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Gould, Ian --- "Recent Happenings" [2002] IndigLawB 30; (2002) 5(16) Indigenous Law Bulletin 24

Recent Happenings

Compiled by Ian Gould

1 March

New statistics reiterated that sexual assault and domestic violence remain a serious problem within Indigenous communities. According to the figures, released by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Aboriginal men in NSW are three times more likely to sexually assault a minor than non-Indigenous men, and six times more likely to be perpetrators of domestic violence. And the problem may be more widespread than the figures indicate. Winsome Matthews, chairwoman of the NSW Aboriginal Justice Advisory Council, said a lack of victim empowerment meant many offences went unreported.

5 March

ATSIC Chairman Geoff Clark said that the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (‘CHOGM’) in Coolum raised a number of issues relevant to Indigenous communities. Among these was the message of the Queen that nations would be judged on how they dealt with diversity. Mr Clark said this idea was applicable to Australia’s treatment of its Indigenous people. He also said that CHOGM emphasised the continuing issue of land rights in former British colonies.

7 March

A failure to address Aboriginal inequality in the Northern Territory could result in the creation of a permanent underclass there, according to Northern Territory Indigenous Affairs Minister John Ah Kit. Addressing parliament, Mr Ah Kit said that unless the Northern Territory resolves the problem, economic, social and political costs would balloon. He suggested the delivery of services on a regional, not community, level as a possible reform.

8 March

Indigenous people in the Northern Territory may have a right to compensation if traditional food sources suffer because of cane toads, an Australian National University researcher has found. Dr John Altman is studying the influence of cane toads on food systems in central Arnhem Land. He said that the rules which apply to non-Indigenous farmers who rely on pest-affected land would also apply to Aboriginal communities.

9 March

The NSW Victims Compensation Tribunal found that Valerie Wenberg Linow, now 60, had suffered a series of sexual assaults and violence as a 16 year-old. The assaults included being attacked with barbed wire and raped by her employer. However the tribunal refused to offer her compensation, finding that her psychiatric disorders could not necessarily be linked to the assaults.

10 March

ATSIC Indigenous policy adviser, Carol Hayward, said that Aboriginal women can correct the myth of child abuse as culturally appropriate by speaking out against it. She told a WA women’s convention that by leaving abusive relationships, Aboriginal women can overcome the idea that Indigenous culture condones child abuse and violence.

11 March

A NSW Shire Council has committed itself to considering the effect of development on Aboriginal heritage sites. Bega Valley Shire Council signed an agreement with three local Aboriginal land councils binding it to fully assess proposed developments to areas of Indigenous cultural significance.

12 March

The Sydney Opera House hosted a two day national conference on racism. Beyond Tolerance: A National Conference on Racism was organised by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. The conference aimed to attract a variety of people to devise strategies to combat racism in areas such as education, Indigenous rights and anti-discrimination legislation. Acting Race Commissioner Dr William Jonas said that the initiative came at a time when racial issues remain a cause of much anxiety in Australia.

14 March

The chairman of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council has argued that the native title system is failing in NSW. Rod Towney said that only one agreement in NSW—that affecting Crescent Head—recognised native title, and that some agreements even tried to avoid it. The fact that it had taken the NSW Aboriginal Land Council eight years to put in place an independent native title unit was one of the reasons for the problem. Mr Towney also said that many Aborigines received conflicting legal advice regarding native title claims, which resulted in division in families and the wider Aboriginal community.

20 March

The Northern Land Council has announced that it will broach the issue of contamination caused by the Ranger uranium mine with both ERA and the Federal government. Northern Land Council chief executive Norman Fry said that high levels of contamination have been recorded in waters near the mine. Mr Fry also said that the delay of ERA in notifying traditional owners of the contamination exacerbated the problem. The Federal government should also take responsibility for the problem, since the mine is under Commonwealth lease, said Mr Fry.

28 March

The Federal government and ATSIC are working towards establishing a service to address the economic exploitation of Indigenous communities. The announcement follows an expression of concern by some community leaders that fraud and corruption constitute a serious problem for Indigenous people. The plan, funded by ATSIC, would build upon a project currently organised by Australian Volunteers International.


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