Antinuclear

Musicians, church leaders and 36,000 Australians oppose the “Stronger Futures” laws

Former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser, the Catholic Church and Uniting Church have backed the elder’s stance.

More than 36,000 people have signed the Stand for Freedom campaign petition against the Stronger Future laws.

Musicians rally against ‘Stronger Futures’, THE AUSTRALIAN AAP May 04, 2012 AUSTRALIAN musicians Paul Kelly, Neil Murray and Archie Roach have joined Northern Territory Aboriginal leaders in rallying against the federal government’s Stronger Futures Laws.

At a memorial concert for acclaimed Australian singer Jimmy Little at
Sydney’s Opera House last night the musicians performed his iconic
song Blackfella Whitefella to an audience of 2500 people.

They dedicated the song to the “Stand for Freedom campaign” which
opposes the Federal Government’s Stronger Futures laws.

The laws continue the former Howard Government’s Northern Territory
intervention introduced in 2007 …..
The measures are widely opposed by NT Aboriginal communities, who say
they were not properly consulted on the Government’s plans and that
the laws are racist.

Weeks before his death Little wrote an open letter to calling for the
Stronger Futures laws to be dumped.

“It is time for Australia to listen to the wisdom of Aboriginal elders
who best understand the needs of their community,” Little wrote.

He said the laws do not reflect the “heart-felt views of traditional
owners impacted by the proposed ten year extension of the intervention
measures”.

Little urged the Government to go back to the drawing board and
develop a respectful plan of action with indigenous people.

On Wednesday, Aboriginal leaders from Arnhem Land threatened to revolt
against the Federal Government’s Stronger Futures laws.

A group of traditional owners, Yolngu Nations Assembly, representing
8000 people in west, central and east Arnhem Land wrote to Prime
Minister Julia Gillard stating that until the laws are dumped they
will refuse “participation in land lease negotiations with the federal
government and approval for any exploration licences”.

Former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser, the Catholic Church and
Uniting Church have backed the elder’s stance.

More than 36,000 people have signed the Stand for Freedom campaign
petition against the Stronger Future laws.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news-old/musicians-rally-against-stronger-futures/story-fn3dxity-1226346386591

May 4, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL