ANTaR celebrates success stories in community control in the NT

A Better Way

In October, ANTaR National Director Jacqueline Phillips and Campaigns and Development Manager Kate Aubrey-Poiner traveled to Larrakia Country in Darwin, to launch our publication, A Better Way: Success Stories in Aboriginal Community Control in the Northern Territory.

The publication celebrates the success of 13 Aboriginal community- controlled organisations in the Northern Territory and calls for Governments to empower local communities to generate solutions to the challenges facing them.

We were delighted to have a range of distinguished speakers at the launch, including Olga Havnen from the Australian Red Cross, Rodney Dillon from Amnesty International Australia (member of the ANTaR National Management Committee), John Paterson from the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the Northern Territory (AMSANT) and Jonathan Hunyor from the Northern Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA).

We were also thrilled to be joined by representatives of some of the organisations featured in the publication, including AMSANT, the Arnhem Land Progress Association (ALPA) and the Association of Northern, Kimberley and Arnhem Land Artists (ANKAAA).

Our second print run of booklets is due off the press any day now and we have had many requests for copies from individuals and organisations, wirth people thrilled to see such a positive publication. The booklet provides evidence to support the empowerment of Aboriginal committees and organisations in areas such as justice, health, community services, resource management, employment and training in the arts.

The launch attracted local and national media coverage and the publication is intended to be used as an advocacy and lobbying tool by ANTaR and other Indigenous and non-Indigenous organisations seeking to shift Government policies in the Territory.

To receive a hard copy of A Better Way: Success Stories in Community Control in the Northern Territory, please email Jacqueline Phillips, ANTaR National Director, or download a copy from: http://www.antar.streetlinemedia.com

Are we there yet? ANTaR launches a 10-year reconciliation progress report

On 19 November, ANTaR was honoured to have Professor Patrick Dodson launch our report: Are we there yet? Ten years on from the decade of reconciliation: a reconciliation progress report.

Former ANTaR President Dr Janet Hunt, with Professor Patrick Dodson, speaking at the launch of ANTaR's Are we there yet? Reconciliation progress report.

The launch took place at the inaugural National Indigenous Policy and Dialogue Conference at the University of NSW in Sydney. The report calls on all levels of government to ‘reset’ the relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples by developing a clear reconciliation agenda, respecting rights and increasing resources to reconciliation activities and groups.

In 2000, upon its cessation, the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation released its blueprint for reconciled Australia. Our report concludes that over the past decade many of the Council’s recommendations have not been advanced, despite some highpoints like the National Apology.

However, we believe this is a time for optimism. The upcoming referendum on recognising Indigenous peoples in the Constitution offers us an historic opportunity to come together as a nation in respect and goodwill. We will use the report and its recommendations as an advocacy tool to lobby Government to address the ‘unfinished business’ of reconciliation and hope that it will prove useful for other individuals and organisations in their efforts to achieve a reconciled Australia.

ANTaR’s AGM

Our AGM and National Management Committee meeting were held in Sydney on the 20-21 November. We were honored to have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mick Gooda and Professor Patrick Dodson attend the meeting and we thank them for taking the time to share their wisdom and experience with the ANTaR Committee.

I am pleased to announce our new President, Dr Peter Lewis. Peter is the Manager of Policy, Research and Communication at the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) and has been at VACCA since 2004. He was one of the founding members of the ANTaR in Victoria and is currently its Chairperson. Peter has also been a member of Reconciliation Victoria, the National Sorry Day Committee and the Victorian Stolen Generations Sorry Day Committee.

Peter Lewis, ANTaR's new president.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing President, Dr Janet Hunt for her leadership, dedication and expertise in the role over the last few years. Janet will remain a valued member of ANTaR’s National Management Committee. Thanks also to outgoing NMC member, Matthew Fenwick.

ANTaR’s 2009-10 Annual Report is now available for download at: http//www.antar.org.au/sites/default/files/AR_ANTaR_0910_webversion.PDF/.

Get the Rights Stuff this silly season.

Cards, books, clothing, and accessories – your shopping can support the rights and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

E-bulletin special: Gone for a song.

Mulrunji, a popular member of Palm Island's Aboriginal community, was picked up by the police. Between the paddy wagon and the cells, there was an altercation with the arresting officer, Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley, and an hour later Mulrunji was dead, alone in his cell.

The autopsy reports sparked riots on the island that left the police station, barracks and court house in ruins. Queensland's acting State Coroner found that Mulrunji died as a result of the actions of the Senior Sergeant Hurley, who was later at trial acquitted of manslaughter.

Gone for a Song coverThis death in custody sparked not just the riots on Palm Island but a wave of protest across Queensland with hundreds, even thousands, marching in Brisbane and Townsville.

Senior correspondent Jeff Waters brings years of experience in investigative journalism to bear to examine what happened between Mulrunji's arrest and Senior Sergeant Hurley's acquittal. Along the way he discovered a problematic investigation and a community still reeling from yet another blow in a long line of injustices which stem from the time that dislocated Aboriginal people were taken to Palm Island from their native lands.

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Please call the ANTaR National Office 02 9564 0594 or email antar@antar.org.au.

Support ANTaR's work

To support ANTaR’s ongoing campaigns and advocacy across a range of Indigenous social justice issues, please consider making a donation at http://www.antar.org.au/donate. We rely on the generosity of individuals like you!