Vanstone brushes off Games threat

About 50 campaigners gathered outside the High Court in Melbourne, accusing the Commonwealth of racial discrimination.

The fascist federal Indigenous Affairs Minister, Amanda Vanstone, says Aboriginal activists' threat to disrupt next year's Commonwealth Games is purely a political stunt.

A group of elders has lodged a writ in the High Court in Melbourne asking for an investigation into claims of acts of genocide against Indigenous communities.

The activists want the defendants, including War Criminal John HoWARd, to show cause why the investigation should not be carried out.

They want HoWARd and others charged with genocide.

Senator Vanitystone says the threat is nothing more than a political stunt and does not warrant further comment.

Aboriginal elder Isabelle Coe says if the High Court fails to act on the genocide claims, the activists will take the issue to the International Crimes Commission at the Hague [where HoWARd belongs.]

She says the group will also call on other countries to boycott the Games.

By Sorry 14 April 05

Related:

Minister Vanstone should apologise: FAIRA, 'lazy and inept', remark The Minister has a responsibility, as a Minister of the Crown, to show respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people including the elected representatives.

Vanitystone rejects nationally-elected Aboriginal group?
Fascist Indigenous Affairs Minister Senator Amanda Vanstone has rejected the findings of a Senate report that wants a new nationally-elected Indigenous body set up to replace the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC).

Report seeks nationally elected body to replace ATSIC
A report expected to be tabled in Federal Parliament today is set to call for the establishment of a nationally elected Indigenous body in Australia.

Govt accused of isolating Indigenous public servants
A national reconciliation group says the federal Government's main-streaming of Indigenous services into government departments will continue to isolate Aboriginal public servants.

NSW pledges to repay Indigenous wages
The New South Wales Government says it will set up a fund to repay wages and other money paid into trusts for Aboriginal people that was not passed on to them.

Vanstone defends asking Aborigines to wash for fuel
The Federal Government has defended its offer to provide a remote Indigenous community with petrol bowsers and new health programs, if it meets conditions including ensuring children shower every day.

Clark crashes Indigenous affairs ministers' meeting
Aboriginal leader Geoff Clark says he gatecrashed a meeting of federal and state Aboriginal affairs ministers today to highlight the plight of Aboriginal people.

Long says journey far from over
Michael Long has emerged from a meeting with the Prime Minister in Canberra saying it is still the beginning of his journey.

Indigenous welfare plan breach race act!!!!
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) has issued a warning about the Federal Government's plan to link Aboriginal welfare to behavioural change.

HoWARd's 'attitude' to Aboriginal welfare racist
The Federal Government says it is still considering a radical plan to rebuild the Aboriginal welfare system, which could make financial assistance dependent on behavioural change?

UN rates Indigenous health poorly
The Australian Nursing Federation says the United Nations has rated Indigenous Australians as having the second worst quality of life in the world after China.

Poverty cycle must be addressed: Ridgeway
The Democrats' Aden Ridgeway says Prime Minister John Howard should stop beating up on people who are on welfare, and focus on solving the national Indigenous unemployment rate.

"MESSAGE STICK" NEWSLETTER:
1. ATSIC abolition: the story so far. The last few months have seen both major parties buying into Indigenous Affairs in destructive and politically opportunistic ways. First the ALP and then the Government announced they would abolish ATSIC, but now the decision has been referred to a Senate Committee so the full implications of the Government's proposal can be examined. For more information on the Senate Inquiry into Indigenous Administration call 02 6277 3419 or go to:

AMA calls for extra health funding for Aborigines
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is asking for an extra $450 million a year to be spent on the health needs of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders.

Labor to request Senate inquiry into ATSIC's future
The Federal Opposition has announced it will call for a Senate inquiry into the Government's plan to abolish the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC).

Reconciliation dreaming
Djerrkura had witnessed the collapse of ATSIC, which he led from 1996 to 1999, with sadness. Despite the peak indigenous organisation's flaws, which he did not deny, its abolition, he said, had been done in "the classic imperial fashion, without negotiation, without understanding and with little empathy".

Amnesty sees lack of progress on reconciliation
Amnesty International says the Federal Government must be held accountable for its commitments to Indigenous services.

