Songlines

HREOC media release – Monday, 28 July 2008

The Close the Gap coalition today presented the federal government and Opposition with a set of National Indigenous Health Equality Targets to address the 17-year life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma said the targets are the blueprint to achieve the Prime Minister’s goal of closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous life expectancy in a generation.

“The targets are specific, time-bound commitments that will keep us on track to achieve the Close the Gap goals,” Commissioner Calma said.

“We look forward to working in partnership with the government to refine the targets, to ensure they are embedded in future policies and to use them to develop evidence-based health programmes targeted to those most in need.”

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ABC website 30 July 2008

“Indigenous win in fishing rights case

The High Court has confirmed one of the most significant cases under the Northern Territory Land Rights Act, giving traditional owners exclusive rights over tidal waters along Aboriginal land.

The decision on the rights at Blue Mud Bay means traditional owners will be able to determine when and where commercial and recreational fishing is carried out along 80 per cent of the Territory’s coastline, as well as in tidal rivers.

Experts say the ruling extends unprecedented control to the traditional owners over commercially-valuable resources.”

full story

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/30/2318613.htm

High Court Decision

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/HCA/2008/29.html

HREOC media release – 15 July 2008

The Australian Government is now seeking the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on a proposed National Indigenous Representative Body.

FaHCSIA will be conducting consultation meetings in every state and the Northern Territory, including remote locations, from end of July until the end of August 2008. Consultations in regional areas will also cater for attendees from remote locations.

You can register your interest in attending one of the consultation meetings by calling 1800 202 366 or emailing: indigenousrepbody@fahcsia.gov.au

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Men say sorry for abuse, violence

By Tara Ravens

July 03, 2008 04:46pm
Article from: AAP (see url below)

HUNDREDS of Aboriginal men from across Australia have issued an historic apology to their women for the “pain, hurt and suffering” indigenous men have caused them.

For the past three days in the icy desert of Central Australia, men of all age groups from Cape York, the Top End, Central Australia, NSW and WA have discussed ways to be better fathers, husbands and sons.

They also sought to repair the damage caused in the 12 months since their communities were denounced as hotbeds of violence and abuse.

Since the federal intervention to combat child sex abuse was launched in June last year, John Liddle – from the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress – said Aboriginal men had been painted as brutal and uncaring.

“We are not all bastards,” Mr Liddle told the gathering at Ross River outside of Alice Springs.

“We need to acknowledge the hurt and pain that has been caused by violence which has shamed many indigenous males who are not violent.”

But he conceded good men had sat in silence, and today they issued a collective apology.

“We the Aboriginal males from Central Australia and our brothers from around Australia … acknowledge and say sorry for the hurt, pain and suffering caused by Aboriginal males,” the statement said.

“We also acknowledge that we need the love and support of our Aboriginal women to help us move forward.”

One of the authors of the report which sparked the Howard Government’s
emergency response, Rex Wild QC, said the apology was “very powerful and very moving”.

He said child abuse was not just an Aboriginal problem and it had been unfair of governments to single them out.

“They are not acknowledging there is a higher rate, they are acknowledging there is a rate, that there is a level of domestic violence that they have now said sorry for,” he said.

Major General David Chalmers, who is heading the intervention roll-out, denied the intervention had “put a bad name out for Aboriginal men” and called for a “total solution” to child abuse.

“It has to come from within communities and government can only facilitate that solution,” he said.

Peter Yu, chairman of the board that will hand the Rudd Government a 12-month review of the reforms, said he would consider the summit’s recommendations, including community-based violence prevention programs and men’s shelters.

Joe Hayes, a father who lives on an outstation 25km from Alice Springs, said he walked away from the gathering “a proud Aborigine”.

“We have got to try and be responsible parents and our attitudes have got to change … saying sorry is the best part of healing,” he said.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23963674-29277,00.html