicsCard system, Jenna made the case that the government's assimilationist policies were motivated by the desire to push Aboriginal people off their land.
The march then continued up Swanston Street to Federation Square. For a moment, we claimed the stage of Fed Square chanting 'Always was, always will, Aboriginal land'. Jacob Grech as a representative of the Victorian Trades Hall Council accepted the thousands of signatures that we have received on our petition demanding justice for CDEP 'Aboriginal work-for-the-dole' workers.
There will be video of the protest to come. But if you have any photos, please email them to us! melbourneaic@gmail.com
This protest has given us a big boost for taking the campaign onward. The next step is to get more people involved and aware of what's happening under the NT Intervention. Come to our next MAIC meeting, which is a special forum THIS MONDAY.
Eye Witnesses to Intervention Speak Out!
Aboriginal Rights and Jobs With Justice:
ACTU Fact Finders report back on the NT Intervention with the Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective
- Adam Frogley - National Tertiary Education Union
- Michele O'Neil - Textile Clothing and Footwear Union
- Lucy Honan - Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective
Monday, 7th March 2011, 6.30pm at Trades Hall (New International Bookshop)
Australia's peak union body - The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
sent a delegation of union officials on a fact-finding mission to Central Australia in mid-November last year to speak to communities affected by the NTIntervention. The delegation comprised over 15 representatives from unions across the country. They met again in February to discuss union action on Indigenous rights.
Of particular concern is the new CDEP scheme, where Aboriginal workers in the NT are only paid a Newstart allowance through Centrelink. In many cases, workers have 50 per cent of these payments ‘quarantined’ onto a BasicsCard, to be spent only at designated shops.
MAIC is holding a public meeting to hear about the experience of the trip and discuss how ordinary people and unions can help stop the intervention. This is your chance to come and hear what they saw, heard and learned.
Contact Lucy 0404728104 or melbourneaic@gmail.com
02 March 2011
THIS FRIDAY!
Equal Pay and Jobs with Justice!
Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective demands an end to the exploitation of Aboriginal workers in the Northern Territory. Under the Intervention policies, Aboriginal people are working for rations whilst living in extreme poverty with the government denying basic services. The NT Intervention is a determined attack on Aboriginal self-determination and has only lead to further disadvantage.
This rally demands an end to the NT Intervention, and we are drawing particular attention to the unfair working conditions that many Aboriginal people are being forced into. MAIC supports the 'Jobs with Justice' campaign, and we will be gathering signatures for a petition which will be tabled when parliament resumes.
The petition is being sponsored by the CFMEU (Construction Forestry and Energy Union) and Unions NT. It has a particular focus on the use of CDEP workers by the $672 million Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP). We are demanding backpay at appropriate award rates for all of these workers, along with an end to arrangements forcing people to work for the BasicsCard and investment in community based employment programs across all Aboriginal communities.
5pm, Friday 4 March 2011
State Library of Victoria, Melbourne
State Library of Victoria, Melbourne
Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective demands an end to the exploitation of Aboriginal workers in the Northern Territory. Under the Intervention policies, Aboriginal people are working for rations whilst living in extreme poverty with the government denying basic services. The NT Intervention is a determined attack on Aboriginal self-determination and has only lead to further disadvantage.
The petition is being sponsored by the CFMEU (Construction Forestry and Energy Union) and Unions NT. It has a particular focus on the use of CDEP workers by the $672 million Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP). We are demanding backpay at appropriate award rates for all of these workers, along with an end to arrangements forcing people to work for the BasicsCard and investment in community based employment programs across all Aboriginal communities.
Stand up against racism. Stop the racist NT Intervention!
26 February 2011
ABC report: Aboriginal leaders call for end to intervention
27 February 2011
Aboriginal leaders in central Australia have welcomed comments from the man who designed the Northern Territory intervention, agreeing that it has failed.
Former Liberal Indigenous affairs minister Mal Brough introduced the intervention under the Howard government in 2007.
The policy banned alcohol in communities and restricted welfare payments.
Since Labor won government the intervention has remained in place, but Mr Brough says Labor has not delivered it properly.
Rosalie Kunoth-Monks from Utopia, 230 kilometres from Alice Springs agrees, although her agreement with Mr Brough ends there.
