AUSTRALIA’S Catholic bishops and leaders of religious congregations have added their voice to Aboriginal elders calling for an end to the Northern Territory Intervention and the Federal Government’s proposed Stronger Futures legislation.
On May 2, the Yolngu National Assembly, involving eight indigenous nations in the Western, Central and East Arnhem Lands areas of the Northern Territory representing 8000 Aboriginal people, sent a statement to Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Federal Opposition Leader Tont Abbott calling for a changed approach to Northern Territory policy.
The statement calls on the Senate to reject the Stronger Futures Bill (and those associated) and to discard them in full.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) and Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) also called upon all senators not to pass the legislation of the “Stronger Futures Northern Territory 2011 Bill”.
During their meeting in North Sydney on May 5, then ACBC president Archbishop Philip Wilson and CRA national president Josephite Sister Anne Derwin released a statement on behalf of the two bodies.
“We join with the many Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians who have already urged the Government to consult Aboriginal people and their elders in planning actions and developing policies that will affect their lives for many years,” the statement said.
The ACBC and CRA are concerned that the Stronger Futures Legislation expands the powers of the current legislation and will be set in place for 10 years.
“We urge the Federal Government to abandon this legislation and develop strategies based on trust and respect which will promote collaboration with the Aboriginal people of the Northern Territory in decision-making relating to their future,” they said in their statement.
“The Northern Territory National Emergency Response has achieved some success and we can learn from these successes. We see this success particularly in housing, employment and education.
“However, the response is also the source of many problems. The legislation before the Senate extends many aspects of ‘the intervention’ and continues to raise serious human rights concerns.”
The ACBC and CRA propose the development of an alternative response to the problems, based on consultation sensitive to Aboriginal culture.
“We need to listen to the Aboriginal people,” the ACBC and CRA said in their statement.
“They are asking for their rights as human beings and citizens of this country to be respected. Deep spiritual and cultural issues must be paramount in any legislation.
“Working in partnership with Aboriginal people over the long term – rather than ‘quick fixes’ – creates real changes that will continue.
“Social inclusion does not result from intervention, imposition, discrimination and exclusion.
“We call for an urgent shift from punitive controls to measures that restore community control, rebuild Aboriginal initiative and capacity, improve living conditions and show respect for Aboriginal languages and culture.
“The way forward needs to be principled, promoting self-determination, enabling participation in decision-making and ensuring free, prior and informed consent”.
Sydney archdiocese’s Aboriginal Catholic Ministry spokesman Graeme Mundine said the legislation was taking away Aboriginal peoples’ right to govern their own lives.
“The proposed legislation as it stands will deliver inordinate power to the Minister whilst diminishing the ability of Aboriginal people to manage their own lives, returning us to the days of assimilation and dependency, despite the lack of evidence to justify such actions,” Mr Mundine said.
Mr Mundine said it was “astounding that the House of Representatives passed the bills with barely a glimmer of dissent”.
“In fact only three people voted against them – Bob Katter (Independent), Andrew Wilkie (Independent) and Adam Bandt (Greens).
“This is despite the fact that there are many informed voices speaking against the bills and the negative impact this legislation will have on Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.”
Mr Mundine said the legislation before the Senate had been the subject of an inquiry by the Senate Community Affairs Committee.
He said Sydney archdiocese’s Aboriginal Catholic Ministry had lodged a submission to the Senate Enquiry into Stronger Futures but he feared its voice was not heard.
“… It is disappointing that the committee has comprehensively ignored a wide range of concerns raised by a significant number of submissions and evidence from Northern Territory Aboriginal communities, Aboriginal organisations, human rights groups, welfare groups, churches and others,” he said.
Brisbane archdiocese’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission executive officer Peter Arndt said it was astounding the Government maintained the new legislation had been developed after consultation with communities in the Territory, when “community statements such as the Yolngu Nation statement opposing the legislation continue to be issued”.
“It is greatly disturbing that the Government and the Opposition are united in asserting that the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory legislation is good for Aboriginal communities in the Territory when the same communities continue to express their strong opposition to the legislation,” Mr Arndt said.
Mr Mundine is urging opponents to take their concerns directly to senators.
“I urge you to approach your senators to vote against this legislation,” he said.
“Take the time to think through what the impact of this legislation will really be on the lives of Aboriginal peoples.
“Ask yourself; if it were your family living under these laws would you still allow it to pass?”
