Self Determination

Aboriginal leaders say the WA government plan to close communities is already driving people out of some of the most remote parts of Australia. Premier Colin Barnett last year announced as many as 150 of the state's 274 communities would be closed in the next three years because of a funding shortfall. Mr Steven Kopp, the Chairman of Mulan homelands community, which sits on top of the Tanami Desert, said some people were so worried about the community's future that up to 20 had already moved away. [node:read-more:link]

Communities are urged to look out for each other over the festive season after seven people are believed to have suicided in WA's Kimberley region in the last seven weeks. Researchers have identified Christmas as a high-risk time for Aboriginal people considering self-harm. The most recent suicide occurred just two days before Christmas. Indigenous mental health commissioner Pat Dudgeon said the extra pressures around special foods, decorations, and gifts which are beyond the budget of many Aboriginal people. [node:read-more:link]

This new policy is a treacherous act, the government closed down CDEP programs against the wishes of the people. Instead of reinstating these, they are going to force people into full-time 'Work for the Dole' where there is no work. This appears to be part of the major conspiracy of forcing First Nations people off their homelands ... again. Greens senator Rachel Siewert said the Coalition government was “once again ignoring the underlying factors that are contributing to unemployment”. [node:read-more:link]

The article 'Jobs and education are the lifters' by: Nyunggai Warren Mundine, The Australian 3 December 2014 with Comments by Maurene Brannan

... as if it meant nothing, which it apparently doesn't to Warren - 'cultural authority' does not come easy, it takes a lifetime of dedication and education in the highest, most evolved culture on Earth. [node:read-more:link]

A Territory government drive a train through the Land Rights Act if the Federeal government handed it over to them.

'So what', you may think, Land Rights as we know it is a farce, you might say. Well, thats all very well, but many of our brothers and sisters are locked into these contracts, and while they stay on country, they can't do anything about it. This article has some invaluable insights into how it was much better before John Howard smashed it, and how it can get much worse. [node:read-more:link]

Tony Abbott tried to distract from the backdown of his governments proposed Racial Discrimination Act changes by announcing what appears to be another step towards an incarnation of a new Fascism - to be known as 'Team Australia'.

He said he is giving ASIO the same amount of money he stole from First Nations self-determination programs. He'll be spending it on looking at what we are watching on the internet and other related right-wing 'terrorist' paranoid behaviours. [node:read-more:link]

Key environmentalist, Dr Jim Green, has taken issue with Warren Mundine's environmental comments early in June 2014.

Mr Mundine challenged green groups ‘to name one place in Australia where they would support a new mine'. Mr Mundine wrote, that he is ‘still waiting for an answer'. Dr Green said that if Mr Mundine had asked him he would have responded and he can name six States and two Territories where I would support a new mine. [node:read-more:link]

Yolngu Nations Assembly (YNA) urges the Commonwealth Government and Indigenous communities to consult carefully before considering entering into 99-year township leases ... The Traditional Owners only made an agreed to negotiate. "When Yolngu say, 'yes, we understand' that doesn't mean 'yes, we can go ahead'."

To force our people to accept 99 year leases for their land as the only way for them to achieve any form of economic advantage from their homelands is a crime. [node:read-more:link]