"It was a violation to human rights right from the beginning," she said.
"What we really needed was real empowerment. In other words, real investment and people to earn and merit what we've got on the communities."
Richard Downs from the Ampilatwatja community says the entire policy is wrong.
"[Mr Brough] waffles on about 'the next stage'. I don't know what the next stage is but he has totally disempowered the people here," he said.
"You know, I mean [they are] asking for a disaster, which is what they're getting now, with people migrating from homelands communities into townships into Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek."
Ms Kunoth-Monks and Mr Downs want the Government to end what they say is a racist approach.
Aboriginal leaders in central Australia have welcomed comments from the man who designed the Northern Territory intervention, agreeing that it has failed.
Former Liberal Indigenous affairs minister Mal Brough introduced the intervention under the Howard government in 2007.
The policy banned alcohol in communities and restricted welfare payments.
Since Labor won government the intervention has remained in place, but Mr Brough says Labor has not delivered it properly.
Rosalie Kunoth-Monks from Utopia, 230 kilometres from Alice Springs agrees, although her agreement with Mr Brough ends there.
"It was a violation to human rights right from the beginning," she said.
"What we really needed was real empowerment. In other words, real investment and people to earn and merit what we've got on the communities."
Richard Downs from the Ampilatwatja community says the entire policy is wrong.
"[Mr Brough] waffles on about 'the next stage'. I don't know what the next stage is but he has totally disempowered the people here," he said.
"You know, I mean [they are] asking for a disaster, which is what they're getting now, with people migrating from homelands communities into townships into Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek."
Ms Kunoth-Monks and Mr Downs want the Government to end what they say is a racist approach.
THIS FRIDAY!! Stand up against the exploitation of Aboriginal workers
The momentum for this Friday's rally to 'Stop the Racist NT Intervention' is certainly building. Don't stop now!
MAIC activists have been out at various community events collecting signatures on the petition, leafletting for the protest, and talking to people about the campaign against the exploitation of Aboriginal workers.
MAIC activists have been out at various community events collecting signatures on the petition, leafletting for the protest, and talking to people about the campaign against the exploitation of Aboriginal workers.
In the process we have been making some important links with unionists, environmental activists, media workers, performers etc. The campaign is going forward in great leaps. We welcome our supporters to get more involved to take advantage of this rising tide in support of Aboriginal rights!
MAIC has weekly meetings held at New International Bookshop in Trades Hall every Monday at 6.30pm. As well as organising protests like the one this Friday, we have also in the past toured speakers from the NT, held film screenings, done band nights, special forums, organised pickets, banner painting, you name it! The more people we have involved, the more we can do.
There is much to be done before the rally on Friday. We need all our supporters to make that final push in getting the word out there. Please share the event on Facebook every day. Send emails around to folks in your networks.
Write letters to the newspapers and call up the ABC/SBS and ask them to cover the campaign against the NT Intervention. Make a call to your union, church or community group, asking them if they are going to be marching behind a banner at the protest. Print off a poster and put it up in your staff room or front window of your house.
All of these things are a big help. Also, just coming along to the protest on the day with some family, friends or work colleagues.
See you on Friday at 5pm at the State Library!
All of these things are a big help. Also, just coming along to the protest on the day with some family, friends or work colleagues.
See you on Friday at 5pm at the State Library!
Protest: Stop the Racist NT Intervention!
Equal Pay and Jobs with Justice!
5pm, Friday 4 March 2011
State Library of Victoria, Melbourne
State Library of Victoria, Melbourne
15 February 2011
Vale Mark Fordham
It is with great sadness that Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective passes on the news of the death of Mark Fordham. The collective extends its condolences to Mark's family and friends.
An inspiring Aboriginal rights activist, Mark may be best known to people in Melbourne through his public battle with the Barkly Shire over work conditions in Ampilawatja in the Northern Territory. Mark leaves an enduring legacy through his courageous stance over this issue as well as his other work campaigning against the injustice of the Northern Territory Intervention. The community of activists and unionists in Melbourne that have been fighting in solidarity with those in the Northern Territory were spurred on by Mark's commitment. He will not be forgotten.
