Login / Manage membership        Not receiving GetUp emails? Join now to receive updates There are currently 377759 members.

Save the Homelands

Posted on the campaign blog , September 11th, 2009






The delegation met with:



  • Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin;

  • Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health & Regional Services Delivery, Warren Snowdon;

  • Senator Mark Arbib; and

  • advisors to the Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard.


They presented over 27,000 of signatures calling for funding to secure the future of these vibrant homelands communities.

Thanks for supporting the homelands. We'll keep you posted as the campaign progresses.


159 comments

Leave Your Comment

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Campaign Blogs
This blog post is from the Campaign Close the Gap.
Blog Tools

Featured Articles

An historic victory in the Federal Court
Sam Mclean
Time to Pull The Plug On Internet Filtering
Eliza Cussen
Mental Health Update
Sam Mclean
Update: Your vote stopped? Get the facts!
Sam Mclean
Latest Comments
Campaign Blogs

Join Getup

Whether it is signing a petition, engaging with the media, attending an event or helping to get a television ad on the air, you'll only ever asked to take targeted, coordinated and strategic action. Taking action is optional, convenient and proven to work!
Join Now.

Subscribe!


Jenny
September 11th, 2009

Thank you for this video, it's great to see what happens behind the scenes. I am so pleased that my $50 donation could help get these representatives to Canberra and share their stories with Ministers. I just hope that the government listens and actually does something to secure the future of these valuable communitiess.
Good luck and love to all involved.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Pixiegirl
September 11th, 2009

Imagine an Australia where we are one nation, one humanity, all are equal beyond, race, colour, country of birth, level of education, money in the bank, titles we hold.

Thank you for your initiative to birth equality for all Australians, equally.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Glen O\'Brien
September 11th, 2009

I pray that the concerns of this delegation will not fall on deaf ears, and that the federal government will put pressure on the NT government to ensure a fair deal for the people in the Homelands.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Sandra Kelly
September 11th, 2009

Brilliant - good on ya Get Up. We've all just got to keep pushing and pushing and we'll get there.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Oli
September 11th, 2009

Great work, GetUp Team

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

Jen Jewel Brown
September 11th, 2009

Gee this is a really moving video of a great action. Thankyou tribal leaders and GetUp and supporters to get these very important sentiments to the right place.

Fingers crossed.

xJen

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Evan
September 11th, 2009

Excellent brief footage and commentary.
This sounds like the genuine voices of real people, not political spin for political purposes.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Margutopia
September 11th, 2009

Thank you Get Up for encouraging support for our indigenous leaders. From my experience, not enough people outside the Northern Territory know what is going on here. I work with Arrente and Anangu people and they are not happy with the Intervention as it has been experienced so far. They can see that too much money has been spent on bureaucrats and not enough consultation or respect has been shown to the people whose lives are being manipulated.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
dippindoo
September 12th, 2009

How true are these words. the bureaucrats always think of themselves first. they are full of greed..

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
YortaYortaWoman
September 11th, 2009

Hi Marg Utopia...I'm a Yorta Yorta woman from Goulburn/Murray River Country Vic/NSW. When I first heard about the The NT Intervention it ripped a hole in my guts so I can only imagine what it's doing to people whose faced everyday with this racist so-called intervention. Here we are down south, fighting to keep culture strong, rights to Country/native title, respect..so on and so on. Please pass on the Arrente & Anangu people & other mobs that of our spirits stands beside them...if there was a way to all come together on this in ONE place...ULURU...Imagine the strength and spirit experienced? It would be something TRULY special - One people One heart across this nation standing together for RIGHTS & RESPECT FOR HOMELANDS, HERITAGE, CULTURE & ABORIGINALITY!!!!!!!! A REAL&STRONG FUTURE for Aboriginal people!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

September 11th, 2009

What a great idea from Marg Utopia, Yorta Yorta, could this be something we start to work on???

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Taryn
September 11th, 2009

How beautiful it was to see these proud strong men taking the message of the people forward. Thank you

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
SemraG
September 11th, 2009

I felt very emotional to see how proudly these honourable people represented their people, culture and their true rights. I wish all the best from deep of my heart.

I am glad that my name is among the ones who belive in justice, equality and humanity.

Thanks to GetUp for working on real issues and making us part of their work.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
thinkngal
September 11th, 2009

I was very moved by the delegates statements. Thank you GetUp.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Vincent Phelan
September 11th, 2009

Keep the homelands.

Preserve the languages.

Have everyone learn English.

Vincent Phelan
Retired from the N.T. after 20 years service there.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Caisley sinclair
September 14th, 2009

Your comment
Learn English? Vincent you sound like the Colonialism that we are trying to distance ourselves from. why not have everyone learn an Indigenous language. English, its as foreign as the first invaders!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
margaret
September 11th, 2009

I am a Noongar women from the South WEst of WA. I feel strong about the need for Aboriginal people from the Homelands remaining on their Country and that no-one has the right to tell them to move away from there.
The White English Colonialists developed their own white Australia Constitution and Policies that did not recognise and acknowledge Aboriginal people's Sovereign rights. It was developed after many massacueres and killings of Aboriginal Leaders in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The descendentas in power today of the Colonialists of the past, are continuuing on with the lie about 'Settlement of Australia'. Their Ancestors took Australia with brutal force and instilled fear into every Aboriginal Man, Women and Child, and this fear is still there today as it can be seen in the brutal force of the Police Department and Welfare Departments and how they still treat Aboriginal people. NOthing much has changed, it is still the situation today. Now it is time for Aboriginal people to hold the Government to Ransom over the wrongdoings of the Past? It is time the Government stopped trying to push Aboriginal people around and honestly and openly acknowledge their past atrocities committed and start to acknowledge the still current ownership and spiritual connection that the Aboriginal people have with this Country. It is Aboriginal Country it will always be Aboriginal Country and nothing will ever change that.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Margot
September 11th, 2009

Thanks GetUp for doing all the hard work on our behalf and thanks for making the video of the Canberra visit. Let's hope the govt listens and ACTS.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Alison Noble
September 11th, 2009

I truly hope that they were listening and will start putting people and their homelands before short term profits. Thank you Get Up for giving 27,000 of us a voice in this matter.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Lee.woma
September 11th, 2009

Thank you so much for giving me the chance to be a part, no matter how small, of such an important part of shifting the attitude in Canberra towards supporting Homelands ideals & goals. I hope the decision makers also shed tears like me while watching Barayuwa Munungurr speak about why we need to do this. I have such a strong feeling of restored pride in being a true, caring, EQUAL Aussie. I will continue to give whatever support I can, keep fighting GetUp team .

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Beth Hale
September 11th, 2009

I am proud to be counted in the 27,000. May time swell that number, we will never own 'The Land' it will go on long after we are gone. Love where you are now, respect and nurture, create sacred space for the animals and the generations to follow.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Margaret McG
September 11th, 2009

I was deeply moved by watching the video and listening to these voices from the heart. Thank you, GetUp for sharing it and thanks for all the good work you do. I sincerely hope that we soon will be able to thank the Federal Government for doing the right thing in ensuring these homelands are preserved for the people they have always belonged to.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Aaron
September 11th, 2009

This is awesome. I hope those in parliament are becoming to understand 'connection to country' and how such connections gives a proud identity that has always been here.
I am of foregn decent and am 'sorry'. I hope those who inherited land from grand parents are sorry too as they inherited land that once belonged to the traditional owners... It was unlawfully taken therefore, arn't they? recieving stolen goods?
I am So glad to join GetUp!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Kylie
September 11th, 2009

I would like to be able to hear more videos and recordings about the aboriginal peoples experiences and feelings because by hearing their stories, their voices and their emotions i can learn about them and feel a connnection with them more than just by reading something.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Barbara Stuart
September 11th, 2009

I am encouraged by this and thanks getup for enabling this visit to Canberra. We are currently in Alice Springs and see the devastating ongoing consequences of colonisation which continues to this day with plans by the Gov't to move people our of their country to towns and cities where grog, violence and death result. It's good that indigenous people are standing up for themselves. I saw the tears drop down that man's face. There was deep pain in those tears that we can't fully understand.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Y?Qx7r
September 11th, 2009

At last!!!! So many will not know of this break through, it has come too late, they are not here now. Such sadness they had felt throufgout their lives

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
BlackBear
September 11th, 2009

Good work Getup. I have been a past visitor and guest at outstations in Arnhem Land and know and feel the distress that must accompany any thought of Aboriginal people being forced from their Home Lands. It is an ignorance and a disgrace that reveals the total disconnect between government policy and reality's for Aboriginal people and their cultural surival. The Home Lands "outstation" movement is a success story showing Aboriginal know what they want and need.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Vicki
September 11th, 2009

What can I say - thank you Getup and thank you to all those who like me signed the petition.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
YortaYortaWoman
September 11th, 2009

Thanks 2 the Get UP! crew for sharing this footage & a VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU to the Homeland Delegation that spoke...TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY, SO PROUD, STRONG & DETERMINED in their KNOWLEDGE & Beliefs that they shared with us from their hearts...the spirit of what they talked about reinforced everything that's important for Aboriginal people EVERYWHERE!!!!...It made my heart fill with pride & great emotion to hear their words!!! Much Respect...

