Statement by Mutitjulu Community Leaders

Leaders of the Mutitjulu community today questioned the need for a military occupation of their small community.

We welcome any real support for indigenous health and welfare and even two police will assist, but the Howard Government declared an emergency at our community over two years ago - when they appointed an administrator to our health clinic - and since then we have been without a doctor, we have less health workers, our council has been sacked all our youth and health programmes have been cut.

We have no CEO and limited social and health services. The government has known about our overcrowding problem for at least 10 years and they’ve done nothing about it.

How do they propose keeping alcohol out of our community when we are 20 minutes away from a 5 star hotel? Will they ban blacks from Yulara? We have been begging for an alcohol counsellor and a rehabilitation worker so that we can help alcoholics and substance abusers but those pleas have been ignored. What will happen to alcoholics when this ban is introduced? How will the government keep the grog runners out of our community without a permit system?

We have tried to put forward projects to make our community economically sustainable - like a simple coffee cart at the sunrise locations – but the government refuses to even consider them.

There is money set aside from the Jimmy Little foundation for a kidney dialysis machine at Mutitjulu, but National Parks won’t let us have it. That would create jobs and improve indigenous health but they just keep stonewalling us. If there is an emergency, why won’t Mal Brough fast track our kidney dialysis machine?

Some commentators have made much of the cluster of sexually transmitted diseases identified at our health clinic. People need to understand that Mutitjulu Health Clinic (now effectively closed) is a regional clinic and patients come from as far away as WA and SA; so to identify a cluster here is meaningless without seeing the confidential patient data.

The fact that we hold this community together with no money, no help, no doctor and no government support is a miracle. Any community, black or white would struggle if they were denied the most basic resources. Police and the Military are fine for logistics and coordination but healthcare, youth services, education and basic housing are more essential. Any programme must involve the people on the ground or it won’t work. For example who will interpret for the military?

Our women and children are scared about being forcibly examined; surely there is a need to build trust. Even the doctors say they are reluctant to examine a young child without a parent’s permission. Of course any child that is vulnerable or at risk should be immediately protected but a wholesale intrusion into our women and children’s privacy is a violation of our human and sacred rights.

Where is the money for all the essential services? We need long term financial and political commitment to provide the infrastructure and planning for our community. There is an urgent need for 10’s of millions of dollars to do what needs to be done. Will Mr Brough give us a commitment beyond the police and military?

The commonwealth needs to work with us to put health and social services, housing and education in place rather than treating Mutitjulu as a political football.

But we need to set the record straight:

• There is no evidence of any fraud or mismanagement at Mutitjulu – we have had an administration for 12 months that found nothing

• Mal Brough and his predecessor have been in control of our community for at least 12 months and we have gone backwards in services

• We have successfully eradicated petrol sniffing from our community in conjunction with government authorities and oil companies

• We have thrown suspected paedophiles out of our community using the permit system that our government now seeks to take away from us.

We will work constructively with any government, State, Territory or Federal that wants to help aboriginal people.

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Dear friends

We did it!

Our goal was to get 1,000 signatures on our open letter to Premier Peter Beattie demanding justice for Mulrunji. A grand total of 1,035 people signed the open letter.

Well done to all the activists who worked so hard to achieve this goal.

Please help spread the word.

In solidarity
Alison Thorne
For ISJA – Melb

Movement remains mobilised for Mulrunji

On the even of the trial of Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley the Indigenous Social Justice Association – Melbourne (ISJA – M) has sent an open letter to Premier Peter Beattie welcoming the decision of Queensland Attorney General to lay charges. More than one thousand people signed the letter demanding justice for Mulrunji.

 The open letter noted that the charging of Senior Sergeant Hurley was the first time a police officer has been charged in connection with an Aboriginal death in custody in Queensland. Charging a police officer in connection with a death of an Indigenous person in custody is a rare event anywhere in Australia. When West Australian police officers were charged in connection with the death of John Pat, an all white jury acquitted those charged, the open letter noted.

The huge numbers that signed the letter rejected claims by some commentators that the decision to finally lay charges against officer Hurley demonstrates the justice system works. The letter noted that the movement to win justice for Mulrunji played an essential role exposing problems surrounding this case and must remain vigilant and mobilised.