The ordeal that Mark was put through after he stood up to the management at Barkly Shire was appalling. After reporting on a public health hazard, a risk both for the workers he was responsible for and the broader population of Ampilawatja, Mark was fired from his job and he and his two sons were evicted from their house with only two hours notice. Mark experienced further persecution when ridiculous charges were made on him by police, all for his vigorous defense of the dignity of a town being strangled by oppressive government policy. It is highly commendable that Mark withstood the avalanche of personal attacks and held firm his determination to fight for what was right.
In July of last year, I saw Mark give his first public speech at the Defending Indigenous Rights conference in Alice Springs. Like many activists in Melbourne, I had heard Mark's story of his experiences at Ampilawatja and I was eager to hear him tell his story in person. It was one of the highlights of the conference and inspired myself, and I'm sure many others, to get further involved in the Aboriginal rights struggle. Following on from the publicity generated by the scandal at Ampilawatja, Mark embarked on a speaking tour where he told his story and detailed the exploitation of Aboriginal workers on the CDEP 'Aboriginal work-for-the-dole' scheme. In Brisbane and Sydney, he was able to raise awareness of what was happening under the NT Intervention to hundreds of workers on construction sites and wharfs, as well as students and activists.
Mark was passionate about winning justice for Aboriginal workers, and this was reflected in his most immediate plans to organise amongst construction workers in the town camps of the Northern Territory. He was also slated to be the CFMEU delegate at this week's ACTU Indigenous Conference in Darwin.
That an inspiring Aboriginal activist has lost his life at such a young age, only 37, is a tragedy and a profound loss to the campaign for Aboriginal rights in Australia. We take heart from the strong spirit that Mark showed, particularly in these last couple of years where we fought alongside him against the Intervention. We will draw on Mark's legacy to keep fighting for the dignity of Aboriginal workers that he was so passionately dedicated to.
Alex Ettling on behalf of Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective
Mark Fordham's funeral will be held on Thursday 17 February 2011 at the mosque in Alice Springs.
An inspiring Aboriginal rights activist, Mark may be best known to people in Melbourne through his public battle with the Barkly Shire over work conditions in Ampilawatja in the Northern Territory. Mark leaves an enduring legacy through his courageous stance over this issue as well as his other work campaigning against the injustice of the Northern Territory Intervention. The community of activists and unionists in Melbourne that have been fighting in solidarity with those in the Northern Territory were spurred on by Mark's commitment. He will not be forgotten.
The ordeal that Mark was put through after he stood up to the management at Barkly Shire was appalling. After reporting on a public health hazard, a risk both for the workers he was responsible for and the broader population of Ampilawatja, Mark was fired from his job and he and his two sons were evicted from their house with only two hours notice. Mark experienced further persecution when ridiculous charges were made on him by police, all for his vigorous defense of the dignity of a town being strangled by oppressive government policy. It is highly commendable that Mark withstood the avalanche of personal attacks and held firm his determination to fight for what was right.
In July of last year, I saw Mark give his first public speech at the Defending Indigenous Rights conference in Alice Springs. Like many activists in Melbourne, I had heard Mark's story of his experiences at Ampilawatja and I was eager to hear him tell his story in person. It was one of the highlights of the conference and inspired myself, and I'm sure many others, to get further involved in the Aboriginal rights struggle. Following on from the publicity generated by the scandal at Ampilawatja, Mark embarked on a speaking tour where he told his story and detailed the exploitation of Aboriginal workers on the CDEP 'Aboriginal work-for-the-dole' scheme. In Brisbane and Sydney, he was able to raise awareness of what was happening under the NT Intervention to hundreds of workers on construction sites and wharfs, as well as students and activists.
Mark was passionate about winning justice for Aboriginal workers, and this was reflected in his most immediate plans to organise amongst construction workers in the town camps of the Northern Territory. He was also slated to be the CFMEU delegate at this week's ACTU Indigenous Conference in Darwin.
That an inspiring Aboriginal activist has lost his life at such a young age, only 37, is a tragedy and a profound loss to the campaign for Aboriginal rights in Australia. We take heart from the strong spirit that Mark showed, particularly in these last couple of years where we fought alongside him against the Intervention. We will draw on Mark's legacy to keep fighting for the dignity of Aboriginal workers that he was so passionately dedicated to.
