ANTaR Update # 49 (14 September, 1998)

Hi all, this update concerns the coming election and coincides with a printed update mailed out to ANTaR supporters who are not on email. If you would like a copy of the printed update let us know or pick one up from the CAA office in Civic (see contact details at the end of this email). Inside this issue: The "ANTaR $10 ELECTION PLEDGE". The Importance of the Senate for Indigenous Issues. 1) The ANTaR "$10 ELECTION PLEDGE" Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation are working through the election period to ensure that voices speaking for genuine reconciliation are not lost. ANTaR receives no government funding and is one of the few community groups which can speak out on indigenous issues without fear of being defunded. We are also completely voluntary, and we have a support base of thousands of Australians. But to do effective campaign work we need continued community support and financial contributions. In the weeks leading up to the election, ANTaR ACT will fund newspaper and radio advertising to urge people to consider indigenous issues when they cast their vote. The Howard Coalition Government has been disastrous for indigenous rights and prospects for genuine reconciliation in this country. The Howard Government has sown the seeds for a future of continuing racial division and conflict. Already this tainted legacy includes: The racially discriminatory 10-point plan and the Native Title Amendment Act. The Government's refusal to apologise on behalf of the nation to the Stolen Generation. The Government's attacks on ATSIC and other Aboriginal bodies. Howard's animosity towards the national indigenous leadership. Howard's lack of decisive action on racist behaviour. ANTaR does not represent any particular political party - but we believe that such issues are critical for the future of this country. No party or politicians should be able to ignore the hopes and aspirations for justice and reconciliation shared by most Australians. To enable ANTaR to provide an independent voice during this election campaign, give your support to ANTaR's $10 Election Pledge (see details below). It is a positive way to make your vote count for reconciliation and justice. The ANTaR "$10 ELECTION PLEDGE" Name:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Address: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Postcode: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Phone #: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (h) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (w) Email: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Amount Pledged: $_ _ _ _ _ _ Require receipt: _ _ _ _ _ (yes / no) Note: please print and fill out the form or, alternatively write out the relevant details and send it with your cheque or money order (made out to "ANTaR ACT") to ANTaR at: GPO Box 1323, Canberra, ACT, 2601. Thank You 2) THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SENATE FOR INDIGENOUS ISSUES. With the election outcome in the balance it is worth considering the crucial role the Senate has played in mitigating the extent of damage to indigenous rights which the Howard government's policies and actions have threatened. For example, even though Howard's 10-point plan largely made it through the parliament, it was not without significant amendment and almost two years of bitter struggle during which the strength of public support for native title and reconciliation was able to come to the fore. Along the way the combined forces of Labor, the minor parties and independents in the Senate have been able to ensure that parliamentary committees have scrutinised government legislation and policies, further drawing out expert opinion and community concern about the retrograde direction the government has sought to go. Such inquiries have covered issues such as native title, indigenous heritage protection, human rights and the funding of indigneous programs and bodies. These things have only been possible because the government lacks a majority in the Senate. Australian voters seem comfortable with the notion of a Senate not under government control, preferring to have a situation where the minor parties and independents hold the balance of power. The question then becomes who, by virtue of the numbers, holds this lynch-pin of power. Over this last term of parliament it has been Colston and Harradine, with very mixed results. In this election the Senate outcome is equally crucial, particularly in light of the presence of One Nation. Because five of the current Democrat senators are not up for re-election this time, this should see the Democrats maintain its position as the largest single bloc of votes behind the government and Labor. With it being impossible for the next government - Labor or Coalition - to gain a majority in the Senate, we will be urging voters to ensure that the balance of power is held by parties or individuals with good policies on indigenous issues such as native title and reconciliation. A couple of points are worth noting: One Nation remains a wild card, although the need for 14% of the vote to gain a 'quota' (ie, enough votes to elect a candidate) means that it is unlikely to gain many seats in the Senate. However, as we have seen, it only takes one person to hold the balance of power if the numbers are finely balanced. In the ACT electorate, the Democrats have nominated Rick Farley - a high profile candidate with a strong background as an indigenous rights activist - to their number one position. Rick has been actively involved in support of native title, has been a member of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, the Native Title Tribunal, and in the past was Executive Director of the National Farmers Federation. The position of the current Liberal Senator for the ACT, Margaret Reid, is vulnerable, and her defeat by Rick Farley here would be a positive outcome for indigenous issues. Also, the fact that the newly elected senators from the territories will take up their positions immediately, and not next July like the remaining newly elected senators from the states, means that a win for Rick Farley would ensure that the Democrats held the balance of power over the intervening period. This would thwart the Coalition's expected rush (if it retains government) to pass legislation (including legislation damaging to indigenous interests) before next July when the new state senators are likely to make the Senate even more hostile for the Coalition. In NSW, National Indigenous Working Group member Aden Ridgeway, is standing for the Democrats. Aden is the only indigenous candidate in the NSW/ACT region. He has worked for a number of Aboriginal bodies in NSW and was a key negotiator during the passage of the 1993 Native Title Act. The best insurance for indigenous rights and issues in this election is to make sure your Senate candidate has a demonstrated commitment to native title and reconciliation. Please make your vote count. ANTaR (ACT) Contact Details GPO Box 1323 Canberra, ACT 2601 Phone: Community Aid Abroad(02) 6257 4472 (bh),or Cate Buchanan, ph: (02) 62470164 (ah). 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 21:11:30 EST