Re: [recoznet2] Another miscarriage of justice in NT
I'm gonna be in the NT around the 20th with school, anything I can do while I'm there? I've written letters/emails/etc...I figure while I'm there I might as well get some work done, eh? I'm not sure how far north I'm going...probably only as far as Alice Springs.. is Bruce Reyburn running this campaign? peace Below is an article on the front page of the SMH. If any recoznetter has not yet written the letter to the NTTC [EMAIL PROTECTED] urging them to warn tourists of the laws in the NT and to urge the government to repeal the law, now is the time to do it! Trudy ^^^ SMH The boy condemned to jail for stealing $3.50 biscuits Date: 25/08/99 By BERNARD LAGAN An Aboriginal youth charged with stealing a $3.50 packet of biscuits is doomed to be jailed next week for a year - too soon to be saved by a Federal push to overturn the Northern Territory's mandatory sentencing laws. Darwin legal sources confirmed last night that the 17-year-old would have to be sentenced to a minimum one year's jail when his case came before a court because the theft was his third minor property offence. In the Territory, 17-year-olds are classed as adults - and it has mandatory jail terms for all adult property offences, beginning with a two-week term for a first offence. Yesterday, Federal politicians announced a campaign to end the right of States and Territories to impose mandatory terms on juveniles. Supported by Labor, the Democrats and Independent MP Mr Peter Andren, Tasmanian Green Senator Bob Brown will introduce a bill that would overturn existing laws in the Territory and Western Australia. It would also raise the adult age to 18 - in line with most States - to protect young offenders like the youth facing jail in Darwin. Juveniles in the Territory - those aged either 15 or 16 years - receive a warning for their first property offence and a minimum one-month term in an institution for a second offence. Scores of juvenile Aborigines have received mandatory terms since the laws were passed last year, including one who stole a $2.50 cigarette lighter and four jointly charged with the theft of $1.60 worth of petrol. There have been confidential expressions of support for Senator Brown's bill from some Government MPs, according to the Human Rights Commissioner, Mr Chris Sidoti, who appeared at a Canberra press conference with the senator yesterday. "It is an initiative of the Commonwealth Parliament to exercise its ultimate responsibility to protect the rights of all Australians and, in this instance, among the most vulnerable Australians, children," Mr Sidoti said. Senator Brown said the legislation would be debated in the new year. He said Aborigines, with a high incidence of minor property offences, were six to eight times more likely to be jailed than non-Aborigines under the laws. It has forced the transportation of Aboriginal prisoners for 1,500 kilometres to jail in Alice Springs because Darwin jails are full. But the laws affect not only juveniles. A 29-year-old homeless Aborigine who stole a $15 towel - his third minor property offence - was jailed for a year. Jailed for two weeks were a 24-year-old mother who stole a $2.50 can of beer, and a 27-year-old white teacher who disputed the quality of a hotdog and poured water over a shop till. This material is subject to copyright and any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited. --- 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/ --- 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/
Re: [recoznet2] Another miscarriage of justice in NT
Hi Liam, Bruce got the group together. He is just leaving the NT and will be back in the Illawarra on Monday. I will pass your message on to the group and see what they think you could do while there. Trudy Liam wrote: I'm gonna be in the NT around the 20th with school, anything I can do while I'm there? I've written letters/emails/etc...I figure while I'm there I might as well get some work done, eh? I'm not sure how far north I'm going...probably only as far as Alice Springs.. is Bruce Reyburn running this campaign? peace Below is an article on the front page of the SMH. If any recoznetter has not yet written the letter to the NTTC [EMAIL PROTECTED] urging them to warn tourists of the laws in the NT and to urge the government to repeal the law, now is the time to do it! Trudy ^^^ --- 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/
[recoznet2] UN Press Release
The Australian Government is obviously intending to downplay and mislead public opinion on the recent decsion by CERD (Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination). The Australian Government considers: "The CERD decision was in line with what we had hoped for. Originally it was said to be an urgent decision and now that's been put back until next year, at the normal [CERD] reporting time processes." Perhaps the Australian Government should read the attached press release issued by the UN Press Office. (The attachment is in HTML format and should be opened in a web browser such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer. A text version has been also attached, just in case) ___ Les Malezer General Manager FAIRA Aboriginal Corporation PO Box 8402 Woolloongabba Qld 4002 Australia Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] URL: http//www.faira.org.au Phone + 61 7 33914677 Fax + 61 7 33914551 -- COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION EXAMINES SITUATION IN AUSTRALIA, ADOPTS DECISION MORNING HR/CERD/99/52 16 August 1999 The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination adopted a decision this morning expressing serious concern that envisaged changes in policy by the Australian Government risked creating an "acute impairment" of the land rights of indigenous communities. The decision also reaffirmed decisions taken by the Committee in March in reference to the situation in Australia. The actions came as the Committee reviewed circumstances in the country under its early warning and urgent action procedures. Gay