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
jocey
September 11th, 2009

It would have been good to see what the reactions and comments were of Jenny Macklin and her colleagues.

While I am happy to help, it is hard for some people to support this, when we see all the difficulties in some of the homelands with drugs, alcohol, sexual assault on children. It would be good to know what these people have to say about these problems, and I hope that these people are not living in those communities.

Keep up the good work,

jocey

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Amela
September 30th, 2009

It is hard to support anything if people do not try to underestand and realise that they are not helping and supporting bad side of any issue. I for example give jearly donation to Sydney charities to provide meals, accommodation and other support, which let be honest are used to assist and support people strugling with Addictions (alcohol, drugs) to have food and shelter (free of charge) and it is clear to all of us that money that they save bcause of assistance they use to buy alcohol and/or drugs. Not to mention that our government is providing public housing and allowances to all without income and unfortunatly that includes rapists, pedofiles and other scum of the eart, but what we can do they have to live somewhere and ....

I can go on and on, but basic truth is we help when we can and we make decision what causes we want to support in most instances. Except that paying our taxes we also are supporting all mentioned above (centrelink, dept of public Housing etc), like it or not.

I am just glad that government (at least this one) is finally paying attention to what realy matters and respecting human rights a bit more. It was about time.

Good work GetUp!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Fairy Wren
September 11th, 2009

Congrats Get Up for keeping us informed on Indigenous matters. The world is not made up entirely of greed and profit making mining companies. Keep the homelands communities for the people who have their spirits steeped in the land.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Coral
September 11th, 2009

Thank you Getup for the video. It was powerful - the strength,connectedness and commitment of the delegates really showed through. I feel honoured to have played 1 tiny part in saving the Homelands movement. The next question is - did the politicians really listen? I await the outcome. I pray that the right decision is made!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

September 11th, 2009

I wish I was that connected!!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Felicity
September 11th, 2009

Your comment

I cried with Barayuwa. As with most city dwellers, I have little contact with indigenous Australians and most of what I see on TV is about riots and destruction of property. I know that this is a minority but I'm afraid that a lot of people think that the indigenous community already get too much given to them. I wish there was an easy solution to the whole situation, but unfortunately I think that we're a long way from there. Please keep up the campaign and keep us all informed.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Allie
September 11th, 2009

Thank you Getup. Hopefully we will slowly claw back the heart back into the Australian conscience by giving the homelands back to their rightful owners.
I am glad to be counted as one who continues to care.
Researching my ancestry makes me more aware of the falseness of the continual declaration that Australia was 'settled'.
I am sorry for what my ancestors took without asking.

Good luck to the future for this cause.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Jungarrayi
September 11th, 2009

The Governments'(NT and Federal) "Homelands" policies are only part of a multi-pronged assimilationist attack on Aboriginal Australia. The NT Intervention, the imposition of Shires the size of some European countries, the scrapping of bi-lingual education, the disempowerement of local communities, ad infinitum.
Watch the next 4-Corners, they're doing a number on bi-lingual education.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Phyl
September 11th, 2009

God bless these beautiful people and their sacred homeland. May they have what is rightfully theirs and may they all live in great dignity and respect as who they really are. Also I pray the polititians listen to them with Love and Compassion in their hearts and start to right some of the wrongs of the past.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
anneEmu
September 11th, 2009

Alyawarr walkoff - where is the money?

See http://www.cpa.org.au/guardian/2009/1425/05-open-letter.html

In doing some research on the authenticity of the above message, i found this media release:
http://www.warrensnowdon.com/media/090304.htm by Warren Snowdon and Jenny Macklin
"-Alyawarr Inkerr-Wenh Aboriginal Corporation for the Operational Funding, Tennant Creek: $492,185"
... which makes me wonder why there is a call out for donations when there is already $492,185K on the table allocated for improvements?!?

Where is this money!?!

I just spoke to Richard Downs, Spokesperson for the Alyawarr Nation on the phone, he knows nothing of this funding.

I would like to ask Jenny and Warren ... why can't funds already allocated be immediately PUT INTO USE!

Sheesh!! putting out media releases on funds allocated and no work done! Typical!

i wonder also what will need to be "signed over" to receive these funds... ?
funds which were allocated and publicised on Wednesday, 4 March 2009, that is nearly 7 MONTHS AGO!

As such i have just shot off an email which raises these questions to Jenny Macklin & Warren Snowdon, (pasted below - with contact details).
It would be great if GetUp could follow up on this too, perhaps start an e-campaign about this important issue.

more info: http://www.interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com
-------------
http://www.alp.org.au/people/email/snowdon_warren.php (contact form)
jmacklin.mp@aph.gov.au

Dear Jenny/Warren

I refer you to this media release dated Wednesday, 4 March 2009 http://www.warrensnowdon.com/media/090304.htm and would like to know where the money which has been supposedly granted to the "Alyawarr Inkerr-Wenh Aboriginal Corporation for the Operational Funding, Tennant Creek" in the amount of $492,185 is?
I spoke to Richard Downs today and he knows of no such funding allocation. I would like to know where this money is, what is it's intended use and exactly what the people of the Alyawarr Inkerr-Wenh Aboriginal Corporation have to do to receive these funds?

I look forward to your expedient reply.
-------------
Thanks for the great work u do GetUp
:-)

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Robyn
September 11th, 2009

Thank you Getup for bringing the information around this issue so directly to us. It's time our beauracrats started respecting Aboriginal Australia by LISTENING to the Aboriginal people and allowing them to determine what is best for them. We should be supporting them in their efforts to rebuild their culture, not trying to tell them how to be good citizens in our european culture.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
---------------------
September 11th, 2009

Thank you so much for moving forward on this great need. Please keep me informed of progress. Right now I am unable to help financially but will do whatever I can as things improve.
It is difficult to understand why this need still exists as it was started by the Howard Government a long time ago.
Why isn't the Rudd Government stepping up progress. Saying sorry is not enough. The action hasto be stepped up NOW!
The indigenous people have put up with delays for too long.
Let's insist on ACTION now!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Jo
September 11th, 2009

Inspiring words and spirit, thanks for the video. Looking forward to more updates and pushing this forward.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

September 11th, 2009

I am very pleased that they were well received and that they could speak so clearly and passionately.
What I would love to know is are the opportunities for employment any better for people of all ages but especially for young people, in the homelands.

Are they requesting that all services be extended to the homelands, not just to the larger centres.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Trina
September 11th, 2009

Fantastic video - I wish you'd also shown a little of the land they were talking about!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
DENI LANGMAN
September 11th, 2009

Good news for the Arnham Land Communities. What the Leaders from Arnham Land achieved on Tuesday in Canberra, goes for every Indigenous Community in Australia.
I only hope that the MPs will be just as supportive of further Indigenous delegations and Communities in the NT, in the future.

I don't want to be pesamistic, but the thought that PM Kevin Rudd and the Labor Party, will stop all concerns for Indigenous Communities after the north is settled/resettled is most foremost in my head.
A Sensible understanding of how both the Libs and Labor, buckle under Industrialists bribes continue to tell me the Intervention Legislation of John Howard to clear the Traditional Lands for Miners and "businessmen", will be continued by the Rudd Government.
I hope I am wrong.
DENI LANGMAN- LURITJA COUNTRY.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

September 11th, 2009

This is amazing to hear and see. Finally something is being done for our Indigenous inhabitants.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Nobuko
September 11th, 2009

Thank you for the update telling us about this very worthwhile journey. The report is moving. I'd like to hear more about what happens with this issue please. Thnks!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
jill d keogh
September 11th, 2009

Fantastic work GetUp. Thanks for the opportunity to do even such a small thing as signing a petition. It is great to get feedback.
Let us hope that the MP's will heed the heartfelt pleas of these people.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

September 11th, 2009

Dear Ministers
These people deserve a helping hand. They have been deprived of their livelihoods and we owe it to them to fund them to be able to create businesses to sustain themselves on their own land.
Some good creative thinking is needed on ways and businesses that could achieve this. I have been out there and I have seen many people with little to do, who are bored and unhappy. They are as talented as any other people and need a chance. Perhaps a scheme like the Grameen Bank or the Australian one, which unfortunately has link with Hillsong, but small loans to people who can create their own businesses.
It's high time some different thinking happened in Canberra and treated these people as people not as something to shoved around and told what to do.
Your sincerely
Dereka Ogden

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

Gregory Olsen
September 11th, 2009

I become very emotional when I see and hear our beautiful Indigenous Australians talk like this. Tears well up so easily when I'm confronted with what the European invasion has done to them.