The bone has been pointed at Howard
A Queensland Indigenous leader says an ancient Aboriginal curse placed on Prime Minister John Howard is no laughing matter and could even have deadly consequences.

Indigenous Social Justice Association Djadi Dugarang
INDIGENOUS EMPLOYMENT. Part 1

Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research: Aboriginal Crime
In 2001 more than forty percent of the Aboriginal male population aged 20-24 in NSW appeared before a NSW court charged with a criminal offence. One in ten Aboriginal males in NSW aged 20-24 received a prison sentence.

Inquiry told reforms will decimate Indigenous education
A Senate inquiry has been told the Federal Government's proposed higher education reforms will decimate education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The National Indigenous Postgraduate Association Aboriginal Corporation says Indigenous students will be the hardest hit by increases in student fees, interest on postgraduate loans and attacks on student representation.

Uni chiefs see no point in Nelson's plan

The Australian Vice Chancellor's Committee says it does not see the point of putting the regulation of universities solely in the hands of the Federal Government.

Education Minister Brendan Nelson is proposing that the states and territories hand control of Australia's universities to the Commonwealth.

Dr Nelson says there would be less bureaucracy and red tape for universities if they were regulated solely by the Federal Government.

But the chief executive officer of the committee, John Mullarvey, says the Federal Government's recent changes to the sector showed otherwise.

"Unlike what the Government said it would do, and that is it said it would reduce red tape, it has increased red tape through the crossroads review," he said.

There's no guarantee that by moving it under federal legislation there would be a reduction in the red tape."

Mr Mullarvey says vice-chancellors are not convinced that the plan offers any benefits to universities.

"We welcome the debate on this issue, but I'd have to say at the outset we're not convinced that there is any real benefit in it for the university sector, or for the students, or the broader Australian community, from proposing this change," he said.

Funding

Dr Nelson says he would not expect the states to withdraw the $200 million they spend on universities if they were brought under the Commonwealth's control.

"I would be surprised if any of the states were to retreat from what they currently invest in universities," he said.

But Queensland Premier Peter Beattie is not impressed.

"Fee increases of up to 25 per cent putting unis out of reach of some students, why would we hand over these important institutions to the Commonwealth?" he said.

Dr Nelson says the states will not be forced to accept the plan.

Labor's education spokeswoman, Jenny Macklin, says centralising control of universities will not solve the more pressing problems facing universities.

"Right now we have about 20,000 qualified people who can't get into to Australia's universities," she said.

"Brendan Nelson's proposals won't do anything to create more places at our universities for those students who want to continue their education."

By Educate Don't Incarcerate 20 December 04

Ombudsman launches Port Hedland riot inquiry

The Commonwealth ombudsman has agreed to investigate the treatment of detainees at the Port Hedland detention centre, after a riot there this month.

The investigation comes at the request of the incoming Labor party president, Carmen Lawrence. Soon after the riot at the Western Australian detention centre about two weeks ago, Dr Lawrence released a statement alleging guards had beaten a 14-year-old boy and used a cattle prod on another.

She also claimed many of the detainees sustained serious injuries including broken limbs.

The Immigration Department has strongly denied the allegations.

Dr Lawrence says she is pleased the Commonwealth ombudsman has agreed to investigate the claims.

"If there's been any abuse, if there's been any violence against the detainees and the records haven't been destroyed, then that should be evident," she said. "If there hasn't, I'll be amongst those who'll be very pleased to say that the allegations were incorrect." She says the ombudsman has urged detainees who have alleged the violence to refer their claims to police.

By Just Us 19 December 03

Related:

Nauru staff 'fear children are next'?
The group representing the asylum seekers on Nauru has denied women and children have joined the strike and says they have not been asked to take part. [In other words "A" typical fear-mongering by Vanstone like kids overboard to gain some political leveraged!]

More asylum seekers join hunger strike
More asylum seekers in mandatory detention on the island of Nauru have joined a hunger strike to protest against the Federal Government refusing them refugee status. There are concerns that some of the hunger strikers may suffer serious injury or death from dehydration.