McDougall, the Committee Expert who served as rapporteur on the situation in Australia, said the recommendations contained in the Committee's March decisions had not been acted upon by the Government and there had been no progress with regard to indigenous land titles in Australia. Rather, she said, the situation was becoming of greater concern in that amendments to the Australian Native Title Act were being brought into effect within the jurisdictions of the various states and territories of Australia. In March, the Committee expressed concern "over the compatibility of the Native Title Act, as currently amended, with the State party's international obligations" under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. It further noted with concern Australia's proposed changes to the overall structure of its national Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission which would abolish the position of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and assign those functions to a generalist Deputy President. The Committee urged the Australian Government "to suspend implementation of the 1998 amendments and re-open discussions with the representatives of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with a view to finding solutions acceptable to the indigenous peoples and which would comply with Australia's obligations under the Convention". The decision of the Committee took note of comments received from the Government of Australia and said those comments would be included in its annual report. Australia is one of 155 States parties to the Convention and is obliged to submit periodic reports to the Committee on efforts to comply with the treaty and also required, when requested, to supply additional information under the Committee's early warning and urgent action procedures. Participating in the discussion were Committee Experts Mahmoud Aboul-Nasr, Michael P. Banton, Theodoor van Boven, Regis de Gouttes, Yuri A. Rechetov, Ion Diaconu, Agha Shahi, Mario Jorge Yutsis and Michael E. Sherifis. Also this morning, the Committee continued its discussion of proposed revisions to reporting guidelines with particular reference to article 5 of the Convention, which says that States parties must undertake to prohibit and to eliminate racial discrimination in all its forms and to guarantee the right of everyone, without distinction as to race, colour, or national or ethnic origin, to equality before the law. When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will take up an initial report of Kyrgyzstan (document CERD/C/326/Add.1). Decision on Australia In its decision on the situation in Australia, the Committee reaffirmed the decisions of March 1999. In adopting those decisions, the Committee was prompted by its serious concern that after having observed and welcomed over a period of time a progressive implementation of the Convention in relation to the land rights of indigenous peoples in Australia, envisaged changes of policy as to the exercise of those rights risked creating an acute impairment of the rights thus recognized to the Australian indigenous communities. The decision said the Committee had considered in detail the information submitted and the arguments put forward by the Government of
[recoznet2] Letters to the editor at SMH
http://www.smh.com.au/news/9908/26/text/letters.html For letters on the 'apology' have a look at the above URL Trudy --- 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/
[recoznet2] Aden's maiden speech
http://search.aph.gov.au/search/ParlInfo.ASP?action=viewitem=129from=browsepath=Chamber/Senate+Hansard/1999/Spring/25+August+1999items=146 Aden Ridgeway's maiden speech can be read at the above URL For anyone without web access, contact me for a copy. Trudy --- 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/
[recoznet2] pm or PM?
Just saw Howard deliver this motion and speech to the Parliament. I'm very confused about the whole thing. He seemed reasonably sincere and given what at is at stake - and given the apparent enthusiasm with which people like Lowitja O'Donahue are embracing his 'change of heart' - I feel inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt, but still can't help feel there is an emptiness in his words. Beazley's response was sensational I thought, and he was unequivocal about the inadequacy of the motion and moved a couple of amendments. If you can say "sincere regret" surely you are expressing sorrow; and if you are sorrowful, then surely you can say "sorry"? His refusal to use the word 'sorry' smells rotten to me. Anyway, here is the motion and I guess we'll see how it plays out. Tim FROM THE PMs OFFICE MOTION OF RECONCILIATIONThat this House:(a) reaffirms its whole-hearted commitment to the cause of reconciliationbetween indigenous and non-indigenous Australians as an important nationalpriority for all Australians;(b) recognising the achievements of the Australian nation, commits to worktogether to strengthen the bonds that unite us, to respect and appreciateour differences, and to build a fair and prosperous future in which we canall share;(c) reaffirms the central importance of practical measures leading topractical results that address the profound economic and social disadvantagewhich continues to be experienced by many indigenous Australians;(d) recognises the importance of understanding the shared history ofindigenous and non-indigenous Australians and the need to acknowledge openlythe wrongs and injustices of Australias past;(e) acknowledges that the mistreatment of many indigenous Australians over asignificant period represents the most blemished chapter in our nationalhistory;(f) expresses its deep and sincere regret that indigenous Australianssuffered injustices under the practices of past generations, and for thehurt and trauma that many indigenous people continue to feel as aconsequence of those practices; and(g) believes that we, having achieved so much as a nation, can now moveforward together for the benefit of all Australians.26 August 1999
Re: [recoznet2] pm or PM?