Thanx for this video. I deeply wish for the words and spirit delivered to our politicians through this meeting to be heeded.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

Atheistno1
September 11th, 2009

The government are too busy spending money on wasteful projects & again refuse to support the indigenous community's.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Pat Flynn
September 11th, 2009

These are the words of true Australians. Rather different to the 'love of country' that so many think means painting your face green and gold before getting pissed at the cricket.
Thankyou, and please continue to love and cherish this land!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
murriteacher
September 11th, 2009

As an Aboriginal man, I noticed talk about giving back land when it should be returning land. Semantics I know, but it is important. There is a movement among some of our people to be regarded and referred to as Aboriginal People (being the first or earliest known of its kind present in a region) rather than Indigenous People (originated in and being produced, growing, living, or occurring naturally in a particular region or environment). And that way Torres Strait People retain their identity as well, rather than lost in the homogeneous Indigenous label. I now want to be kept informed of the outcomes of this meeting. Get Up while I thank you for your support I would ask you to follow this issue and keep us advised. The consumer press will never cover this story as it does not show our people in the negative light they always seek.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Human Rights Defender
September 11th, 2009

On behalf of our First Australians I would like to thank GetUp for their continuing work in supporting Indigenous Human Rights.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Sue
September 11th, 2009

There is a huge difference between homelands and the town camps. We need difference policies for these. I am glad the dialogue is ongoing.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
joe rooster
September 11th, 2009

OK, where exactly are 'the jobs' available for professional persons like me to HELP people back-on their homelands, to get the permaculcha' moving, to get arid-land tree-crops in the ground(& irrigated), to teach the people about all these things AND reading+writing(in the NT, so bad!)? I see 'no evidence of jobs-available to raise the teaching-standard/s in the NT. Can anyone out there help?
Joe A Friend Ag.Ecologist, Biol.grower & Organic F Auditor.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
kay
September 11th, 2009

thank you get up

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

September 11th, 2009

I am delighted Canberra listened ..

These people are part of the spiritual land
they encompass that which we have long forgotten
And one day they may help us recover a connection with the land - for those who understand the essense of Earth connection

regards
And thankyou for your support to the Homelands Delegation

Sue Marler

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Paul Alexander
September 11th, 2009

Thanks Get Up and all of the members... this is THE single most important issue facing us in terms of healing our national soul. I was introduced to Get Up by my eldest sister who, sadly, passed away recently and I wish everyone to know that she - as do many Australians - sincerely desired a successful, amicable, workable and honourable resolution to this most pressing challenge.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Paul Alexander
September 11th, 2009

Thanks Get Up and all of the members... this is THE single most important issue facing us in terms of healing our national soul. I was introduced to Get Up by my eldest sister who, sadly, passed away recently and I wish everyone to know that she - as do many Australians - sincerely desired a successful, amicable, workable and honourable resolution to this most pressing challenge.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
AH
September 11th, 2009

A hopeful glimpse of a neo-colonial future of co-operation and acceptance. Thanks to everyone that was involved. Every voice counts.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
mia
September 11th, 2009

The most disgusting situation exist in Australia about
aborignes people.
Nothing to spend money on when they get it.
I have done 200000 km in most aborigenal comunity and it shows the incompetence of politician to do anything about it.

A shame on the Australian politicians.

Mia

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
jacqueline
September 11th, 2009

We can learn so much from the aboriginal people and the spiritual connection they have to the earth...this connection should be valued, cherished and supported..there is much we can learn from the aboriginal people in the way they live, their traditions, spirituality, dancing, art etc...The govt needs to stop trying to get them to live the city life and instead try harder to understand the aboriginal people and their culture embracing the differences and being open to learning from them.They have much wisdom that I feel would be lost if these people were to be forced to move away from their homeland...
Thank you Getup for supporting the aboriginal people...God Bless

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
HW
September 30th, 2009

The idea that aboriginal people somehow have a uniquely spiritual connection to the earth would have to be one of the more ridiculous racist notions concocted by otherwise well meaning whitefellas

It belongs to religion and mythology and not reality. The vast majority of people in Australia are descendants of the dispossessed of Europe and the world -

What spiritual links the ancestors of most of us had with the land have been disrupted - this religious nonsense adds to that disruption by making our "spiritual connection" to the earth merely "regional". Where is the difference between that as a concept and any other concept of the permanent inheritance of wealth, land and property? Whatever happened to "sharing"

In his dispossession the aboriginal hardly holds a special place. It is in his current state of disadvantage that he needs to be helped

If we all talked less pseudo-religious nonsense and simply got on with the job of building a better society, most people - including indigenous people - would be far better off, and have a far greater chance of advancement out of poverty and early death - whatever the real or imagined causes of that impoverishment.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
macca
September 11th, 2009

I agree with jacqueline, the sooner we all embrace the wisdom and experience of the aboriginal people with this wonderous nation, and accept their knowledge, the greater Australia will be.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
julie
September 11th, 2009

thank you.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
dp
September 11th, 2009

thank you getup, for your sharing this story of strength and humility - thats what the rest of australia (and the world) needs to see on the news! thank you for uniting us to support this important work.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Trish
September 11th, 2009

It fills me with pride that I donated a tiny amount amongst many to help the delegation get there.

The video had me in tears - when I think about the people yet again being tried to be removed from their homelands (albeit with different techniques this time) it grieves me.

How about the Kimberley Gas Hub? I hear the Kimberley Land Council were bullied into making a deal - is there truth behind that? Wilderness Society report has quoted this.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

September 11th, 2009

I'm 73 years old and I've seen some actions by our government over that time that have filled me with shame. BUT THIS movement to treat our original inhabitants with due respect makes me very proud to be Australian.
Blair Hunt

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Josie
September 11th, 2009

I hope this happens, it's what these people need. I thought the government would have realised that by now. I hope so much that this can make a difference.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Anna
September 11th, 2009

Great work.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Gabi
September 11th, 2009

Congratulations on this initiative.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Deborah
September 11th, 2009

Your comment A very emotional delivery. Deadly! Keep moving forward with one voice that grows louder and louder and echoes around Australia, like a kookooburra song.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Sahil
September 11th, 2009

All power to these wonderfully honest salt of the earth people...who all of us can learn alot from. thankyou to our government for listening and being humble. I have great respect for all involved.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
a piper too
September 11th, 2009

Freedom, as my Anglo-Celtic ancestors learned (escaping from a potato famine and discriminatory laws which favoured the rich, is a "long march", and it lives within each one of us.

I commend you for taking your stance, and send my good will and blessings to you from Melbourne, and from a country that I love, that has entered my heart, also.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

September 11th, 2009

Thanx guys, you are a fantastic organisation. We really appreciate all you do, have done, and continue to do.Cheers Lisa Heenan and Darren Doherty

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Leslie
September 11th, 2009

WE are moving, slowly but surely.......
I am pleased having elected the current goverment.
The spirit of generations gone by will always be within our souls.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Cat
September 11th, 2009

Thanks for sharing your story. One day soon I hope to travel to your lands to learn more about your culture and stories and, I hope, to take some of your wisdom back home with me to share with the world.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
shez
September 11th, 2009

Social justice, respect, dignity, human rights, honour,choice - these are all words used in community services when applying for funding to run programs and work within various communities throughout Australia. These ethical principles are everyones rights and I imagine how I would feel if anyone wanted to take my home from me and my children - traumatised! I am hopeful that the delegation to Canberra have been truely heard.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Oshiah
September 11th, 2009

I fully support the homelands delegation. I work with indigenous families so I know a little of the devastation that comes with the loss of land, country, culture,children and the spiritual connection to the land. As far as I can see no government whether from the left of the right has brought anything but pain and destruction to the rightfull owners of this land. The plight of these people is a disgrace to every man, woman and child who lives on this land. How any politician in this country can live with themselves is beyond words. These people have lived and taken care of this land for 50,000 years and it's only taken us 200 years to destroy it. Destroy the indigenous people of a country and the land loses its soul. This is what is happening now. WAKE UP and do something before it' too late. I call the treatment of the traditional owners GENOCIDE. There is no other word for it.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
ravelle
September 11th, 2009

I'm struck by these men and their words. This is the antithesis of so much that's gone before. This is great healing. Thank you for bringing this to us, us to this.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
walkabout wirt
September 12th, 2009

I would like to say 'thank you' to Jenny Macklin, Warren Snowden and other government officials who listened to the Aboriginal Homeland Delegation, and to the support from the Getup team and fellow members. I only hope that this and future governments will act to allow all members of our society to live wherever and in whatever manner they so chose with dignity, which should be a basic human right. And to the Aboriginal people, don't give up your hopes and dreams for equality, justice and the right to pursue your wn brand of happiness.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

September 12th, 2009

This is one of the most fundamental issues in Australia today. The decisions made over this will define where we are today as a culture. Are we yet ready to accept that this land has been peopled and understood since time immemorial? Are we ready to learn from the original inhabitants, from their dreaming, from their deep understanding of the land?

Are we ready to begin to learn to understand our connection to the land as the aboriginal people do, so that we can begin to develop a true relationship with it (as opposed to imposing European values and practices upon it)?

I can only hope that the ministers and senators listened well. That they heard what these strong and wise people said to them. That they can have the insight and wisdom to stand up for these fundamental values. That they are ready to change a thinking that has come close to destroying a culture forever.

I can only hope.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
HW
September 30th, 2009

I truly wonder what you think we are supposed to be "learning" from this source of wisdom you seem to want us to tap into, and I say that out of no disrespect for other cultures.

Australia is not suffering from a particular failure to draw "wisdom" from indigenous people. What it suffers from is a vast amount of educational and cultural backwardness, and lack of conscious understanding, throughout its populace, up to and including the captains of industry, the Public Service at all levels - be they local State or federal - and most especially amongst both our religious and political leadership, including in the environmental movement

That is what the real problem is, simple human backwardness and stupidity. And it is that ignorance that we should dealing with, through vast educational and training programmes, of the highest quality in terms of world standards.

