The Australian Anti-discrimination boss dumped over language By PAUL TOOHEY 6jul99 DAWN Lawrie won't say what it's beginning to look like: that she, as the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, has been discriminated against. After six years in the job, earning wide bipartisan respect for her work, Ms Lawrie was summoned before Northern Territory Chief Minister Denis Burke and told her contract will not be renewed when it expires at the end of this month. She will be replaced by a senior public servant. Mr Burke said it was simply time for "a change". Others believe Ms Lawrie's public inquiry into the need for an Aboriginal interpreter service has been her undoing. As Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Ms Lawrie used her powers to hold the independent inquiry. She told The Australian yesterday: "It's made a lot of people unhappy and uncomfortable that I'm doing this inquiry – I know that." Ms Lawrie's report will be out this month. It seems inevitable the one-time Independent MP will find for a service, particularly for medical and legal interpretation. The Country Liberal Party Government's position has been that providing interpreters for the many Aboriginal dialects is difficult and expensive. Others argue the service could work by using core regional languages that most Aborigines understand. "The decision not to renew Dawn Lawrie's contract – which is tantamount to a sacking – and is just a plain stupid, weak and pathetic decision from Denis Burke," said territory Labor leader Clare Martin. "She's done a great job. She's bright, she's independent. Denis Burke needs to explain what her report into the Aboriginal interpreter service has to do with her contract not being renewed. "Chief minister after chief minister has refused to set up an Aboriginal interpreter service. If you're Aborigine in the territory, you don't have the same access to interpreter services as others from non-English speaking backgrounds." Ms Lawrie said there was nothing she could – or would – do about the decision: "It's the chief minister's prerogative – and there's not much more that I can say, except that it's important the absolute independence of this office be preserved." ---- Never underestimate the power of very stupid people in large groups. ------------------------------------------------------- RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/