At 12:24 AM 27/8/99, tim dunlop wrote: (extract from PM's motion) (d) recognises the importance of understanding the shared history of indigenous and non-indigenous Australians .; "Shared history" is an interesting phrase. Presumably it is meant to convey some sort of commonality. Some others , of course, who come to mind as having had a "shared history" similar to that of black and white Australians in the last couple of centuries include - Slaves and slave owners, the Jewish people and Adolf Hitler, Tutsis and Hutus, Black and White South Africans, Hisoshima residents and the pilot of the plane that dropped the bomb, Siberian gulag inamtes and guards, AIDs victims and the relevant retrovirus etc etc. My gut feeling about the Howard statement is that the response should be to say "OK, that's a start. But if you are genuine about the matter there are various consequences. If you want to fulfil clause (g) concerning moving forward together, what will you do to address the substantive issues? How will you place pressure on the state governments (particularly those of NSW and Victoria), or use Commonwealth powers, to bring about land justice for Indigenous people ? When will you call off the Commonwealth's legal hounds in the stolen generation cases, or better still, have them support , rather than oppose, the claims of the individuals concerned? When will you take action to rectify the immense problems which are now flowing through to Indigenous groups as a result of the 1998 amendments to the Native Title Act? etc etc etc. If you do not take action on these matters , then we will remind you again and again and again of your words and point out that they are not being matched by your deeds." Cheers Rod Rod Hagen [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hurstbridge, Victoria, Australia WWWhttp://www.netspace.net.au/~rodhagen --- 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/
Re: [recoznet2] pm or PM?
My first impression is that this 'motion' has the same depth of sincerity as Howard's description of Michael Hutchins as 'a great Australian product' was an expression of condolence. There seems to be an unseemly haste about the whole thing. Could it be that Howard realises he is running out of time before the whole world condemns his racism after the Olympics? Is this another form of government lobbying to save its reputation? I will reserve my judgement. I have a very uneasy feeling that something is not right and we are being duped. Maybe it is paranoia, but then again Trudy tim dunlop wrote: Just saw Howard deliver this motion and speech to the Parliament. I'm very confused about the whole thing. He seemed reasonably sincere and given what at is at stake - and given the apparent enthusiasm with which people like Lowitja O'Donahue are embracing his 'change of heart' - I feel inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt, but still can't help feel there is an emptiness in his words. Beazley's response was sensational I thought, and he was unequivocal about the inadequacy of the motion and moved a couple of amendments. If you can say "sincere regret" surely you are expressing sorrow; and if you are sorrowful, then surely you can say "sorry"? His refusal to use the word 'sorry' smells rotten to me. Anyway, here is the motion and I guess we'll see how it plays out.TimFROM THE PMs OFFICEMOTION OF RECONCILIATION That this House: (a) reaffirms its whole-hearted commitment to the cause of reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians as an important national priority for all Australians; (b) recognising the achievements of the Australian nation, commits to work together to strengthen the bonds that unite us, to respect and appreciate our differences, and to build a fair and prosperous future in which we can all share; (c) reaffirms the central importance of practical measures leading to practical results that address the profound economic and social disadvantage which continues to be experienced by many indigenous Australians; (d) recognises the importance of understanding the shared history of indigenous and non-indigenous Australians and the need to acknowledge openly the wrongs and injustices of Australias past; (e) acknowledges that the mistreatment of many indigenous Australians over a significant period represents the most blemished chapter in our national history; (f) expresses its deep and sincere regret that indigenous Australians suffered injustices under the practices of past generations, and for the hurt and trauma that many indigenous people continue to feel as a consequence of those practices; and (g) believes that we, having achieved so much as a nation, can now move forward together for the benefit of all Australians. 26 August 1999 -- + "the things that will destroy us: politics without principle, pleasure without conscience, wealth without work, knowledge without character, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice and business without morality." ---Mahatma Gandhi +
[recoznet2] AAP: Stolen generations members dismiss Howard's apology [sic]
