Antinuclear

Northern Territory Intervention forcing Aboriginals off their homelands

The women also condemned the NT government’s Working Future policy. “This is about closing our homelands and our outstations,” the women’s statement said…..

the worst impact of the intervention was to economically force people away from their country

Alice Springs convergence calls for Macklin’s resignation  Alternative Media Group 15 July 2010, East Coast mob, friends from the south, elders and youngsters from all around Australia met in Alice Springs for four days last week to discuss and plan a way forward from the problems caused by the federal Intervention in Northern Territory communities.

Norman George, Chairperson of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, addressed a rally that marched through Alice Springs at the end of the convergence.

He said the measures adopted by the Intervention had no clear evidence base but instead had caused an increase in the criminalisation of Aboriginal people……Christina Abdullah said.

“For three years the removal of our human rights has been justified with lies about protecting women from violence, and lies about feeding our children.

“We are living proof of the damage caused to Aboriginal people of the Northern Territory who are trying to survive and live and practise our way of life.

The women also condemned the NT government’s Working Future policy.

“This is about closing our homelands and our outstations,” the women’s statement said………..

John Hartley, a Yalanji man (far north Queensland) who now lives in South Australia, addressed the media on behalf of the gathering.

He said the worst impact of the intervention was to economically force people away from their country as cuts to the CDEP program have meant a loss of jobs in homeland communities.

“It’s taking people away from their language and their ceremony place, it’s about wiping that out completely,” Mr Hartley said.

Alice Springs convergence calls for Macklin’s resignation « Alternative Media Group

July 15, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | aboriginal issues, Northern Territory