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Hi all, Yesterday was the sixth anniversary of Eddie Mabo's High Court
victory, marking the end of the doctrine of terra nullius and the emergence
of native title into Australian land law.
Items in this update:
1. Next ANTaR Public Meeting, 10th June.
2. Sorry Day update.
3. TWO WINTER DINNERS ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES.
4. Aboriginal Hostels 25th Anniversary Dinner.
5. THE KUMARANGK LEGAL DEFENCE FUND.
6. Some good news about the Heritage bill.
7. Protest against One Nation,
Queanbeyan RSL, June 18.
8. ANTaR events for Queanbeyan.
**Please note that ANTaR ACT has a new email address:
antaract@interline.com.au
Emails to the old address will still get through.
***********************
1. Next ANTaR Public Meeting.
***********************
The next ANTaR Public Meeting will be a FILM NIGHT on Wed 10th June, at
7pm, the Fraser Room, Workers Club, Childers St, Civic.
Films:
"Dhuway: an Australian diaspora and home-coming."
56 mins. Co-produced by Noel Pearson.
plus shorts: "BBQ Area" and "Still you keep asking, asking".
***************
2. Sorry Day update.
***************
Sorry Day events in Canberra last week were a great success in spite of the
Government's snubbing of the occasion. The Sunday event at Commonwealth
Park was positive, enjoyable and well attended, particularly by members of
the local indigenous comunity. The main Sorry Day event on Tuesday was both
powerful and moving and marred only slightly by the limited size of the
theatre at Parliament House which meant that an overflow of more than 400
people had to watch proceedings on monitors set up outside. Thanks to all
who contributed with their time, resources and participation to a landmark
occasion.
For those who have not yet been able to sign a Sorry Book, they are still
in circulation and can be signed at (or borrowed for workplaces or
community groups etc) the Community Aid Abroad office, 1st Floor, Griffin
Centre, Bunda St Civic.
For ANTaR ACT, participation in the Sorry Day network and events has added
importance in respect of:
i) participating strongly in events with Ngunnawal/ local indigenous
community members;
ii) working with a network which will undoubtedly be called upon in the
coming months and beyond to maintain focus on reconciliation and indigenous
issues, particularly in the lead-up to the federal election; and
iii) becoming more involved in Stolen Generation initiatives, which will
help in establishing links with native title and other indigenous land
issues and in broadening opportunities for community discussion and
understanding.
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2. TWO WINTER DINNERS ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES.
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Two winter dinners on indigenous issues will be hosted by Reconciliation in
the ACT:
WED 17 JUNE, 7pm: Justice Elizabeth Evatt:
"Indigenous Cultural Heritage: how do we protect it?"
Justice Elizabeth Evatt is a member of the United Nations Human Rights
Committee, and prepared a report to the Minister for the Aboriginal &
Torres Strait Islander Affairs on the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander
Heritage Protection Act 1994.
at the Australian National University (venue details below)
Tickets: $25 or $18 concession. Book by Monday 15 June (see contacts below).
--------
WED 15 JULY, 7pm: Aden Ridgeway:
"Land Rights in Transition: future prospects."
Aden Ridgeway is a member of the National Indigenous Working Group, member
of the NSW Reconciliation Council, a consultant to the NSW Land Council,
and a negotiator/lobbyist.
at the Australian National University (venue details below).
Tickets: $25 or $18 concession. Book by Monday 13 July (see below).
BOOKINGS: 6288 6273 or 6248 0879
OR (until 19 June): 6258 9102 or 6273 2071
Or tickets at COMMUNITY AID ABROAD OFFICE, 1st floor, Griffin Centre, Bunda
Street, Civic
VENUE for both dinners: ANU Union Functions and Conference Centre.
Park in North Road and follow signs to Karmel Room 3, 1st floor, rear of the
ANU Union Building.
You will be greeted with mulled wine, and served a three course dinner with
house wine or juice. Bottled wine can be purchased. Vegetarian or other
dietary needs should be advised on booking.
Hosted by Reconciliation in the ACT, a community group promoting
listening, learning, understanding, and justice for Indigenous peoples.
Further information from: 6258 9102, or 6281 6412, or 6248 0879.
************************************
4. Aboriginal Hostels 25th Anniversary Dinner.
************************************
Tickets are available for Aboriginal Hostels' 25th Anniversary Dinner,
WED 24th JUNE, 6.30-11.30pm.