Australian Govt human rights record 'worsening'
Community groups have given the Federal Government five out of ten for its record on human rights this year. A national review conducted by groups including the Australian Council of Trade Unions and churches has concluded Australia's record on human rights has deteriorated.

Downer out of touch: Archbishop Carnley
Anglican Archbishop Peter Carnley has called on Alexander Downer to lift his game, saying the Foreign Minister has put Australia into a "difficult position internationally".

JUSTICE KIRBY: JUDICIAL ACTIVISM
Kirby's insight is decent, last week Justice Kirby threw at the Federal Government's barrister, the Solicitor-General David Bennett QC, in a ground-breaking case heard in the High Court, testing for the first time Australia's Mandatory Immigration Detention Scheme.

Howard Govt: Absolute vacuum on Compassion, Reality and Justice
The Northern Territory's Labor Senator, Trish Crossin, says the Federal Government showed no compassion for asylum seekers when it excised Melville Island from Australia's migration zone earlier this month.

Refugee policy, here is a new project: Burnside
The idea is to have thousands of Australian citizens writing to federal parliamentarians asking very simple, but hard, questions about the key aspects of refugee policy. I have devised a letter writing kit for this purpose. I attach a copy. It contains instructions which, are, I hope, fairly clear.

New A-G Ruddock has no regard for the independence of courts
As immigration Minister Ruddock's respect fell short of human rights when he tried to stop appeals introducing the Pacific Solution which means if an illegal immigrant is picked up in Australian waters by our navey they are sent elsewhere for processing. If their application for asylum is rejected they can be deported without legal appeal in Australia.

Judge renews child detainee release call
A Family Court judge, for a second time, has appealed to Immigration Minister, Philip Ruddock to address the issue of children in detention.

Ruddock to challenge Family Court ruling
Ruddock said it is unfortunate the Full Court of the Family Court made the decision. He said a successful High Court challenge could see the children returned to detention.

Children in Baxter Detention Centre: Tell me a fable...
Opponents vow to fight yesterday's Family Court ruling against the release of five children from South Australia's Baxter detention centre has strengthened the resolve of groups fighting the Federal Government's policy of detaining child asylum seekers.

Where did you say you reside Mr Carr?
New South Wales Premier Bob Carr says a protest outside Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock's Sydney home should have been called off for moral reasons. Mr Carr says people who want to protest against the Federal Government's immigration policies should do it in Sydney's CBD, not outside Mr Ruddock's home.

Three protesters tricked outside Ruddock's house
Protest organisers have been critical of police actions at a pro-refugee rally near Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock's Sydney home.

Australia: Child detention, tell me a fable...
Democrat's leader Andrew Bartlett wants all children in immigration detention centres released, in the wake of the Family Court refusal to put a stay on one of its landmark rulings.

Amnesty calls for release of children from detention centres
Human rights group Amnesty International is pressuring the Federal Government to immediately release children from detention centres in the wake of the latest report on detainee children.

Child detainees 'living in a nightmare', report finds
A report being released today documents disturbing evidence about mental health for children in detention centres. The report is a joint work by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, NSW University and NSW psychiatrists.

Demonstrators prepared for Baxter protest
Thousands of demonstrators will converged at Port Augusta in preparation for this weekend's expected protest at the Baxter detention centre.

Haiti: send a note of protest to embassies of South Africa

Aristide of Haiti + Thabo Mbeki of South Africa = the evil couple

When two monsters get together to crush Haiti

Mbeki's Haiti trip could cost R10-million. News24-- Pretoria - The South African government is set to spend R10m and send a navy vessel with military support personnel to the Caribbean which is celebrating 200 years without white oppression.

This decision has been described in some quarters as a "totally senseless waste on symbolism without any content". Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma left for Haiti from the Commonwealth summit in Nigeria on Monday to provide support for the festivities there on January 1.

The SAS Drakensberg left Simon's Town for the island on Friday afternoon with about 200 sailors, aircrew and medical staff aboard. The personnel will take care of logistics, security and medical support during the celebrations that have been marred by widespread violence on the island over the past few weeks.

The ship will also serve as a safe overnight facility for President Thabo Mbeki and his entourage if the situation on the island become too unsafe. The ship will return only on January 25. Two police explosives experts will also leave for the island soon to help with security measures.