Alex Ettling on behalf of Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective
Mark Fordham's funeral will be held on Thursday 17 February 2011 at the mosque in Alice Springs.
07 February 2011
Help build the upcoming protest
Are you starting to see those red, black and yellow hands all over Melbourne?
Over the last couple of weeks, MAIC volunteers have been all over town, putting up posters and leafletting.
Over the last couple of weeks, MAIC volunteers have been all over town, putting up posters and leafletting.
The campaign against the NT Intervention is definately kicking up a gear, and MAIC welcomes anyone who would like to get more involved to get in touch with us. Come along to our weekly collective meetings!
On alternate weeks, we have a meeting where sit and make decisions about the campaign group and our activities.
And then on the other weeks, we get down to activity, which also provides an opportunity to more informally discuss what's happening with the NT Intervention. On these days, we might be painting banners, working on articles, going off in a small group to put up posters, writing media releases etc.
If you have any special skills, we would love you to share them with us! Or if you are just enthusiastic and want to lend your had to fighting for Aboriginal rights--that's great too! Get in touch.
And then on the other weeks, we get down to activity, which also provides an opportunity to more informally discuss what's happening with the NT Intervention. On these days, we might be painting banners, working on articles, going off in a small group to put up posters, writing media releases etc.
If you have any special skills, we would love you to share them with us! Or if you are just enthusiastic and want to lend your had to fighting for Aboriginal rights--that's great too! Get in touch.
If you can't make the Monday meetings, there are there are other useful things to do. Promote the upcoming protest in your community, workplace, school etc. We have a bunch of posters and leaflets that can be collected any time from the foyer of New International Bookshop. Getting your union or community organisation to endorse the rally and circulate information on the campaign is also a really useful thing to spread awareness about the degradation of the Intervention and the need to fight against it.
This week, from Thursday to Sunday, there will be a range of events that will be of interest to Aboriginal people (art openings and film screenings). We hope to leaflet for the rally and gather signatures for our petition. If you would like to join in, send us an email: melbourneaic@gmail.com.
Together, we can defeat this racist Intervention!
Protest: Stop the Racist NT Intervention!
Equal Pay and Jobs with Justice!
Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective demands an end to the exploitation of Aboriginal workers in the Northern Territory. Under the Intervention policies, Aboriginal people are working for rations whilst living in extreme poverty with the government denying basic services. The NT Intervention is a determined attack on Aboriginal self-determination and has only lead to further disadvantage.
This rally demands an end to the NT Intervention, and we are drawing particular attention to the unfair working conditions that many Aboriginal people are being forced into. MAIC supports the 'Jobs with Justice' campaign, and we will be gathering signatures for a petition which will be tabled when parliament resumes.
The petition is being sponsored by the CFMEU (Construction Forestry and Energy Union) and Unions NT. It has a particular focus on the use of CDEP workers by the $672 million Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP). We are demanding backpay at appropriate award rates for all of these workers, along with an end to arrangements forcing people to work for the BasicsCard and investment in community based employment programs across all Aboriginal communities.
We are calling for endorsement for this rally, and we invite community groups and unions to march alongside us.
If you would like to support the campaign and collect signatures for the petition at your workplace/campus/ neighbourhood, please get in touch with us or come along to our weekly meetings.
MAIC meets every Monday at 6.30pm at the New International Bookshop in Trades Hall.
5pm, Friday 4 March 2011
State Library of Victoria, Melbourne
State Library of Victoria, Melbourne
Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective demands an end to the exploitation of Aboriginal workers in the Northern Territory. Under the Intervention policies, Aboriginal people are working for rations whilst living in extreme poverty with the government denying basic services. The NT Intervention is a determined attack on Aboriginal self-determination and has only lead to further disadvantage.
This rally demands an end to the NT Intervention, and we are drawing particular attention to the unfair working conditions that many Aboriginal people are being forced into. MAIC supports the 'Jobs with Justice' campaign, and we will be gathering signatures for a petition which will be tabled when parliament resumes.