Special Guests: Dr Charles Perkins, Dr Lowitja (Lois) O'Donoghue, and
Senator John Herron.
Entertainment: NAISDA Cultural Ensemble Dance Group.
The Abbey Function Centre
O'Hanlon Place, Nicholls, ACT
Tickets: $30
Contact: Beverly Wardrop (02) 6289 3877
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5. THE KUMARANGK LEGAL DEFENCE FUND
*******************************
>-----Original Message-----
>From: mary.heath@flinders.edu.au [SMTP:mary.heath@flinders.edu.au]
>Subject: Kumarangk Legal Defence Fund
>
>Announcing the formation of:
> THE KUMARANGK LEGAL DEFENCE FUND Inc.
>
The KLDF has been formed in response to civil suits taken out against a
number of people and organisations opposed to the building of the Hindmarsh
Island bridge.
>
>South Australian defamation actions brought by Tom, Wendy and/or Andrew
>Chapman against alleged opponents of the Hindmarsh Island bridge:
>
>vs Dean Whittaker
>(District Court Action No. 310 of 1997)
>
>vs Margaret Allen (Green Left Weekly)
>Neale Draper
>(District Court Action No. 533)
>
>vs John Coulter
>Australian Democrats (SA)
>(District Court Action No. 1333/1997)
>
>vs Conservation Council of SA Inc
>Friends of Goolwa Kumarangk Inc
>Kumarangk Coalition
>Gregory Lundstrom
>Chris Lundstrom
>(District Court Action No. 1366/1997)
>
>vs Conservation Council of SA Inc
>Margaret Bolster
>David Shearman
>Richard Owen
>(Supreme Court Action 81/1998)
>
>Donations to support the defence of these cases can be sent to the
>address below. (Please nominate if you wish your donation to be used for one
>particular case)
>
>The Kumarangk Legal Defence Fund has been formed to assist in the
>organisation of financial, moral and legal support for the people and
>organisations who are being sued in connection with the campaign to stop
>the building of the bridge to Hindmarsh Island.
>
>*The Cases*
>Many of the cases are about alleged defamations where the defendants
>criticised planning processes related to the bridge, which the developers
>of Marina Goolwa claim inferred a defamation of them.
>
>One defamation case began after a "letter to the editor" of a local
>newspaper commenting on consultation with Aboriginal people. Another
>defamation case is against former Senator John Coulter after he demanded an
>investigation into allegations of police irregularity at an anti-bridge
>protest.
>
>Cases are also being pursued against organisations like the Conservation
>Council of South Australia, which, as the peak environmental body in South
>Australia represents organisations totalling some 60,000 members.
>
>Some media organisations have been or are being sued over their
>reporting of comments made in interviews with Ngarrindjeri women, or as a
>result of their reporting of other issues related to the bridge controversy.
>
>Other defamation cases relating to the Hindmarsh Island bridge affair brought
>by Tom, Wendy and/or Andrew Chapman:
> vs ACP Publishing (The Bulletin)
> (District Court Action No. 294/1997)
>vs Nationwide News (The Australian)
> (District Court Action No. 295/1997)
>vs Network Ten Ltd
> (District Court Action No. 1134/1997)
>vs Federal Capital Press (Canberra Times)
> (District Court Action No. 128/1998)
>vs The Australian Broadcasting Corporation
> (Supreme Court Action No. 321 of 1998)
>
>*Civil Rights*
>The merits of the individual cases will be decided eventually by the courts,
>but what is of particular concern is the effect of the cases on political
>rights.
>
>The use of civil litigation against public protest is widespread in the United
>States. It appears to be on the increase in Australia. Similar patterns of
>litigation have been called by American legal academics, George Pring and
>Penelope Canan, SLAPPs (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation).
>_The Advertiser_ has described previous litigation by the developers of the
>marina on Hindmarsh Island as SLAPPs.
>
>Regardless of the motivation of the plaintiffs or the merit of individual
>cases, Pring and Canan argue that the overall effect is to silence some people
>and organisations. This can be seen to represent a curtailment of the basic
>civil rights of freedom of speech and the freedom to lobby government to
>change its policies.
>
>A number of people and groups associated with the Ngarrindjeri people and the
>anti-bridge campaign have already stated that they have felt constrained from
>expressing their opinion or taking part in the campaign.
>
>*Support Wanted*
>In these Hindmarsh Island cases the defendants claim that their statements
>were justified, but fighting legal cases is expensive and time consuming.
>Unfortunately legal aid is not available for such civil cases.