The plight of the indigenous people of Australia is but the symptom of a universal malaise. We will never fix the aborigine,s problems until we fix ourselves and move away from this class and privilege ridden social structure with which we are almost all hag-ridden

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Kirien
September 12th, 2009

Thank you so much for sharing the homeland peoples experience so well and showing me the results of my $50 contribution. I encourage others to gift what they can to support this vitally important issue moving forward. Thank you Get Up Team.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Jac
September 12th, 2009

Please do everything you can to support this project!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
SamD
September 12th, 2009

I thank the men in the delegation for their frank and honest words and Get Up for its support and attention.

It is an absolute travesty that still, today, in the 21st Century, people are having to travel across the country to meet with politicians to ask to be allowed to live where they want to live. How can this still be going on?

I hope and pray things change and all people can live to experience the freedom being Australian presumably brings.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
mez
September 12th, 2009

these people have a right to keep their homeland , lets hope that The Government does the right thing by them.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Wendy
September 12th, 2009

What a moving documentary. Thank you. Living in Alice Springs, I can relate partly to how important it is for indigenous Australians to have access to their own land in the smaller, often remoter communities. They rely on living in smaller networks that can support and nurture them in ways that the larger communities cannot. Many indigenous people come to Alice Springs from remote areas and get themselves into all sorts of problems from pressures and confusion. In many cases the families are not there to guide them. Many of these people eventually move back to the remote areas so that they can again live in a way that isn't so dysfunctional. (If the families are willing to have them back.) There are also many people who move regularly, living partly in the remote areas and partly in the city.
There are many 'projects', but the worthwhile ones are not getting funding, while many funds are caught up in burocracy. One school here (Irrekalenge) is getting regular attendence for indigenous students by providing a bus service as well as consistent carers, but there are not enough carers to support the program. Stress levels are high. (Numbers have gone from about 20 to about 80 in a couple of years.)
In other cases bus services are actually been taken away because they can't afford them. (What could be more important other than the staff? You can have the best facilities in the world, but it's not going to help if you don't get the students!!)
Hope that's a help. Wendy

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
RWH
September 12th, 2009

Dont be fooled by the government is will say what ever they think you want them to say and do the opposite.They arent worried about the people and there land You have rights and those rights should be granted as long as it doesnt devided the white and black people of australia. we are all australians regardless of colour.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Ellie
September 12th, 2009

Thank you for showing such an amazing video - it makes our sense of this campaign much more human and accessible than reading an article.
I'm so moved and filled with hope
Well done GetUp and Homeland delegation!
Love, Ellie

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Emma Kerr
September 12th, 2009

Thank you so much for doing such important work on behalf of me as a signatory to the petition. The video moved me to tears. This is such impertant stuff to Australians both indigenous an non indigenous. We need to make sure we stand strong in protecting the rights of our indigenous peoples for the sack of the survival of their culture and future generations of Australians.

Thank you Get Up.

Yours sincerely,
Emma Kerr

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Meluv Boabs
September 12th, 2009

Its fantastic seeing so many people take an interest in this, I find it a bit disappionting that there was only 27000 of us that cared enough & good on you that do.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

Richard J Faulder
September 12th, 2009

We Invaders would be better off if we too had homelands

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Chuckabutty
September 12th, 2009

Thank you for the film. It helps to see the outcome, makes it feel less remote and i hope the ministers truly did listen and were not just paying lip service to the delegation.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Roz
September 12th, 2009

Thanks for that, it was so powerful. I hope the powers that be were as moved as I was and I hope that gets them acting in an appropriate way.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
leisurely
September 12th, 2009

I was very moved by the video. Thank you to Get Up for enabling this delegation to go to Canberra and I hope the Government will actally do something positive to help the indigenous people stay in their homeland.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Genevieve Caffery
September 12th, 2009

A thankyou for your efforts in getting the voice of people from the homelands heard by those who make decisions on their lives. I was struck by the power of their identification with their homeland: "We feel strongly within us that's what we are, who we are and we are part of it." Brings to mind David Suzuki's comment in "The Sacred Balance"on how Australian indigenous people look on the land : 'A person is not simply the offspring of his or her physical parents. Each individual is primarily an incarantion of the land, a spirit being who belongs intimately and specificallly to the local geography...."
Keep up the campaign.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Margaret
September 12th, 2009

Thank you all for this calm and dignified message. It was very moving. May we all share our country wisely and listen well to the original dwellers here. Bless you all.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Lesli Grant
September 12th, 2009

I am pleased the meetings went well. I support the decisions made by the Homelands representatives. When you sit and call on spiritual wisdom for your decisions, the answers must be followed and upheld.

Let the government fund this and see how much better this is for the people involved.

in love and peace
Lesli Grant

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

September 12th, 2009

I am of this land too....!
No homelessness in our country....save the children...at all costs...there are our future generations of Australias.

Justice for our children...! a home, clean water, clean food and education a future.

Our people....Our people...

first!

home first!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Sue Camden
September 12th, 2009

I have a friend who is a Wik Munkan translator (area south of Weipa), She has pointed out that at meetings, the whites state their main points first, before the indigenous people are really settle and listening; and the aboriginal people state their main points last, when the whites are already packing up their briefcases.

I saw the play Rainbow's End at the Riverside Theatre at Parramatta this afternoon, acted by 3 aboriginal women. A very powerful play, about land and housing.

Sue

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
nikkiidaniels
September 12th, 2009

It is necessary for the indigenous of australia to keep mindful of their traditional values by setting way in teaching our young the way of the land. When I hear about indigenous lands leased out to mining companies I am appalled. I hear mother nature crying when they are digging into her soul.

Eventually technology will have it that "they" did get to breed the black of of the aboriginals (as they originally intended) by the way that indigenous are more inclined to leave the land in persuit of modern convenience.
The indigenous need to make their own set of laws about nature conservation and the ban of chemicals on throughout their lands.
Its their lands I dont see why they need to ask permission from a government about land that is already theirs. The austrlaian government are only here becuase the british and spanish brought terrorism to Australia when they first colonised it. Now the Australian government complain about terror when they are the product of the slaughter and genocide to my aboriginal/indigenous ancestors.

thats my opinon.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Lynne
September 12th, 2009

The video brought tears to my eyes. I hope that the politicians act appropriately and support these people. Aboriginal people must be allowed to remain in their homelands.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Claire
September 13th, 2009

Good luck to you all, I hope you succeed.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Lydhig
September 13th, 2009

I am so pleased to hear the meeting went so well. All that is needed now is for the politicians to act on the people's recommendations and not to put all these issues on the backburner. They need to take notice of the people and act accordingly. We can only hope they do the right thing this time. Thank you

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

Annalisa
September 13th, 2009

Amazing how such a short video can bring tears to my eyes. Fantastic that the visit happened and the meetings were held. Thank you Get Up. Wait with bated breath for the policy response...

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

September 13th, 2009

It's about time!Many white australians, have no idea what is going on or much of relevant history, It is now time to listen to the stories and gain some wisdom and insight as to how we can assist with the healing and forgiving process...thankyou for shareing this story, I await more on homelands. I am part of a show on noosa commmunity radio 101.3 fm, we do a show called solid ground, and we present the issues relevant to australian indigenous and torres straight islanders, if you could put me on your newsletter or email address i would appreciate any iformation that can be presented on radio.I would love to access more.
Thankyou, Kerry Redfern

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Jo
September 13th, 2009

I feel so strongly about this, if I could make this happen I would, if I could do something I would, I support and believe in this so much, and have a deep love for our indigenous people that is full of compassion for their problems. Please may this all come to fruition.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

irena
September 13th, 2009

what a beautiful, resilient people and what a strong, clear voice. let us all keep fighting for the rights to your culture, for the homelands and for that resounding voice of activism that really powers our people, far more than degrading and diminishing legislation.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
mick
September 13th, 2009

keep fighting for what is right my brothers & sisters !!!!!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Libby
September 13th, 2009

Thanks for video clip. It pains me to think that politicians still treat aboriginal Australians as 3rd world people. I sincerely hope the people who delivered their concerns have their wishes. They need health and educational services and help to get their lives back on a stable social footing without the curses of alcohol and drug abuse.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Elisabeth
September 13th, 2009

Your comment

We feel very strongly the importance of aboriginal people being able to live on their homelands.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Pushpam
September 13th, 2009

Congratulations. Great and inspiring to hear them. This gives hope and courage for many to unfold themselves and live their life in their homeland that is closer to their heart.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Colleen
September 13th, 2009

Our Aboriginal people are very proud and I think what has happened in Parliament today is great. They are not there yet but they have their right to live the way they want to with their own customs and belief system and own homelands. We are fortunate to live in a country with democracy. Some places like China doesn't have that luxury.
I wish them the very best,
Colleen

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
MIke
September 14th, 2009

Well done Getup. Regardless of our backgrounds, together we must, we can, and we will stand up and fight for our native people's rights, culture, land and DIGNITY.