Only successful slave rebellion in history, The South African delegation will leave for Haiti about a week before the celebrations start.

At least 15 people were killed and hundreds arrested in violent clashes in the past few weeks between the island's police force and pressure groups protesting against the oppression of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

By Erika Gibson posted 17 December 03

Inquiry told reforms will decimate Indigenous education

A Senate inquiry has been told the Federal Government's proposed higher education reforms will decimate education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

The National Indigenous Postgraduate Association Aboriginal Corporation says Indigenous students will be the hardest hit by increases in student fees, interest on postgraduate loans and attacks on student representation.

The corporation's Peter Randoll gave evidence to a Senate hearing in Canberra last week.

He says the Government is offering minor incentives to Aboriginal students to compensate for a 30 per cent increase in fees for some courses.

"Those Commonwealth accommodation scholarships and the Commonwealth accommodation cost scholarships are a tokenistic payment to try and win over the Indigenous vote in terms of Indigenous education," he said.

"It's not going to, it's going to devastate and decimate Indigenous education if these go ahead."

By Equality 20 Oct 03

Related:

ANU ignores federal governments demands
The Australian National University has become the first institution to ignore Federal Government demands. Instead, 800 staff looked on yesterday as its Vice-Chancellor, Ian Chubb, signed a new Australian Workplace Agreement which gave them a 17.4 per cent pay rise over three years and 26.5 weeks paid maternity leave.

Community groups highlight poverty fight
Australia's political leaders are being asked to zero-in on poverty. It is Anti-Poverty Week and a consortium of community organisations will discuss ways of reducing hardships faced by people both in Australia and overseas.

Building Industry Bill condemned by the community
The Community has joined the building workers in support of their condemnation of the (Capitalists) Building Industry Bill. Mr United from Justice Action a social justice group told GKCNN, "This is a blatant attack on social justice by greedy capitalists who wish to dictate and lie to workers and the community." They want to put you in jail if you don't work with crummy conditions and wages". He said.

Social Services small change? Or wast the money on WAR!
Lone parents on [social services] average 12 years of benefits - and are often worse off if they work. But reforming the system is risky and often costly, Bettina Arndt explains.

EX-PRISONER UNEMPLOYMENT: SENTENCED FOR LIFE
Name removed by request served time in prison decades ago. Shes still being punished today. According to commonwealth and state legislation, ex-prisoners applying for jobs must declare any conviction that fits into the following categories: less than 10 years old, more than 10 years old but served more than 30 months in prison.

Unemployed farm postings would cost jobs: AWU
The Australian Workers Union has rejected a proposal to place work-for-the-dole participants on drought-affected rural properties.

Economy benefiting from non-profit institutions
Non-profit institutions are contributing $30 billion a year to Australia's economy. The Australian Bureau of Statistics has found about a third of that comes from volunteers who worked free for more than 550 million hours in 1999/2000.

Tough luck! Kicks the poor to death
Australia is urged to adopt a United States-style welfare system, [?] cut welfare spending [social services spending] and encourage people to help themselves in a book on poverty published today.

Australian-born writer wins Booker prize

Australian-born author Peter Finlay, aka DBC Pierre, has won the Booker Prize.

Australian first-time novelist and reformed drug addict DBC Pierre has won the Booker Prize, Britain's most famous and coveted literary award, for his debut novel Vernon God Little.

Pierre, 42, who lives in Ireland, headed a shortlist of six writers for the annual contemporary fiction award and a $125,000 prize.

His book is a darkly comic tale of a Texan teenager put on trial for a high school massacre.

Pierre thanked his family for his success as he was presented with the award at a gala dinner at the British Museum in London.

"I have to thank my folks, my mum is here tonight," he said to loud applause.

"She and the rest of my family planted the idea that I could do anything and I just want to apologise for taking it so literally up to now."

He says he will be giving the prizemoney to his debtors.

"It is about a third of what I owe in the world," he said. "I am going to pay some debts."

Chairman of the five-strong judging panel, Professor John Carey, praised Pierre's novel as "a coruscating black comedy reflecting our alarm but also our fascination with modern America".

