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Newman, Samantha --- "Recent Happenings" [2003] IndigLawB 71; (2003) 5(28) Indigenous Law Bulletin 24


Recent Happenings

by Samantha Newman

7 October 2003

Senator Amanda Vanstone has been appointed as the new Minister for Indigenous and Multicultural and Immigration Affairs. She has expressed optimism about the future for Indigenous peoples and the development of strong relations of cooperation and understanding with the Federal Government.

8 October

The Victorian Indigenous Youth Advisory Council has met for the first time in Melbourne. Established as a joint initiative of ATSIC Victoria and Aboriginal Affairs Victoria the group will advocate on behalf of Victorian Indigenous peoples under 24 who comprise of almost 60% of the Indigenous population. It is believed that this is the first representative body of its kind with direct access to the state government.

9 October

A group of Aboriginal women from communities on the Dampier Peninsula, north of Broome have established a support and advocacy group against child sexual abuse in their communities. The group’s advocacy work will be challenged by the taboo nature of the subject, according to Pauline Cox-Murphy, Group Chairwoman, but they are determined to bring the issue out into the open for discussion and action.

14 October

The Indigenous Women’s Congress has been established in Western Australia to provide avenues for Indigenous women to obtain greater access and involvement in the development of government policy. The group will meet twice a year and will be a reference point for advice and involvement on major issues affecting Indigenous women.

15 October

Victoria’s potentially historic in-principle native title agreement with the Wotjobaluk people, the first of its kind, is being threatened by Federal Government opposition to the plan. Should the agreement be ratified, it would give the Wotjobaluk people non-exclusive native title rights along the Wimmera River as well as freehold title to 45 hectares of land. The Federal Government does not believe there is sufficient evidence to legally support a native title claim and thus is unlikely to support the deal.

2 November

ATSIC has coordinated a forum to discuss and develop a detailed agreement on reducing levels of domestic violence affecting many Indigenous families across the Central Queensland. The agreement intends to outline a strong plan of action within a region-wide Family Violence Action Plan

6 November

ATSIC is calling for an Indigenous Justice Summit in order to explore the complex issues involving customary and common law and to create a dialogue to resolve these issues between Indigenous communities and government agencies. This comes in response to the NT Law Reform Committee’s Inquiry into Aboriginal Customary Law.

19 November

A four-year landmark agreement between the traditional owners of Croker Island, off Arnhem Land and Broome Pearls, a major pearling business, will see the traditional owners receive a stake in the business and a say over the protection of sacred sites. ASTIC Commission for Tasmania, Rodney Dillon, hopes that this type of agreement will be endorsed and utilised by other state Governments.

20 November

The NSW state government has appointed an administrator to the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) for a 12 month period, replacing its elected board of 13 councillors. The NSWALC has strongly opposed this decision, seeing it as an attempt to erode the political and representative functions of the Council and has asserted that the Council has already followed a number of the investigators recommendations.

22 November

Western Aboriginal Legal Service (WALS) celebrates its 25th birthday. WALS is one of the longest serving Indigenous organisations in NSW. WALS provides legal services to approximately 2500 people a month in Western Sydney, despite being hampered by severe under-funding estimated at $12.5 million. Regardless, they are doing a great job. Happy Birthday WALS!

26 November

Australia’s combined 13th and 14th Periodic Report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has been tabled in Federal Parliament, prior to being forwarded to Geneva by the Australian mission. The report outlines Australia’s compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and its activities since March 2000 when it last appeared before the Committee. To view the report, see: www.dfat.gov.au/reports/cerd


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