>
>The KLDF asks for financial assistance for costs associated with legal
>research, court and legal fees.
>
>The KLDF is only providing support for those individuals and community
>organisations who oppose the building of the bridge, (not commercial media
>organisations which are also being sued). However, we welcome donations from
>those who are undecided or who are in favour of the bridge, but who are
>concerned about this use of civil litigation on civil liberties grounds.
>
>The KLDF is not affiliated to or a member of any other organisation, group or
>political campaign. You can be sure your money will only be used to support
>the defendants.
>
>For further information, contact
>The Kumarangk Legal Defence Fund Inc
>PO Box 3168
>Rundle Mall SA 5000
>
>Donations can be sent to the above address.
>Cheques should be made payable to the "Kumarangk Legal Defence Fund"
*********************************
6. Some good news about the Heritage bill.
*********************************
Seems like almost everyone except Senator Herron is listening to reason on
the commonwealth's indigenous heritage bill... Debate on the bill in the
House of Representatives begins today (check PNN Radio, AM 1440).
>Sydney Morning Herald: - "Committee critical of Aboriginal bill."
>
>Date: 02/06/98
>
>By MARGO KINGSTON in Canberra
>
>The Government-dominated parliamentary committee on native title has rejected
>key elements of the Government's bill to return protection of Aboriginal
>heritage to the States, especially its failure to provide minimum standards of
>State protection.
>
>The committee chairman, Queensland Liberal Mr Warren Entsch, was embarrassed
>by the bill because it was released on the same day as his committee published
>a comprehensive review of heritage protection recommending much greater
>protection than the Government's plan.
>
>Yesterday, the committee backed its original findings - which supported
>recommendations in a report to the Government by Justice Elizabeth Evatt - and
>said the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Senator Herron, should make major
>changes to his bill.
>
>The 1984 Heritage Protection Act was enacted because there was little or no
>State protection for Aboriginal heritage, and was designed as an avenue of
>last resort for Aborigines.
>
>But under Senator Herron's plan the Commonwealth would end its responsibility
>except where a site's protection was "in the national interest", giving
>Aborigines no comprehensive last-resort remedy. Senator Herron also wants to
>give the States complete power on the issue without legislating for minimum
>standards with which they must comply.
>
>Among the committee's recommendations were that:
>* The bill provide for blanket protection of indigenous heritage, and that
>States do the same to get "accreditation" to decide on heritage protection;
>*The "national interest" be defined to include the protection of indigenous
>heritage;
>*The bill set out a comprehensive Commonwealth standard which the States must
>adopt.
>Labor decided yesterday to oppose the bill, and its Aboriginal affairs
>spokesman, Mr Daryl Melham, said the Government was "walking away from its
>constitutional and inter-national responsibilities". "For many people the
>Commonwealth legislation is the only resort," he said.
>
>Senator Herron had not read the report last night, and would not comment on
>its contents.
>
>This material is subject to copyright and any unauthorised use, copying or
>mirroring is prohibited.
>
>This posting is provided to the individual members of this group
>without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism,
>comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the
>Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without
>permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use."
******************************************
7. Protest against One Nation, Queanbeyan RSL, June 18.
******************************************
One Nation will be holding a meeting in Queanbeyan on Thursday 18th June to
establish a local branch and to seek a One Nation candidate for the federal
seat of Eden-Monaro. The Socialist Workers are calling a protest action
outside the Queanbeyan RSL, Crawford St, from 6.30pm.
For more info or a lift phone 014 074 855.
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8. ANTaR events for Queanbeyan.
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In the next 6 weeks ANTaR ACT will be having an event in Queanbeyan, so we
are looking for members of this list who are either based or have contacts
there, and who would be interested in helping out with organisation,
contacts, etc. If that sounds like you, please email us back.
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ANTaR ACT Contact Details:
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GPO Box 1323
Canberra, ACT 2601
Phone: Community Aid Abroad (02) 6257 4472 (bh), or
Cate Buchanan, ph: (02) 62470164 (h).
e-mail:
antaract@interline.com.au
websites:
http://www.antar.org.au/act (ACT)
http://www.antar.org.au (national)
National Clearinghouse (Sydney) 02-95556138
ANTaR - Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation
*****Please forward this message on to other interested people******
*****GETTING ON/OFF THIS LIST:
If you would like to be included on or taken off this list please email
your request to antaract@interline.com.au
and it will be done.
This page was last modified on Tuesday, 12-Sep-2000 21:11:04 EST
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