Indigenous people all over the world have suffered immensely under western colonisation, as much as modern man wants to deny responsibility we must face it, try to undo some of the damage done and build a new beginning where indigineous land is granted soveriengty and rehibilitate the culture that was bleached under the white hammer of oppression.

You have my 100% support!!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
NreeK
September 14th, 2009

Thanks GetUP,
and most importantly thanks to the delegation. I hope you get what you feel you need.

I have nothing to say. My opinion means nothing. I do not wish to impose my will. I just love to listen. Thankyou.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Nicole
September 14th, 2009

Thank you GetUp for your great work. The movie was extremely moving. Please pass on my heartfelt regards to the Elders and the Delegation. Next time we'll get more than 27,000 signatures. Please keep me posted.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

September 14th, 2009

Let the indigenous people live on their land and create more green jobs in working with the land by reafforestation and native regeneration.Stop land clearing,climate change and destroying the earth.
Jason.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Susie
September 14th, 2009

Well done, but it important to hear the women's voices also. Maybe next time.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Mary
September 14th, 2009

GetUp - you've done well. This is a great outcome. Thank you for the very moving commentary. It sure is a long road for our indigenous people and the support must continue.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

September 14th, 2009

Thank you for giving so many of us a voice and a place where we can support such an important issue. I was moved to tears by the footage. You are doing a wonderful job Getup - thank you :)

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Andra
September 14th, 2009

It's about time!!!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Margaret
September 14th, 2009

Thank you Getup for the video clip and for all the work you do. I was deeply touched by the speakers and their heartfulness. I hope that that the decisions made in the months to come positively support and continue to support in every way these homeland communities.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
PK
September 14th, 2009

It is well past time for the Rudd government to take action to follow up the apology the PM made and help strengthen the efforts of these proud and spiritual people in their action to strengthen their communities. When will the Government ever learn? When will they ever learn...

The initiative of these peoples to regain their homelands and develop strength in community and place should be embraced wholeheartedly and facilitated by our leaders, not destroyed by further dispossession.

That is the best possible way to show how truly sorry our society is for all the hurt, pain and devastation the first settlers have suffered in the past and still suffer.

C'mon Kevin: Take a personal hand in this!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Kay
September 14th, 2009

Why not email PM Rudd direct as well on his website and tell him to get on with supporting the indigenous homelands
movement. He couls spend less time on football and more on this critical issue

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Kay
September 14th, 2009

Kevin RUDD"s website email is:
http://www.pm.gov.au/PM_Connect/Email_your_PM

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

September 14th, 2009

Thanks for the Utube update - It was great to hear stories in the elder's own words. Hope the trip to Canberra has been helpful in fostering a better understanding of the importance of the Homelands for these people...

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Humane Sorrows
September 15th, 2009

Any political party that denies the most ancient people of this land THEIR DIVINE BIRTHRIGHT to live on their own homelands, is beyond reproach.

I felt deeply moved by the tears of that wonderful old man, his humble words devoid of artifice - just a heart full of sincerity and a desire to keep his people united and alive in the traditions that 'white fella' don't know much about yet.

It's bad enough us 'white fella's' condone and support to poison the precious water supplies with S6 or S7; or steal water from the Artisian basin to foster nuclear power plants; or ruin the biggest water system in Oz (the Murray-Darling); or, kill all the trees, rip up the fragile (driest continent on earth) native bush for more and more housing that kills the koala's and other most unique and precious habitats; then after selling off our national emblem, the kangaroo for meat and skins for Russians, Chinese and Americans to eat and make footwear from; or finally, test the killing power of the most highly secret weapons known to WarLords on the planet on the most pristine land remaining in Australia (as in Talisman Sabre War Games up near Rockhampton).

But now, on top of this, the government insists that the most ancient of people need to be removed from their homelands. Sheesh. It's a very ugly, cruel disgusting world being fostered by those in coffed suits bythose who think they know everything - those humans who reside in politics.

Australians wake up to the world you are voting for.... I hope that 'Get Up' truly makes a mark worth leaving. For the Elder and younger Aboriginals to be forced to come down to the seat of white fella power, all the way down to Parliment House in Canberra, far from the beauty, wonder and connections of REAL AUSTRALIA, in the far north, far from White Fella destructions.

Well, it's time for all Australians to 'walk their talk' of being sincerely 'Sorry' (remember, that moment our illustrious Chinese speaking Prime Minister had last year?).

Our land, and our people, deserve to be listened to, with heart. Our country depends on the wisdom of the Elders.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Katie
September 15th, 2009

I want to say that Aboriginal peoples need to do want is part of them and their spirit, their being of themselves. I do not want them forced to move where urban problems are already bad.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
duncanm
September 15th, 2009

Great job yahoo but lets take this forward into active lobbying to properly and appropriately support communities in their own terms. This should not mean forcing economically to integrate into mainstream society. It probably does mean a) ensuring they have healthy housing and access to education in the place of their choice.
Remember the stations managed to set up the flying doctor and school of the air; why cant this same level of service be supplied to indigenous communities? Sure its costs but probably a lot less than relocating them with all the hidden subsidies.
Health and safety issues only get out of hand when the spirit of the community has been damaged. All going well they have shown themselves to be capable of looking after themselves.
With all we know about sustainable independent living technologies, with education they would have little trouble in learning to live independently albeit probably much more modestly than most; but perhaps richer in spirit.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Eduardo Chavez
September 15th, 2009

The indigenous people are indeed spiritual in the sense that they and their land are one. They are not the only ones in the world to think like this, in fact we all have been a special conection with the place we where raised.

I hope the the day will come when we will not impose our ideas on any one abolishing the facto victimasing others.

Eduardo.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
HW
September 15th, 2009

As a movement GetUp needs to get beyond sentimentality and wishful thinking and address practical issues

No-one appears to me to be "denying indigenous people the right to live on their ancestral land" the question is about what level of services - including educational services can be viable to remote communities

It is unlikely that living in such communities will ever be a prosperous choice and therefore one can understand young indigenous people who might question the decision of their elders to stay. The right to stay should always be accompanied with the right and ability to leave. I could not get away from MY european elders quick enough - I would have continued a truly rotten lifestyle had I remained with them. Like millions of my contemporaries I left and my children's far better upbringing, education, and lifestyle resulted from that decision to go

When we hear from Aboriginal communities, we almost almost always hear from the Elder generation. Practically never from the youth. Their expectations and desires are very rarely granted a voice. For the Elder the motive is clear in his desire to retain the authority the past grants him - but for the young, their life is the future - a future that increased population sizes in remote communities may deny

Life styles and religions die because they do not evolve. Nothing can remain fixed in time for ever. Languages die too - and that is a fact of life - Enthusiasts rightly preserve them as a living cultural record but the lingua franca cannot include them

In Britain- Cumbrian, Cornish and Welsh virtually died out, the old languages of Scotland and Ireland are on life support, and on a world scale even such a language as French shows signs of slow decline that will eventually mean that it's users will likely preserve its daily use by becoming bi-lingual. A few more generations and the world may develop a universally understood second language, as a result of the loss of minor regional languages

The spirit of the community we need to be working towards is a more universal spirit. The world has experienced too much war through the clash of individual spiritualities and ideologies. We need to get beyond all this. We need to grow up.

Try offering something else. Instead of a time warp holding people to an imagined golden past how about offering a future?. The level of prosperity that is available is never more - short of welfare injections - than the land itself can provide. Such schemes as plantations, nursery farming and carbon capture may well be viable projects for remote communities. But to facilitate them will require irrigation water and for that we are talking desalination and piping over vast distances

The past has gone - it will never return - get over it, it was probably not that good anyway. The Aboriginal future - even the preservation of their culture in any form - lies in rapid, and sometimes painful advancement. The alternative is a slow cultural extinction.

Unless the elder generations can follow the same educational paths that their children and grandchildren must follow if these descendants are to live lives of hope and opportunity - and many cannot follow those paths - then their fears of being left behind are justified. But it is a fear they need to cope with and accept if their descendants and their culture are to survive and prosper even in evolved form.

The future will be unlikely to lie for most people in the homelands - their horizons are too small and will always be so.

My parents were born around the beginning of the Great War of 1914 to 1918. Their "homeland" was the poor street market suburb of the Angel Islington in London. Their spirituality was primitive Irish Catholicism on one side and Plymouth Brethren Fundamentalist Protestantism on the other

Educating their children meant to a degree losing them - but for one reason only - and that was because they fought against the new knowledge, the vastly reformed spirituality, philosophy and ideology, and the new pictures and models their children formed of the world and of the Universe. Their children, on their part, simply could not take their elders with them on their own journey or cope with the smallness and narrowness of the parental world. How well I remember the clashes and rows of my adolescence - of trying to communicate across an intellectual divide that my parents first chose to create and then chose to limit in size and effect - an impossible task

It is sad - sad because ultimately their loss was accompanied with a holding back of their childrens' development and future. even after starting them on that path and also because they grieved for their world and did not cope well with that grief. My mother especially withdrew into herself. It is my children and their children that finally will go free

If you love something enough, let it go free - help it to go free - demand the resources to enable it go free and survive in freedom

Truly that is the best you can ever do - and that is the sacrifice for which you will always be loved.