Professor Carey said panelists did not always see eye to eye when picking the shortlist.

"They are all extremely well written this year," he said.

"There has been more attention to plot and excitement than in previous years."

Pierre, whose real name is Peter Finlay, has his own dark past and recently admitted spending nine years in a drug-induced "haze".

His initials DBC stand for Dirty But Clean.

He was born in Australia in 1961 and grew up in Mexico.

Pierre becomes the third Australian to win the prize after Peter Carey and Thomas Keneally.

Bookmakers had tipped Bangladeshi-born Londoner Monica Ali and her first novel Brick Lane for the title.

Entrants must be from Commonwealth countries or Ireland.

By Charles Dickens 15 October 03

Related:

Port Lincoln Mayor has lost the plot!
Controversial Port Lincoln Mayor Peter Davis has called for drug addicts to be given a lethal injection to cut rising illicit drug use on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula.

NT Drug house laws: Sign, sign everywhere a sign...
Tracks of a different kind will be laid in the Northern Territory of Australia in September as dozens of illicit drug users converge on the city of Darwin for the 2nd Darwin International Syringe Festival.

QANTAS drug testing: Pooping on people?
Some people struggle more than others do in order to survive. People take drugs to get through their life. Whether it's illegal or not has no bearing on what an employee can do for you as an employer.

Alcohol Abuse: You're one of my kind?
Special Minister of state John Della Bosca says there is only a small percentage of people who are alcoholics, but that small percentage has a disproportionate impact on their own health and costs to society. Small percentage? Excuse me? Do I need a calculator? Or do I need a new set of eyes? According to the statistics at least two million people abuse alcohol?

Australia: Wine glut alert?
Wine glut alerts bank to grape grower debt and we need to be aware there's no magic bullet here either, it is a chronic condition just like the other one? You know, Abra Cadabra.

Australian Alcohol Abuse: Abra Cadabra, I want to reach out and grab ya No magic bullet? This is a chronic condition! Government's Legal Drug Alcohol is costing Australia billions: study. Alcohol-related incidents cost the Australian taxpayer more than $7 billion in a single year. Of that sum, $2 billion arose from loss of life, pain and suffering. The report says in 1998 alone more than 2,000 Australians died from alcohol abuse.

Drug law blamed for hep C epidemic
THE federal Government's conservative tough-on-drugs policies have triggered an explosion in hepatitis C infections, a secret health department report has found. And the disease has become an "epidemic", with half a million Australians likely to have the debilitating virus by 2020.

MJA - BBCD Outbreaks in NSW prisons
Seems some of our friends in & around Corrections Health Service (CHS) were able to take advantage of a couple of recognised cases of needle sharing by HIV positive prisoners to gather data for a study.

Medicinal cannabis trial approved or not marijuana still remains a big hit! THE nation's first trial of cannabis for medical relief will begin in NSW by the end of the year, a move that Premier Bob Carr said yesterday would stop decent people feeling like criminals.

CWA wants pot legalised
PERCEIVED as the height of conservatism, the Country Women's Association has had a reputation for baking and handicrafts until now. The organisation yesterday confirmed it is seeking to have cannabis legalised for health reasons. A recommendation to be put forward to the annual meeting in May calls for the legalisation of the drug for the treatment of terminally ill patients.

Drunks propel rise in violent crimes! But who promotes drinking really?
Every day NSW police deal with more than 300 violent offences committed by people who are drunk and they say the number is rising. But they don't say because the government promotes alcohol and only alcohol.

Another lethal party drug article...
This is another lethal party drug article by the Daily Telegraph's (DT)'s Super Crime Buster Division, but I'll try to straighten it out a bit so you can understand it.

Poison Ivy: Drugs and Substances
Everything is a drug love, money, vegemite, and honey so why the hang up on coke? Things go better with Coke. at least that's what we're told each and every day by advertising. [?] So why the big hang up on alcohol, amphetamines, cigarettes, marijuana, speed, ecstasy and cocaine?

Police selling drugs? Bikies selling drugs? Pharmacies prescribing drugs Of course there will be criticism when you cross that thin blue line! You have to realise how the government itself has been corrupted because of the drug scene and the money involved.

