Aboriginal Law Bulletin --- "Update: Issue Focus on the Stolen Generations; Stirrings; UNSW Indigenous Pre-Law Program; NSW Legislative Assembly moves for reconciliation; Protest Walk against Hindmarsh Island Bridge" [1996] AboriginalLawB 79; (1996) 3(86) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 2

• Update
• Issue Focus On The Stolen Generations
• Stirrings
• Unsw Indigenous Pre-Law Program
• Nsw Legislative Assembly Moves For Reconciliation
• Protest Walk Against Hindmarsh Island Bridge

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Update

Issue Focus on the Stolen Generations

This issue of the Aboriginal Law Bulletin contains articles, casenotes and book reviews which have as their focus the Stolen Generations: the Indigenous children stolen from their families and communities through the intervention of the state. The works presented here are only an introduction to the variety of legal issues and concerns affecting the Stolen Generations. We hope to be able to publish more material in the future, particularly after the release of the Report of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's National Inquiry Into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families. That Report is due out early in 1997.

Stirrings

The Aboriginal Law Bulletin has commenced running a new column, 'Stirrings' (see page 19). It is intended to provide a forum for people to provide small articles on Indigenous law and related activities (up to 500 words only). Please send contributions to the address on this page, and get your message out!

UNSW Indigenous Pre-Law Program

The Aboriginal Education Program at the University of New South Wales will be running its Indigenous Pre-Law Program from 6 January to 7 February 1997. This is the third year that the Program has taken place. Last year the Pre-Law Program was a resounding success and it is expected that this year the Program will again provide a fabulous experience for participants.

The Program aims to prepare participants for mainstream education in law, boost participants' access to legal higher education, and assist participants to determine if law studies would suit them.

The curriculum of the Program will focus on the acquisition of skills necessary to undertake law studies at university level. The Program's content will include an introduction to the legal process, Indigenous legal issues, the law of contracts, and basic legal research.

Applications must be received by 16 December 1996. Interested persons are encouraged to apply early, as places are limited. For further information and/or application forms, please contact:

Phyllis Lee
Aboriginal Education Program 9th Floor, Faculty of Law University of NSW SYDNEY NSW 2052 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

NSW Legislative Assembly moves for Reconciliation

On 14 November 1996, the NSW Legislative Assembly passed a bipartisan motion, proposed by Premier Mr Bob Carr, seconded by Mr Peter Collins, Leader of the Opposition.

The motion reaffirmed the Assembly's commitment to Aboriginal reconciliation, called on all Australian Governments to accept national commitment to reconciliation and practical reconciliation measures, and supported the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and its intended Australian Reconciliation Convention in Melbourne in May 1997.

As part of his address to the Legislative Assembly, Mr Can said 'It is important... that we recognise ... that this Parliament enacted laws which carried on the systematic annihilation of Aboriginal communities ... [The separation of Indigenous children from their families in NSW] was all done in the name of the State and in the name of this Parliament. That is why I reaffirm in this place ... as Premier on behalf of the Government and people of New South Wales, our apology to the Aboriginal people ... If Australia continues to allow Aboriginal people to suffer ... we will find ourselves as a nation before the International Court of Justice'.

Protest Walk against Hindmarsh Island Bridge

As we go to press, the Kumarangk Coalition are undertaking a Long Walk from Adelaide to the site of the proposed Kumarangk/Hindmarsh Island bridge in South Australia to protest against the plans to build the bridge despite opposition from local Indigenous women. The Walk commenced on 25 November in Adelaide, and will conclude on 1 December.