They may even - sometimes - return

"Once there was a way to go back homeward
Once there was a way to get back home
Sleep pretty darling do not cry
And I will sing a lullaby" (Paul McCartney)


HW

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
worried
September 15th, 2009

Thank God that we have strong people in our community's to stand up and fight for our homelands. we should not be forced to live in town when we want to live on our land.I think the goverment sucks, how would you like it if we told you's to live out bush, you wouldn't like that. So leave us alone and let us get on with our lives, we was here before you came along. thank you

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
HW
September 15th, 2009

Hi "worried" Taking your implied person as being someone living in a remote community at face value (and I am not entirely convinced I should) could I ask you "worried" if when you say "So leave us alone and let us get on with our lives" you mean the following:

That you renounce all welfare payments of any kind paid to members of remote communities

That you want all schools to be closed and withdrawn

That you want to sacrifice all access to Hospitals, medical centres and doctors and to ante natal and post natal care programs and state provided early childhood care including family allowances - for your entire community.

That you reject any investment from outside your community, private or State.

That you want all services including transport and road maintenance and imported food withdrawn

I think you get the picture. In the Homeland debate surely this is what we are talking about.

Seems to me that when some people like what is done to them it is categorised as "help we are entitled to" - And when they don't like it they call it "unwarranted and unwanted intervention"

Hope only that you don't have granted the wishes you apparently desire! There are vast numbers of people in Australia who would gladly and cruelly grant them.

Be careful even in what you wish for! How about wishing for a better future - we might be able to help there.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

backyardpeople
September 15th, 2009

Great work....well done!!
Lets keep up the fight!!
Thankyou for the video!!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Lilli Nicolson
September 15th, 2009

The well being of ALL people depends on our connection with the land. NOT our USAGE of the land but out CONNECTION with the land- our ability to harmonise with and nurture the land.

AS the oldest continous culture on the planet it is critical that Aboriginal connection with the land is enabled in every way possible. It is only when this happens that we as a whole human community will be able to move beyond our consumer based suffering into a time of connection and whole wellbeing. When this occurs we will be able to truly learn from the elders of this land and learn to live in harmony with all beings.

This is my greatest desire, for all peoples- black, white, winged, scaled, leaved or of the soil. Harmony for all beings.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Keith
September 15th, 2009

Dear Lilli, Well you can count me in on your plan, it sounds great (and i'm not kidding). If we all can move away from our consumer based suffering, it would be for the better that's for sure. I for one am sick to death of working 50 - 60 hours a week, and having the government rip 30% off in tax. Just imagine if none of us had to go to work each day, we could devote our time to raising our families (as it should be) and learning to be at one with the land. Seriously, i want to hear more about this plan of yours, because it's got to be better than the current system. I only hope it doesn't require any money to establish, because if no ones working, there wont be any.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Keith
September 30th, 2009

Dear Lilli, Well my bags are packed, pick me up at your earliest convenience and take me to this magical place you speak of, where i can be at one with all creatures great and small.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Keith
October 2nd, 2009

Dear Lilli, Correct me if i'm wrong, but i think that Aboriginal people eat some of the things that you want us all to live in harmony with, particulaly the "scaled" ones. Once we all connect with the land, i'm not sure if eating them will necessarily be in line with your greatest desire of " harmony for all beings"

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
jo willmot
September 15th, 2009

How long do Aboriginal people have to beg for just a small piece of their country and their country's economy. Visit overseas and you will witness each country having their original leaders and controlling their own economies. What about us Aboriginal People in Australia. Afterall it is a stolen country still

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Euan
September 15th, 2009

Let the people decide where they want to live, and it is obvious they want to live on their homelands where they can live their culture and dreamtime. Indigenous people are damned if they do, and then damned if they don’t!
Let them decide their own future. Just as I’m allowed to decide my own destiny so such they be allowed to as well.

Good work GetUp and I’m proud to be part of the campaign.
Thanks.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
HW
September 16th, 2009

Not a lot of indigenous comment on this thread - is there?

It is mostly romantic whitefella dreams of lost spirituality refound out there in the desert. (Great place to look - like Jesus?)

Well that's solved Monday's problem

What about Tuesday? - and the days thereafter?

Are you just going to forget about these people, excusing yourselves with the belief that all their problems are solved with a "return" to "the land"

Is there any real difference between this form of racism and other forms of racism that all come down to the same end effect? - which being:

You just don't want these people in the cities as neighbours - do you?

Fine so long as they are in the outback painting dot paintings, playing their didgeridoos and throwing boomerangs at wallabies. Fine if they can somehow live our own spiritual fantasies so we don't have to live them ourselves

But let them want to get ahead - let anyone want to actually help the advancement of the new generations of indigenous peoples - to help them break free of alcoholism , drug addiction, glue sniffing, endemic poverty, short life spans, disease, broken families, poor education, imprisonment, and violence....

Can't have any of that can we?

That would be to regard them as people that are actually LIKE ourselves - with similar hopes and dreams. The "noble savage" is a far safer fantasy for a whitefella - isn't it?

Dear oh dear oh dear!

"Misguided" doesn't even touch the problem. GetUp has to do better than this!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Peter Nicholas
September 15th, 2009

Unable to access the video
Negative expletive
Positive frustration
Implicative explicitness

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
The GetUp team
September 16th, 2009

Sorry to hear you're experiencing difficulties accessing the video Peter - you might like to try watching it on YouTube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_JuhmQDiMM

Thanks,
The GetUp team

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
martha
September 24th, 2009

We CAN'T let government get away with this. It'll be you and me next. C'mon people, time to shuck off the shackles of the Aussie Warder State!

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Emu
September 24th, 2009

Hi HW

While there may be some white fellas who feel that way, I can vouch there are many who think beyond the rose tinted glasses. I work on a Victorian, hospital based program that seeks to improve care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. As such, I work alongside many 'urban Aboriginals' and am priveledged to hear their stories every day, in that it adds great deapth to my understanding of their past and how that has shaped their present.

All the Aboriginal people I work with are fantastic ambassadors for Aboriginal health and wellbeing and I never cease to be amazed by how positive, professional and determined they are to continue to take up their cause alongside whitefellas, despite the way we have treated (and continue to treat) them in the past.

Throughout my experience working in Aboriginal health I have had the pleasure to meet numrous talented and successful Aborginal people, ranging from Elders, artists, consultants, engineers, researchers, lecturers, beurocrats, writers, health workers, nurses, social workers, psychologists, managers, CEOs and a surgeon. To say that I don't want to see these people get ahead - personally and professionally - is ludicrous. While we clearly have a long way to go to address all areas of disadvantage among Aboriginal people, my concern to see this happen has become almost all consuming - particularly in the areas of health and wellbeing, employment and education.

I am also accutely aware that while we are acheiving some great inroads in Victorian hospitals in terms of trying to provide a better response for Aboriginal patients, this is also a long journey of which we have pretty much only just laid the foundations. One of the challenges with this is getting people to realise we even have Aboriginal people in Victoria, and in particular Melbourne and that, despite media portrayals, Aboriginal health and disadvantage is note just an issue in remote Australia.

I'd also like to point out that even for Aboriginal people who have lived in urban settings for a long time, with little physical connection to their Country or traditional ways, this connection is still fundamental to their being and can come to the forefront in times of crisis or illness. So for me, I see that that connection can be as important virtually (or spiritually) for urban Aboriginals as it can be for those wanting to physically return to or remain in their Country......and I love the fact that I have these people as not only my neighbours, but my esteemed colleagues and friends.

If think you are too hasty to assume people (and Get Up) have such a narrow view about this. Personally, I find it encouraging to find so many people showing empathy for the genuine needs of some Aboriginal people (that after all, they themselves have expressed) and that this likely reflects only part of their concern and understanding about the issues at hand.

I think Get Up is to be congratulated and thanked - not just for this worthy project and the moving video clip, but for all the work they do on Aboriginal, and other affairs. Maybe you should consider joining them to help them with their cause?
cheers

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
b
October 2nd, 2009

You guys are great and thanks for getting the vid together to show me. You are right this has much more impact than your just telling me so. i hope that the people who spoke have not given trust to people with feet of clay- but they are the xperts in this not me
b

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Mark
October 3rd, 2009

I support the push to secure for aboriginal Australians. But I wish to ask when our aboriginal Australians going to articulate how their ancient culture fits into modern Australian society. All caring Australians want aboriginals to have access to adequate housing, health care, education and employment opportunities. When speaking to other people about the plight of aboriginals the question of how you deliver these services to them in these remote communities in an affordable manner is always the question that is asked. The other issue is how does aboriginal culture fit with giving their children adequate opportunities for their future?

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
HW
October 7th, 2009

A realistic view of the causes of aboriginal health problems is what is most needed if we are to see our indigenous peoples sharing similar life expectancy to the rest of the population

Such matters as poor nutritional standards in remote communities need to be examined. It is common knowledge that retail food supplies in remote townships are frequently of poor quality and extremely expensive - and that "bush tucker" generally only fills the gap in the romantic fantasies of white men

Substance abuse - including alcohol - is another major factor. Recent reports seem to indicate that even where alcohol bans are in force many communities are awash with alcohol. Bans aren't working, they say.

