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ANTaR (ACT) Update # 45 (Tuesday 30th June, 1998)
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Hi all, high drama once again
Items in this update:
1. Harradine caving-in on the 10-point plan! Sounds like Harradine's gone and done it - sold out and done a deal with the government to pass the 10-point plan bill! Democracy at work! If the deal doesn't collapse within the next couple of days (and let's not stop trying yet), it looks as if we'll have to witness this parliament passing ugly, divisive and racist legislation representing a MASSIVE step backwards for indigenous land rights and justice in this country. The deal between the government and Harradine apparently will gut the right to negotiate with miners on pastoral leases, replacing it with a right to object only with respect to interference with significant cultural sites, and removing the opportunity for agreements to include financial trade-offs. Reducing the right to negotiate essentially to heritage protection issues is also significant in view of the government's weak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Bill, currently before the Senate (see ANTaR Update: 4/5/98). Other aspects of the deal which have been mooted include the Government dropping its six-year sunset clause for lodgments of native title claims, and agreeing to Harradine's proposal that the threshold test for lodging claims should be extended to those who can demonstrate that physical connection to the land existed two generations into the past. It appears that the deal was apparently taken to the party room this morning where it hit various hitches, mainly opposition from the Nationals. In any event, it appears possible that a Bill could be put to the House and Senate next week - so we've got until then to continue to pressure Harradine. The poll putting the Government 11 points behind must surely make Harradine realise that he can afford to stick to his guns. The ALP's position, articulated by Kim Beazley during the week, is that Howard's approach continues to exclude Aboriginal representatives from the process and that ultimately, nothing will work unless all the parties can be brought together. The Democrats and Greens have accused Harradine of selling-out, as have indigenous groups. Gladys Typingoompa has said that Harradine has 'shamed' her by renegging on his support after she had given him a traditional armband and invited him to dance with the Wik outside Parliament House. In a similar sense, his paternalistic hand-wringing is shaming us all.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
MESSAGES MUST BE SENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
Sen Harradine: Fax: (02) 6277 3739 Tel: (03) 6234 5122 The National Indigenous Working Group (NIWG) in Canberra is moving offices and needs volunteer helpers to assist during the day this week. If you have some spare time and would like to help, please contact or leave a message for:
Alison Aggarwal - 62064929 (w) or
7 July (Tues), 7.30pm. 12 July (Sun), 9-1pm ANTaR Queanbeyan stall at Queanbeyan Markets, Kings Park, Queanbeyan. Contact: Kerin Luscombe 6297 5256, Roger Clement 6297 3691 16 July (Thurs), 6.30pm "Rally Against One Nation" Queanbeyan RSL. 14 August (Fri), 7.30pm Public Meeting. Speakers: Mick Dodson, Rick Farley. Queanbeyan High School Hall, Agnes St, Queanbeyan. Contact: Vivienne Arnold - 6238 3456
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GPO Box 1323 ANTaR - Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation *****Please forward this message on to other interested people******
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