Saturday, June 20, 2009
Protest, march and concert – marking two years since the announcement of the NT Intervention
10:30am Belmore Park, Eddy avenue, Haymarket (opposite Central station)
March to the Block in Redfern for family and culture day concert
Stop the NT Intervention
> Reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act
> No Blackmail – Land Rights not Leases
> Aboriginal Control of Aboriginal Affairs
> Housing and Services for all Communities
> Jobs – not cuts to CDEP
JOINT STATEMENT
by the
Indigenous Peoples Organisations of Australia
attending the eighth session of the
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
New York, 18 to 29 May 2009
28 May 2009
On 24 May 2009 the Minister for Indigenous Affairs announced the Australian Government is taking steps towards compulsory acquisition of the Alice Springs town camps ‘to give children in the camps a better chance at a safe, healthy and happy life’. The Minister described the conditions in the camps as appalling, referring to acute overcrowding, sub-standard housing, alcohol abuse, despair, hopelessness and horrific crimes. The Minister announced intentions to implement a comprehensive plan to transform the town camps and provide intensive support services.
We the Indigenous Peoples Organisations of Australia attending the eighth session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues decide as follows:
We strongly oppose the proposal by the Government of Australia to compulsory acquire leases over Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands or territories without their free, prior and informed consent.