The Age reports another problem that is frequently not given enough significance - that of indigenous tobacco smoking rates.

It seems to me that the bottom line is that the highly respected "Elders" system simply does not work and that the idea that aboriginal problems can be solved by a voluntary apartheid-like "return to the homelands" accompanied by the restoration of ancient aboriginal social structures is romantic nonsense.

Once again surely it is the institution of functioning democratic bodies that provides the only workable and fair path to viable solutions, and a likelihood that the real problems of our indigenous people may be addressed. Such bodies need to be whole community rather than Elder dominated

It is time we stopped beating our breasts, blaming everything on past history. Many difficulties can be solve by addressing existing behavioural problems directly, without harping back to irreversible real or imagined "historical" causes.

Here is what the Age reports about the effects of smoking on indigenous life expectancy statistics - I feel I should state a "bias" here - I too am a reformed smoker who wised up some twenty odd years ago:

Age 5th October 2009
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/smoking-killing-aborigines-says-calma-20091006-gjku.html

"Smoking is a "scourge" that is killing thousands of indigenous Australians every year, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma says.

He's called on governments across the country to fund programs aimed at cutting Aboriginal smoking rates.

Currently, around 50 per cent of indigenous people smoke, compared with just 19 per cent of all Australians.

Mr Calma, who'll address an Oceania tobacco control conference in Darwin on Wednesday, says smoking kills one in five indigenous people.

"Indigenous people are more than one-and-a-half times more likely to die from lung cancer than non-indigenous people," Mr Calma said in a statement.

"Similarly, the much higher death rates from heart disease and other chronic diseases in the indigenous community are in a large part attributable to smoking."

Governments and policy makers should "implement a comprehensive, longer-term national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tobacco control strategy that brings together the various programs and research to drastically reduce smoking rates as soon as possible", Mr Calma said.

The commissioner says he believes mainstream anti-smoking programs need to be made more accessible to indigenous people and tailored to their needs.

The Heart Foundation on Tuesday unveiled its plan to curb smoking among Aboriginal Australians. It's called for specialist tobacco workers to be sent into indigenous communities.

The foundation's tobacco spokesman, Maurice Swanson, said much of the difference in life expectancy between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians was due to high rates of cardiovascular and other diseases caused by tobacco.

Mr Calma says smoking is one of the most important health issues facing indigenous people.

"If we are to beat this scourge, indigenous people themselves must start to own this issue as a major problem within communities."

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Jack O\'Neil
October 30th, 2009

Is Australia to be Sold-Out to the Communist NWO by Rudd? See the Film!

UK politician, columnist and policy adviser to Mrs Thatcher, Lord Monckton Nobel Prize Winner, says the Copenhagen Treaty will implement ‘World Government’ and take away the National Sovereignty of every Nation that signs up and there is no provision for voting, ballots or democracy anywhere in the treaty. Here’s part of Lord Monckton’s recent speech in the US: http://climaterealists.com/index.php?id=4197&linkbox=true&position=1

However, the idea that PM Kevin Rudd will actually sign up Australia to “world government’ without actually announcing it, to me is bizarre and deceitful – in fact you could call it treason and fraud if such a profound change was done without the consent of the people. Obviously a world government would require a taxation base. So MPs, what else will it require? What laws will it impose? What happens to our existing laws?

Australia will lose her Sovereignty and Constitution becoming enslaved to the Criminal Psychopathic Globalists.

Lord Monckton says international technical panels will have the right to directly intervene in individual countries over the head of governments we elect. How does this work?

Again, are there any MPs out there who know something about this? Perhaps Kevin Rudd’s office might like to inform us?

VOTE NO TO AUSTRALIA SIGNING ANY TREATY IN COPENHAGEN
See Lord Monckton’s Film

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
MM
November 5th, 2009

Isn't it time the support for these racist programs stopped. All people are equal and should be treated as such.

To continue to support these programs that keep future generations of Aboriginals segregated in an endless loop of illiteracy, ignorance and superstition is wrong.

Please give them a chance to be truly equal by integrating and functioning in our modern society.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
HW
November 6th, 2009

A simple experiment costing about twenty to thirty million - that is what one white family just spent on a house.

Take ten large aboriginal families and offer them a choice - which being to remain in the homelands, or to go and live in secure freestanding houses (75 year lease) complete with gardens, in a decent suburb such as Vaucluse (Sydney) - the package to include universal private medical insurance, and secure employment for all mature family members - and top quality appropriate schooling and university or trade training for the younger family members - together with all necessary counselling and catchup tuition assistance

I wonder how many would choose the "homelands". After three generations 75 years - a normal recovery time for a dispossessed family - they should be able to perpetuate their improved lifestyle

These choices we seek of "back to the homelands" are really all about poverty and how the poor compensate for their deprivation and loss of self esteem and white people get those same people out of sight and out of mind.

If a "Homelands scheme" were pressed by White South Africans on the claimed basis of a special Bantu relationship with scrubland and desert, we'd call it "apartheid" and demonstrate on the streets in fact many of us did!

Give the people real choices not phoney ones. This is more about class than about culture.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
AC
November 19th, 2009

Hi HW,
have only just caught up with your posts and have found them the most cogent on this discussion. People may live where they choose, of course, of course - the difficulty comes with the need to service and provision and educate. i do not at present see a solution. Certainly not among the contributions of the ooomy-goomy woolly thinking brigade.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Jack O\'Neil
December 30th, 2009

SORRY HOMELAND SOLD - China’s Unprecedented Australian Resources Grab Thanks to Howard & Rudd

Sun, 03/22/2009 - 23:21 — Bruno
China’s unprecedented Australian resources grab

Wednesday, 30 April 2008

Stephen Mayne writes:

Forget about the torch relay, the biggest issue Australia has with China right now is the Communist country’s extraordinary land grab for our already largely foreign owned resources dowry.

The Australian’s national affairs correspondent Jennifer Hewett might be costing News Ltd more than $200,000 a year, but she’s been worth that fat wage in recent days with her ground-breaking coverage on the Foreign Investment Review Board’s push-back against Chinese Government raids on more Australian resource stocks.

The Australian was right to splash with the story on ANZAC Day but Hewett’s coverage has since surprisingly been relegated to the business pages.

As a foreign-controlled company with continuing Chinese aspirations, News Corp has never unleashed its media might on the world’s biggest totalitarian regime, so don’t hold your breath for The Daily Telegraph to splash with “Reds under every bed”, even though the current circumstances do warrant some rigorous public debate.

Let’s be clear about what we are facing here: the Chinese Government has launched a co-ordinated strategy to buy up as much of Australia’s strategic resources as possible.

The following extraordinary shopping list is BEFORE the revelation that another dozen Chinese applications are currently before the FIRB:

March 2007: Shougang Corp steel group spent $56 million buying 13% or iron ore developer Australian Resources and agreed to fund $US2.1 billion development of the Balmoral South project;

July 2007: CITIC spent $113 million lifting its stake in Macarthur Coal from 11.6% to 19.9%;

September 2007: Queensland government awards Chalco rights to develop $3 billion bauxite project near Aurukun;

September 2007: Anshan Iron & Steel paid $39 million for 13% of Gindalbie Metals and signed $1.8 billion joint venture deal to fund Karara iron ore project in WA;

January 2008: consortium of five Chinese companies given FIRB approval to fund $3 billion Oakajee port and rail project in WA;

January 31, 2008: Shougang Corp spent $400 million buying another 20% of WA iron ore company Mt Gibson Iron, but has since been forced to sell for breaching takeover rules;

January 25, 2008: Sinosteel spent $100 million for more than 10% of WA iron ore hopeful Midwest Corp;

February 3, 2008: Chinalco spent $15.5 billion for 9% of Rio Tinto shares in London;

February 26, 2008: China Metallurgical Group announces proposed $400 million acquisition of Cape Lambert Iron’s namesake WA project. CMG already owns 20% of nearby $5 billion Sino Iron Project;

April 28, 2008: FIRB approves China Petrochemical Corporation paying $600 million for 60% control of the Puffin oil field in the Timor Sea, the first time a foreign government has operated an Australian oil field;

April 29, 2008: Midwest board recommends agreed $1.36 billion bid from Sinosteel priced at $6.38 a share.

When you add all this up, Chinese Government backed companies have signed deals to spend more than $20 billion on companies with a majority of their assets in Australia and in the process have bought the rights to spend another $15 billion-plus directly developing additional projects.

Add in the wave of applications that FIRB is stalling, the stand-off over iron ore contracts, the rejection of spot price shipments and BHP’s takeover bid for Rio Tinto and our Mandarin speaking prime minister finds himself in a very tough spot. How about a policy of no more Chinese takeovers unless Australian investors can do likewise in China?

Check out the full list of foreign government investments in Australia and listen to yesterday’s discussion with Lindy Burns on 774 ABC Melbourne.

Link to this posting: http://www.crikey.com.au/Business/20080430-Chinas-unprecedented-Australi...

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Jack O\'Neil
December 30th, 2009

Foreign Government Ownership in Australia While Aussie Sleeps. See list.