Drug rehabilitation: Threats, threats and more threats!
But a spokesperson for Citizens Against Being Forced Mr Ihave Amind Ofmyown said, "Major Watters is John Howard's adviser because he's a bully. Citizens make their own decisions about what is best for them and if you don't like that step down."

MPs told of police corruption
Corruption and mismanagement are still entrenched in the NSW Police, and problems at the highest levels are "whitewashed", according to evidence given yesterday to a federal parliamentary committee.

Alcohol is just the beginning
People who start using alcohol by their mid teens are more than twice as likely as others to experiment with different drugs and to become dependent on drugs a major Australian study has found.

Tobacco, alcohol top the drug abuse toll
Tobacco and alcohol accounted for 83 per cent of the cost of drug abuse in Australia, dwarfing the financial impact of illegal drugs, a Commonwealth Government report has found.

NSW police cracked up on antisocial behaviour
Hundreds of extra police will be on the streets of Sydney from this afternoon as part of a major blitz on crime and activities as "antisocial behaviour" says the ABC online last Fri 24 May 2002.

Alcohol pickles your brain
The only two social drugs the Government sanction are cigarettes and alcohol as legal, yet they cause the most damage." He said.

Parents call for feedback on social skills

Parents are calling for the same level of feedback on their children's social development as on their academic progress, according to a national survey.

Almost a quarter of those polled said they were dissatisfied with the level of information about their child in this area. Just over half of the respondents felt that "values education" was very significant and preferred programs which encouraged personal development and taught social values.

The survey of 2100 respondents by the Australian Scholarships Group (ASG) also found 49 per cent regarded federal funding for school education as inadequate, compared with 38 per cent who felt the same way last year.

ASG, a non-profit organisation that encourages parents to put aside funds for their children's upper secondary or university education, has more than 300,000 members. It surveys people who are most likely to be interested in education issues.

Parents felt the states were doing a better job than the Commonwealth but that both levels of government needed to do more in providing funding.

Respondents felt the Federal Government should assist public schools over private schools.

The Seed

Respect, you only get out what you have put in. What about Life Skills, Communication and Conflict Resolution. Evolution, perhaps some children and adults miss the whole or part of the course. I did, and so how surprised do you think I was when I realised my parents missed the course as well. Things like Compromise, Win Win, Empathy, and Love. Invisible energy and other skills like public speaking, how to Relate, Assuming, Blaming, Forgiveness, Freedom and Discrimination. This is how I learned respect. If you don't know what it is then how do you relate?

By Anti Social Behaviour 24 Jan 03

THE EGG: Before there can be academic development there has to be social development. Otherwise the academic spends the rest of his/her life in jail at the cost of the taxpayer.

Related:

Call to update suicide prevention strategy: study
A four-year study of suicides by people under the age of 18 in New South Wales, has found little difference between rates of suicide in rural and regional areas and cities.

NSW police cracked up on antisocial behaviour
Hundreds of extra police will be on the streets of Sydney from this afternoon as part of a major blitz on crime and activities as "antisocial behaviour" says the ABC online last Fri 24 May 2002.

Alcohol is just the beginning
People who start using alcohol by their mid teens are more than twice as likely as others to experiment with different drugs and to become dependent on drugs a major Australian study has found.

NSW prisons - primary industry bailed up!
In many quiet regional centres around NSW there is a new primary industry shaping up. It has something to do with Bail but not with bales. The minister for Agriculture Richard Amery who also has the prisons portfolio is now committed to farming prisoners.

The Seed
Respect, you only get out what you have put in. What about Life Skills, Communication and Conflict Resolution. Evolution, perhaps some children and adults miss the whole or part of the course. I did, and so how surprised do you think I was when I realised my parents missed the course as well. Things like Compromise, Win Win, Empathy, and Love. Invisible energy and other skills like public speaking, how to Relate, Assuming, Blaming, Forgiveness, Freedom and Discrimination. This is how I learned respect. If you don't know what it is then how do you relate?

Youth Suicide
I would like to suggest firstly that starting at the root in a holistic pattern so that everyone in our community is included and a seed is planted to prevent our youth dying.

The Tree of Dreams
Come make a wish. I know it will come true, it did for me...