Many signing the open letter expressed anger at the way those protesting the death of Mulrunji on Palm Island were treated. The letter calls for all charges to be dropped against those in the Palm Island community who rose up to protest the watch house death. It demands payment of compensation and calls for the convictions to be quashed for those who have already been unjustly charged.  

Additional demands in the letter included full implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Death in custody. Funding for trauma counseling for families affected by a death in custody was raised. The letter also proposed that elected civilian review boards with powers to hold the police to account be established.

Members of ISJA – M were delighted that 1,035 people were eager to add their name to the letter to Premier Beattie and reported finding a very high level of community awareness about the issue and support for the ongoing campaign to stop Aboriginal deaths in custody.

 In solidarity
Alison Thorne
For Indigenous Social Justice Association – Melbourne

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ISJA (Melbourne Supporters Group) supports the Djardi-Dugarang newsletter. Djardi- Dugarang means “Talk Loud  - Talk Strong.” It is the bi-monthly newsletter of the Indigenous Social Justice Association based in Sydney. Each issue of the newsletter has a theme. To subscribe send $100 (large organisations), $50 (small organisations), $20 (employed), $10 (concession) to ISJA, 1303/200 Pitt Street, Waterloo NSW 2017. Enquiries about back-issue can be directed to Ray Jackson, isja01@bigpond.net.au

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Liyarn Ngarrn
This DVD is highly recommend! More information is available at: http://www.antar.org.au/liyarn_ngarn .

You can purchase a from ANTAR using the attached order form.

ISJA – Melb also plans to hold a public screening early in 2008.

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Respected Palm Island community member, Lex Wotton, will be in Melbourne from 5 - 10 August for a speaking tour organised by the Indigenous Social Justice Association - Melbourne.

We will provide opportunities for Lex to speak to Indigenous community gatherings, work place and other union meetings, campus get-togethers, community and main stream media, civil libertarians, Indigenous rights solidarity campaigners plus all of those people out there who may never have heard of Lex or thought much about the terrible miscarriage of justice taking place on Palm Island.

We invite proposals from you about concrete opportunities for Lex to speak . We are particularly keen for your offers of places where Lex will be heard by those who may be new to the issues, such as workplace meetings.

If you have a specific proposal, please get in touch with us right away by e-mailing me or calling Cheryl on 0401-806-331. We have lots of places where Lex can potentially speak but will start drawing up a firm timetable at the ISJA – Melb meeting on Wednesday 16 July. So get in quick to avoid disappointment.

There are also two other specific ways that you can help.

(1) ISJA – Melb is holding a Lex Wotton Solidarity Fiesta on Saturday 9 August, 7 pm at the MUA Hall in Ireland Street West Melbourne. It is guaranteed to be a fabulous evening. Mark this date in your diary now.

Volunteer to give us a hand on the night. We need people to help with set-up, clean-up, bar, food, door and a myriad of other important jobs.  Or, you can come to our organising meetings – 16 July, 23 July and 30 July, 6:30 pm at Solidarity Salon, 580 Sydney Road, Brunswick.

Please print out copies of the attached invitation and/or electronically circulate it to all  of your friends.

(2) Help support the tour by sending a donation. Make cheques payable to ISJA – Melb and send them to PO Box 266, West Brunswick Vic 3055.

Lex Wotton Tour

Lex Wotton Solidarity Fiesta

Invasion Day Brisbane Rally

Photos by Ted Riethmuller

 

 

 

Dear friend of the Indigenous Social Justice Association - Melbourne Supporters Group

The nationwide movement to stop Aboriginal deaths in custody has done a magnificent job keeping the heat on the Queensland Government to demand justice for Mulrunji.

While too little too late, the Invasion Day announcement was still fantastic news and a tribute to the movement! We must keep the heat on and not let the campaign momentum slow.

On February 3, 2007, ISJA (MSG) launched our new petition at a stall at the St Kilda Festival. In a few short hours we got 254 signatures! Good work to all who helped staff our stall.

The attached petition is designed to both put demands on the Queensland Government but also to assist in education about the issues by talking with people and inviting them to get involved.

Can you please share it with your networks?

Let's continue to build a movement for justice which simply cannot be ignored!

 

Alison Thorne
for the Indigenous Social Justice Association - Melbourne Supporters Group
03-9388-0062