October 1, 2009 With the Chinese Government wanting to inject $30 billion into Rio Tinto, the debate is on about foreign government investment in Australia. This list tracks major sovereign investments in Australia, demonstrating how both Singapore and China are set to own more Australian business assets than our own government.
Major Chinese Government investments in Australia

Chinalco spent $15.5 billion for 9% of Rio Tinto shares in London on February 3, 2008.

China Iron & Steel: The Rio Tinto-operated Channar iron-ore mine in the Pilbara has a capacity of 10mtpa and is 40% owned by China Iron and Steel, an investment worth well over $2 billion.

China Petrochemical Corporation: China's biggest energy distributor secured 60% and control of the Puffin oil field in the Timor Sea from the struggling AED Oil in 2008. The deal values the assets at $1 billion.

CNOOC: holds a 25% share in China LNG, a new joint venture within the existing $19 billion North West Shelf structure that diluted the other six joint venture parties down to 12.5% each.

Shanghai Baosteel Group: owns 46% of the Rio Tinto-operated Eastern Range iron ore mine in Pilbara which produces 6.5 million tonnes a year worth more than $500 million a year. Chinese investment now worth more than $1 billion.

CITIC: paid more than $400 for its 22.5% stake in the Portland Aluminium Smelter in the 1990s.

Shougang Corp: spent $400 million buying 20% of WA iron ore company Mt Gibson Iron in early 2008 and then teamed up with fellow Chinese investors APAC as part of an emergency $162 million capital raising in January 2009 that left Shougang with 14.34% and APAC with 28%.

Sinosteel: completed a $1.37 billion takeover of WA iron ore hopeful Midwest Corp after a 2008 takeover bid pitched at $6.37 a share. Would like to buy neighboring Murchison Metals, but FIRB has limited it to a maximum 49%.

CITIC: spent $113 million in July 2007 lifting stake in Macarthur Coal stake from 11.6% to 19.9% but is now losing on the investment after the resources bubble burst.

Consortium: five Chinese companies were given FIRB approval in January 2008 to develop the $3.5 billion Oakajee port and rail project in WA and then former WA Premier Alan Carpenter announced the winning tenderer in August 2008, but construction hasn't started yet.

Chalco: in September 2007 Queensland government awards rights to develop $3 billion bauxite project near Aurukun, which Noel Pearson has claimed includes an unfair forced land grab. This is now in doubt as Chinalco will be keen to focus its attention on expanding Rio Tinto's Queensland bauxite operations at Weipa.

Anshan Iron & Steel: paid $39 million in September 2007 for 13% of iron ore miner Gindalbie and signed $1.8 billion joint venture deal to develop the Karara Iron Ore project in Western Australia. Backed this up with a $162 million placement at 85c a share to Ansteel in February 2009 which increased its stake to 36.3%.

Shougang Corp: China's fourth biggest steel group spent $56 million in March 2007 buying 13% or iron ore developer Australian Resources and has an option to inject a further $42 million. Shougang has also agreed to fund the $US2.1 billion development of the Balmoral South mine and port project in WA thorugh an interest free loan and also buy the entire output.

China Metallurgical Group: paid $400 million for the Cape Lambert Iron ore project in WA in 2008, which is now in doubt given that China has secured its supplies through Rio Tinto.

China Nonferrous Metal Mining Co (CNMC): secured a 51.66% shareholding for $252 million of Sydney-based rare earths company Lynas. CNMC also provided a corporate guarantee to a Chinese Bank to raise another $253 million, which brings the cost of transaction to $505 million. They have since been denied the percentage of ownership by a decision by the regulator FIRB which requestedto be cut to less than 50 per cent.

Resource Development International: Gold Coast-based Clive Palmer who still claims to be worth more than $5 billion was hoping to raise more than $1 billion from Chinese investors through a float of this iron ore venture that is still to get off the ground.

Zhongjin: China's third largest zinc producer paid $45 million to take control of Broken Hill-based Perilya in early 2009.

Singapore Government investments in Australia

1995: Singapore government body, Capita Land, buys controlling stake in property developer Australand which is now worth more than $1 billion.

June 2000: Singapore Power, which is fully owned by the state, buys Victoria's monopoly electricity transmission business Powernet for $2.1 billion.

2001: Singtel, which is majority owned by the state, pays $14 billion, much of in shares, for Optus.

April 2004: Singapore Power paid $5.1 billion for TXU's Australian energy portfolio in April 2004, although $2.2 billion of retail and generation assets were on-sold to China Light & Power in March 2005. Late in 2005, 49 per cent of the remaining Australian power assets were floated in a vehicle called SP Ausnet, raising $1.3 billion.

2007: Singapore Power pays $4.5 billion in cash to Alinta shareholders to become the monopoly gas distributor in NSW and the largest distributor of electricity in Victoria.

May 2007: Singapore sovereign fund, the GIC, pays $717 million for a 50% stake in Westfield Parramatta, Australia's third-most valuable shopping centre.

June 2007: the GIC teamed up with the Commonwealth Bank and the Myer family to pay $600 million for the prestigious Myer Melbourne complex.

June 2007: Temasek Holdings paid $401 million or an excessive $7.30 a share for 12% of ABC Learning to become the largest shareholder in the world's biggest childcare company.

August 2007: Cityspring Infrastructure, which is backed by Temasek, paid a hefty $1.2 billion for the Basslink electricity cable linking the Victorian and Tasmanian grids.

August 2008: Temasek helped save Australia's biggest office tower investor by underwriting part of an emergency $1.6 billion capital raising that left it with almost 20%.

The Middle East

Dubai World, a holding company owned by the government of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates bought P&O in March 2006 for $US7 billion, giving it a half share in Australia's lucrative stevodoring duopoly.

Sheik Mohammed: the ruler of Dubai splashes $460 million buying the thoroughbred, training and bloodstock operations controlled the Ingham family.

Kuwait Government: owns 50% of Australia's tallest office tower, the Rialto, through the St Martins property business which also controls three buildings in Perth's St George's Terrace.

Rest of the World

UK: The government-underwritten BBC bought control of Australia's iconic travel publishing business Lonely Planet in July 2007.

Canada: the Canadian Pension Plan now owns 15% of tollroad giant Transurban after a recent placement to reduce debt.

Netherlands: The Dutch government and eduction sector pension fundand, Stichting Pensionefonds ABP, which controls about $350 billion in assets, bought 40% of Goldfields House at Circular Quy in Sydney from the struggling Valad Property Group.

Additionally, here are lists of foreign companies generating more than $200m, and Australia's improving foreign ownership record.

Check out all the Mayne Report business lists here. Go here to see the full comprehensive list of lists we've created documenting the dominance of foreign investors in Australia and our relative poor performance on the international business stage.

The Mayne Report moved to a free model in June so we're encouraging donations to help fund out advocacy and keep the Mayne Report free.

Click here to receive our weekly email newsletters and check out the full members edition archives. Alternatively, volunteer for an AGM, send us a tip or contribute an item to stephen@maynereport.com.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Drake\'s Drum
December 31st, 2009

The Japanese excuse for invading Manchuria - effectively the beginning of the Second World war in our region - was to protect their assets during what the militarists judged to be a period of political instability in China

To allow the sale of raw material assets, such as mining operations in Australia to countries such as fascist (sic) China you would have to have rocks in your head as big as Ayer's Rock

It is one thing to have a system of property title under Capitalism but entirely another matter to allow that title to operate to include the right to sell assets to overseas operators

Increasingly key Australian assets are owned by people who pay - and indeed owe - this country no allegiance

I think I know how people in the African and Latin American Colonies felt when it happened to them

Stronger overseas ownership regulation now - especially in the mining, agricultural, communications and media areas

Otherwise kiss Australia goodbye - your children will inherit nothing.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Patrickgus
January 2nd, 2010

Sorry, I missed this email & cannot seem to display the video.
As much as I was impressed by Mr Rudd's apology to the Stolen Generation, I was very disappointed at his failure to apologise for the massacres of leaders & others & for the displacement of our original people, whose ancestors came to Australia 40,000 years or more ago.
The only way I can do my part is to treat abooriginal people with the greatest of respect.

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.
Inga Lie
July 14th, 2010

I have to say, there is no more critical issue than Aboriginal rights and NT Intervention right now !

I spent last week in central Australia and Aboriginal people are starving and freezing ! They are eating every 2nd day, if that. The Intervention is causing great harm to Aboriginal people as they are forced to travel great distances for food and clothing.
We MUST demand the IMMEDIATE END to the NT Intervention.
I cannot conceive of a more urgent issue in Australia !

Inga Lie
Sydney, NSW

Reply to this comment...

Alias:
You can customise the name that will display beside your comment.
Email:
Your email is for our records and will not be displayed.
CAPTCHA:
Enter the text as it appears above to help us prevent spam.

Abusive, racist or expletive language won't be tolerated.
Note: because you are not logged in, your post will be held until reviewed. We aim to review comments once each business day but during busy campaigning periods this is not always possible.

GetUp is Action for Australia

GetUp.org.au is an independent political movement to build a progressive Australia. GetUp! brings together like-minded people who want to bring participation back into our democracy.

Make a donation today!


© 2006-2008 GetUp! All rights reserved.
Authorised by Simon Sheikh, Level 5A, 116 Kippax St, Sydney NSW 2010