The petition is being sponsored by the CFMEU (Construction Forestry and Energy Union) and Unions NT. It has a particular focus on the use of CDEP workers by the $672 million Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP). We are demanding backpay at appropriate award rates for all of these workers, along with an end to arrangements forcing people to work for the BasicsCard and investment in community based employment programs across all Aboriginal communities.
We are calling for endorsement for this rally, and we invite community groups and unions to march alongside us.
If you would like to support the campaign and collect signatures for the petition at your workplace/campus/ neighbourhood, please get in touch with us or come along to our weekly meetings.
MAIC meets every Monday at 6.30pm at the New International Bookshop in Trades Hall.
Support this event on Facebook by clicking here:
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=183732604983257
Support MAIC by joining the Facebook group:
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=91084301876
website:
www.maicollective.blogspot.com
www.jobswithjustice.wordpress.com
email:
melbourneaic@gmail.com
Print some leaflets and posters by clicking here:
www.maicollective.blogspot.com/p/protest-march-4th.html
Print the petition to collect signatures here:
www.jobswithjustice.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/sihip_cdep_petition.pdf
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=183732604983257
Support MAIC by joining the Facebook group:
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=91084301876
website:
www.maicollective.blogspot.com
www.jobswithjustice.wordpress.com
email:
melbourneaic@gmail.com
Print some leaflets and posters by clicking here:
www.maicollective.blogspot.com/p/protest-march-4th.html
Print the petition to collect signatures here:
www.jobswithjustice.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/sihip_cdep_petition.pdf
26 January 2011
Conversation with Elders from the NT
concerned Australians presents...
A Further Conversation with Elders:
Bringing you up to date with the impacts of living under the Intervention
Monday, 7 February 2011, 5.45pm - 7pm
In May 2010 elders, Rosalie Kunoth Monks OAM from Utopia in Central Australia and Rev. Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra OAM from Galiwin’ku in Arnhem Land joined in conversation with Professor the Hon Alastair Nicholson AO giving their views on the Northern Territory Intervention.
Since then they have visited Geneva and shared their concerns with the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. On 7 February 2011 Rosalie and Djiniyini will visit us in Melbourne to share with us the response of the United Nations.
They will be accompanied by a number of other elders and leaders from across the Territory and together they will share with us what has been happening in the period since last May and highlight the changes that are taking place in the various communities and homelands from Arnhem Land to the Central Desert. Those who met with Rosalie and Djiniyini last year will remember their distress and despair brought about by over three years of Intervention.
Guest Speakers include:
Professor The Hon Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC, Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne
Rosalie Kunoth Monks OAM from Utopia in Central Australia
Rev. Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra OAM from Galiwin’ku in Arnhem Land
Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumanm AM, from Daly River, south of Darwin
Yananymul Mununggurr, from Yirrkala East Arnhem Land
Again we are fortunate to have Mr Jeff McMullen AM joining us as the facilitator for the evening.
This is a free public event however registration is required to attend.
Please register here.
If there are particular topics you would like to be covered in the Conversation, please send a brief email and if time permits we will endeavour to include it.
Venue Theatre G08
Address Ground Floor Melbourne Law School 185 Pelham Street, Carlton
Contact Person For queries: Dianne Costello
Contact Details d.costello@unimelb.edu.au or Tel: (03) 8344 1153
RSVP Contact Via the on-line registration form
A Further Conversation with Elders:
Bringing you up to date with the impacts of living under the Intervention
Monday, 7 February 2011, 5.45pm - 7pm
In May 2010 elders, Rosalie Kunoth Monks OAM from Utopia in Central Australia and Rev. Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra OAM from Galiwin’ku in Arnhem Land joined in conversation with Professor the Hon Alastair Nicholson AO giving their views on the Northern Territory Intervention.
Since then they have visited Geneva and shared their concerns with the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. On 7 February 2011 Rosalie and Djiniyini will visit us in Melbourne to share with us the response of the United Nations.
They will be accompanied by a number of other elders and leaders from across the Territory and together they will share with us what has been happening in the period since last May and highlight the changes that are taking place in the various communities and homelands from Arnhem Land to the Central Desert. Those who met with Rosalie and Djiniyini last year will remember their distress and despair brought about by over three years of Intervention.
