Antinuclear

the Senator is the most qualified to represent through the ALP for this nation’s First Peoples.  The Andrew Forrest and Professor Marcia Langton authored ‘Creating Parity’ report has been heavily criticised by Senator Peris. The real journey to ‘creating parity’ would have Senator Peris as the Opposition spokesperson on ‘Aboriginal Affairs’.

Nova Peris should be spokesperson for ‘Aboriginal Affairs’ The Stringer by Gerry Georgatos October 26th, 2014 White Australia still grips tightly its control over the nation’s agendas and cultural content despite a multicultural population that it continues to deride and where possible shun. The demography of this nation is not reflected in the parliaments and institutions of the nation. First People are under-represented, multicultural Australia is under-represented. White Australia – Anglo-Celtic-Saxon Australians – populate Government Cabinets, Shadow Cabinets, the party rooms of every political party. The Australian Labor Party had the opportunity to lead the way, but instead choose to let powerbrokers and the influence peddling stand in the way of the big picture message that should have been. Senator Nova Peris, not the Member for Blair’s Shayne Neumann, should be the Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.

Senator Peris has been effectively a lone voice on First People issues for the Australian Labor Party since she was handpicked by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard as a lead candidate for the Senate from the Northern Territory for the 2013 federal elections. Senator Peris became the first Aboriginal woman into parliament – a double coup for the ALP, but more importantly for the national consciousness, and even more importantly for the continent’s First Peoples.

Mr Neumann has barely uttered a word on the myriad issues affecting First Peoples since he was handed the portfolio by Bill Shorten late last year. If you Google ‘Shayne Neumann’ and ‘Indigenous’ or ‘Aboriginal’ or ‘First People’ there is barely a whisper. It is a different story for Senator Peris, who has not only been vocal in the media but also in the Senate – highlighting issues affecting many First Peoples, and also calling for better understandings.

In response to the Prime  Ministerial visit to the Arnhem, Senator Peris said, “The reality of Arnhem Land is that you cannot walk away after spending four or five days there and say you have a true understanding of what’s going on.”

“A lot of these communities are not only just remote communities but the whole cultural scene is (different). It’s not foreign to us but it’s foreign to the rest of Australia. And until you actually go there and stick your finger in hot water and you understand the true situation, we are never going to get it right.”

An ALP Senator who did not want to be named said, “Once again we continue to lose our way, to lose the opportunity to move forward in ways that inspire the nation. We failed to grab an opportunity with Nova to give voice to so many who feel that they are without voice.”

“Shayne is a capable individual but he is the wrong person to be speaking for Indigenous people. He is also in Nova’s shadow who has demonstrated that she is not only a strong voice but also an inspiring individual. She resonates with Indigenous people but also with all of Australia. She is ‘reconciliation’, she is ‘closing the gap’, she can bridge the Black-White divide.”

“I do not understand why Nova was not made our spokesperson for Aboriginal Affairs. Well, we do understand, it’s who is in whose pocket but sometimes we should see the big picture and why we are all here.”……….

“Nova Peris would be a testy proposition for the Government.”………

the Senator is the most qualified to represent through the ALP for this nation’s First Peoples.  The Andrew Forrest and Professor Marcia Langton authored ‘Creating Parity’ report has been heavily criticised by Senator Peris. The real journey to ‘creating parity’ would have Senator Peris as the Opposition spokesperson on ‘Aboriginal Affairs’.

Mr Neumann’s greatest contribution should be to step down from his portfolio, the one he has been excruciatingly quiet on, and to instead applaud the opportunity for Senator Peris to represent First Peoples. Mr Neumann should put First Peoples first. He would be remembered and respected for this. Right now few have heard of him. http://thestringer.com.au/nova-peris-should-be-spokesperson-for-aboriginal-affairs-8960#.VE6ULyLF8nk