Stolen generation [sic] members dismiss Howard's apology Source: AAP | Published: Thursday August 26 2:47:49 PM Members of the stolen generation today reacted angrily to Prime Minister John Howard's expression of regret in federal parliament, saying it did not go far enough. They said Mr Howard's statement may benefit Australia's profile but would not help the Aboriginal people who were taken from their families as children, in accordance with past government policy. They doubted the sincerity of Mr Howard's statement because the Commonwealth was fighting a compensation case by those children in the Federal court here. They estimated the government had spent $6 million on the case. 'How can they be serious about regret while they pour millions of dollars into fighting our compensation claim tooth and nail?' said Central Australian Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation (CASGAC) spokesman Harold Furber. 'How can they be serious about atonement if they will not consider some form of compensation to the individuals whose lives were devastated. 'We have grave concerns that the deal being done in Canberra will look good for the nation but will not benefit a single member of the stolen generation.' Central Land Council director Tracker Tilmouth accused Mr Howard of trying to weasel out of saying sorry and said expressing regret was not good enough. 'He must say sorry, not some play on words or legal squirming phrases designed to get him off the hook,' Mr Tilmouth said. 'We of the stolen generation find this a deplorable lack of compassion by the Australian government and should be noted as such. Mr Tilmouth also took a swipe at Aboriginal Democrat Senator Aiden Ridgeway for accepting Mr Howard's form of apology. Senator Ridgeway's maiden speech to parliament last night called on the government to express deep and sincere regret for the hurt and trauma suffered by indigenous Australians. 'Some Aboriginal leaders and members of parliament are too willing to sign off on the hard issues because some white fella said g'day to them," Mr Tilmouth said. --- 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/
Re: [recoznet2] pm or PM?
This was Howard at his most insincere. A politician as experienced and professional as he is was unable to even fake interest in the subject of his speechAboriginal Australians. I have never seen him speak with less conviction---nor has Peter Costello---he yawned the whole way through Howard's attempt to appear caring about Indigenous Australians. He certainly showed a lot more emotion and intent when he was ranting at Aborigines during the Reconciliation conference and screeching his demands at themthis was the real, racist, 1950's Howard. As for Howard's claiming that some Indigenous leaders have met him halfway . What does this particular piece of mealymouthedness mean? -''half way to what? ---half way to an apology, or halfway to the genocide of Indigenous People? There is no half-way that is bearable for this so- called ''Nation. The Parliament and the Government must apologise to Indigenous Australians for injustices perpetrated against them by the Invaders and their descendants and recognise ongoing Indigenous ownership of this Land. Only then can we hope for a Treaty between the Invaders and the Invaded and a legitimate place for all Non-Indigenous Australians in the future of this Country. As for the old, 'Lay down with dogs etc. There are a lot of fleas from the P.M. Dog feeding on new hosts today. Laurie. Laurie and Desley Forde [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Tim Dunlop wrote -Original Message-From: tim dunlop [EMAIL PROTECTED]To: RecOzNet2 [EMAIL PROTECTED]Date: Thursday, August 26, 1999 2:26 PMSubject: [recoznet2] pm or PM? Just saw Howard deliver this motion and speech to the Parliament. I'm very confused about the whole thing. He seemed reasonably sincere and given what at is at stake - and given the apparent enthusiasm with which people like Lowitja O'Donahue are embracing his 'change of heart' - I feel inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt, but still can't help feel there is an emptiness in his words. Beazley's response was sensational I thought, and he was unequivocal about the inadequacy of the motion and moved a couple of amendments. If you can say sincere regret surely you are expressing sorrow; and if you are sorrowful, then surely you can say sorry? His refusal to use the word 'sorry' smells rotten to me. Anyway, here is the motion and I guess we'll see how it plays out. Tim FROM THE PMs OFFICE MOTION OF RECONCILIATIONThat this House:(a) reaffirms its whole-hearted commitment to the cause of reconciliationbetween indigenous and non-indigenous Australians as an important nationalpriority for all Australians;(b) recognising the achievements of the Australian nation, commits to worktogether to strengthen the bonds that unite us, to respect and appreciateour differences, and to build a fair and prosperous future in which we canall share;(c) reaffirms the central importance of practical measures leading topractical results that address the profound economic and social disadvantagewhich continues to be experienced by many indigenous Australians;(d) recognises the importance of understanding the shared history ofindigenous and non-indigenous Australians and the need to acknowledge openlythe wrongs and injustices of Australias past;(e) acknowledges that the mistreatment of many indigenous Australians over asignificant period represents the most blemished chapter in our nationalhistory;(f) expresses its deep and sincere regret that indigenous Australianssuffered injustices under the practices of past generations, and for thehurt and trauma that many indigenous people continue to feel as aconsequence of those practices; and(g) believes that we, having achieved so much as a nation, can now moveforward together for the benefit of all Australians.26 August 1999