Guest Speakers include:
Professor The Hon Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC, Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne
Rosalie Kunoth Monks OAM from Utopia in Central Australia
Rev. Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra OAM from Galiwin’ku in Arnhem Land
Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumanm AM, from Daly River, south of Darwin
Yananymul Mununggurr, from Yirrkala East Arnhem Land
Again we are fortunate to have Mr Jeff McMullen AM joining us as the facilitator for the evening.
This is a free public event however registration is required to attend.
Please register here.
If there are particular topics you would like to be covered in the Conversation, please send a brief email and if time permits we will endeavour to include it.
Venue Theatre G08
Address Ground Floor Melbourne Law School 185 Pelham Street, Carlton
Contact Person For queries: Dianne Costello
Contact Details d.costello@unimelb.edu.au or Tel: (03) 8344 1153
RSVP Contact Via the on-line registration form
23 January 2011
Invasion Day: Join MAIC at the Share the Spirit Festival
Date and Time: Wednesday, 26th January - 1pm - 4pm
Location: Treasury Gardens, Spring St and Wellington Prd, Melbourne
Join MAIC at the Share the Spirit Festival this Wednesday . We will be holding stall, come along to find out what MAIC has coming up in 2011 and to sign the petition in support of SIHIP workers in the Northern Territory.
Location: Treasury Gardens, Spring St and Wellington Prd, Melbourne
Join MAIC at the Share the Spirit Festival this Wednesday . We will be holding stall, come along to find out what MAIC has coming up in 2011 and to sign the petition in support of SIHIP workers in the Northern Territory.
Celebrate the country’s Indigenous culture at Share the Spirit Festival on Invasion Day in the Treasury Gardens, East Melbourne.
It's that time of year again and Songlines has put together its best ever lineup for this years FREE Share the Spirit Festival.
Taking place every year on Survival Day, otherwise known as Australia Day or Invasion Day – Share the Spirit has been created by Aboriginal people for all Australians to come together and celebrate the country’s Indigenous culture through music, performance workshops, information stalls, and most importantly through personal exchanges between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
On top of the non-stop music, Share the Spirit will also host community market stalls where Indigenous artists and designers from all over Victoria will be selling locally made crafts, traditional artefacts, t-shirts, bags, CDs, photographs and paintings.
It's that time of year again and Songlines has put together its best ever lineup for this years FREE Share the Spirit Festival.
Taking place every year on Survival Day, otherwise known as Australia Day or Invasion Day – Share the Spirit has been created by Aboriginal people for all Australians to come together and celebrate the country’s Indigenous culture through music, performance workshops, information stalls, and most importantly through personal exchanges between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
On top of the non-stop music, Share the Spirit will also host community market stalls where Indigenous artists and designers from all over Victoria will be selling locally made crafts, traditional artefacts, t-shirts, bags, CDs, photographs and paintings.
12 January 2011
MAIC returns to activity this Monday!
MAIC and campaigners against the NT Intervention all around Australia are gearing up to continue the fight. We are very excited to hear of new groups being established in South Australia and Queensland. The momentum is building!
Join us for our first meeting of the year: 6.30pm, Monday, 17th January at our usual meeting place, New International Bookshop in the basement of Trades Hall (cnr Lygon and Victoria Sts).
We will be discussing the sort of activity we want to do in 2011 to put pressure on the government to scrap this racist Intervention.
At the end of last year, MAIC decided to hold a rally in early March. We will be discussing how to build this big action, and the events surrounding Invasion Day (January 26th) and the anniversary of the apology (February 13th).
We are collecting signatures to demand 'jobs with justice' for Aboriginal workers in the Northern Territory. Help us with this task by organising a stall.
Come along to the meeting and meet other like-minded activists and make stuff happen!
Protest:
Stop the racist NT Intervention. Jobs with Justice now!
5pm, Friday 4 March 2011
State Library of Victoria, Melbourne
We are calling for endorsements for this major action next year. Please email melbourneaic@gmail.com in order to confirm the support of your community organisation, union, church, student group etc.
We are calling for endorsements for this major action next year. Please email melbourneaic@gmail.com in order to confirm the support of your community organisation, union, church, student group etc.
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