Signing the Statement

Yolŋuw Makarr Dhuni

(Yolŋu Nations Assembly)

Statement regarding Australian Federal Government Stronger Futures Bills and Northern Territory Policies, to the Leaders of the Australian Federal and Northern Territory Parliaments

Click here for a copy of the Statement

Churches, Religious, Organisations and Reconciliation Groups

Calls to Abandon the Stronger Futures Legislation, and

Calls to Support the Yolngu Nations Assembly Statement

Click here for their Statements

Launch of the report "Listening But Not Hearing"

by the Rt. Hon. Malcolm Fraser AC CH

The report, based on transcripts of the 2011 Consultations, was prepared by Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning and the Hon. Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC.

Audio recordings from the launch of the report on 8 March 2012

The Hon. Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC (excerpts) (MP3)

Former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia

The Rt. Hon. Malcolm Fraser AC CH (MP3)

Former Prime Minister of Australia

Nicole Watson (MP3)

Senior Researcher, Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning, co-author of the report

The Hon Ian Viner AO QC (MP3)

Former Minister for Aboriginal Affairs

The Hon. Frank Vincent AO QC (MP3)

Provost of the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre, Former Chancellor, Victoria University

Click here for a copy of the report (PDF)

From left to right:

Ian Viner, Frank Vincent, Malcom Fraser, Nicole Watson, Alastair Nicholson

The House of Representatives debates the Stronger Futures Legislation

Monday, 27th February 2012

13 March 2012

Statement supported by 28 Leading Australians

is sent to Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott and Bob Brown calling on Government to Abandon the Stronger Futures Legislation

Names of Supporters

Senate request for inquiry

The Selection of Bills Committee referred the Stronger Futures Bills to the Community Affairs Committee on 25 November 2011.

The reason for Referral/Principal Issues for Consideration:

The Effect of measures and implementation plans, evidence of community awareness / acceptance. Assessment of intended and unintended consequences.

(See Appendix 8 of the

 Selection of Bills Committee
 Report No. 17 of 2011 (PDF) )

Senate Hearing at Maningrida 22 February 2012

The above video is a compilation from the hearing (13 min).

Click here for the full recording of the hearing

Transcripts of the Senate Hearings:

Stronger Futures Forum

held at Maningrida on

21 February 2012

Aboriginal people from West, Central and East Arnhem Land give their views on the proposed Stronger Futures Legislation

Facilitator: Jeff McMullen

This video was produced by NITV

(National Indigenous Television)

NT Consultations Report 2011: By Quotations

Consultations took place in the NT between June and August 2011, at the request of government. Ten of these consultations were recorded and quotations from them are contained in this report.

Launch & Press Conf. on the Stronger Futures legislation with
The Hon. Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC and
The Hon. Frank Vincent AO QC
Wednesday, 15 February 2012 12:30pm in Melbourne (PDF)

“NT Consultations Report 2011: By Quotation” Order Form (PDF)

Transcripts from the ten recorded consultations (PDF):

Videos from the Launch and Press Conference

on the Stronger Futures legislation

From the Introduction-

by Jeff McMullen

Commentary on the Proposed Stronger Futures Legislation -

by The Hon. Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC

From the Commentary -

by The Hon. Frank Vincent AO QC

Opinion:

NTER Evaluation 2011

Prepared by 'concerned Australians' in November 2011

Click here for a copy of this document (PDF)

Cuts to Welfare Payments
for School Non-Attendance
Requested or Imposed?

Prepared by 'concerned Australians' in October 2011

Click here for a copy of this report (PDF)

No More! Enough is Enough!

Statement by Northern Territory Elders and Community Representatives
4 Nov 2011 (PDF)

Statement by the Central Land Council, Kalkaringi, 26 August 2011 (PDF)

New round of consultations 2011

Letter from the Hon Alastair Nicholson AO to Minister Jenny Macklin  
27 Jun 2011 (PDF)

This letter was also signed by other influential Australians.

Media Release by Rev Dr Djiniyini Gondarra OAM   26 Jun 2011 (PDF)

Media Release by the Hon Malcolm Fraser AC CH GCL, former Prime Minister of Australia   27 Jun 2011 (PDF)

Media Release by The Anglican Diocese, the Most Rev Archbishop Philip Freier   29 Jun 2011 (PDF)

Open letter from the Hon Malcolm Fraser, the Hon Alastair Nicholson and the Hon Ian Viner to Minister Jenny Macklin   4 Jul 2011 (PDF)

Public statement re the Northern Territory Intervention   14 Jul 2011 (DOC)

Walk With Us

Aboriginal Elders Call Out to Australian People
to Walk with them in their Quest for Justice

The book will be launched in:

Melbourne – 30 August 2011 at 12.30pm

Sydney – 1 September 2011 at 6pm for 6.30pm

Canberra – 8 September 2011 at 5.30pm

Perth – 14 September 2011 at 4pm for 4:30pm

Darwin – 18 November 2011 at 6.30pm

Information about the book (DOC)

“Walk With Us” Order Form (PDF)

CHILDREN OF THE INTERVENTION - Aboriginal Children Living in the Northern Territory of Australia

Click here for a copy of this report (PDF)

This report is a complement to the report

"Listen to Children - 2011 Child Rights NGO Report Australia"

by the Child Rights Taskforce.

The Child Rights Taskforce is a coalition of organisations committed to the protection and promotion of child rights in Australia. The co-convenors of the Taskforce are NCYLC and UNICEF Australia.

Click here for a copy of the "Listen to Children" report (PDF)

Aboriginal Leaders meet
Navi Pillay in Darwin
20 May 2011

Leaders from 20 different communities spent several hours with the UN Human Rights Commissioner telling her of their concerns about the loss of their rights under the Intervention.

Thank you to those organisations who assisted in making this meeting possible.

Statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (PDF)

Letter to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

We would like to sincerely thank all who added their name to this letter to Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Just over 6,500 signatures were presented by Djapirri Mununggirritj to the Commissioner in Darwin on Friday 20th May.

Signatures were collected from every State and Territory and a large percentage were from NT towns and communities.

Letter to Navi Pillay (PDF)

A Further Conversation with Elders
held at the Melbourne University Law School on 7 Feb 2011.

Bringing you up to date with the impacts of living under the Intervention

Statement by Aboriginal Elders of 7 Feb 2011 (PDF)

Statement on Aboriginal Rights by leading Australians (DOC)

ABC Sunday night: Indigenous Australia: The Future (LINK)

Audio recording from the event (LINK)

Audio recording from the event (MP3)

NT Intervention coverage by the NIT (National Indigenous Times) (PDF)

From left to right: Dhanggal Gurruwiwi from Yirrkala, George Gaymarani Pascoe from Milingimbi, Rosalie Kunoth-Monks OAM from Utopia, Betty Pike, a Nyoonga woman from SW Australia, Miriam Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann AM from Nauiyu (Daly River), Djapirri Mununggirritj from Yirrkala, Rev Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra OAM from Galiwin'ku and Harry Jakamarra Nelson from Yuendumu

LOSS OF RIGHTS - the Despair of Aboriginal Communities in the Northern Territory

A submission to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by ‘concerned Australians’ August 2010

Prepared by
Professor the Hon Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC
Michele Harris OAM
Georgina Gartland
July 2010

Submission to the CERD by 'concerned Australians'

Click here for a copy of this report (PDF)

Rev Dr Djiniyini Gondarra OAM and Rosalie Kunoth-Monks OAM with Australian Racial Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes at the UN

Report by Rev.Dr Djiniyini Gondarra OAM and Rosalie Kunoth Monks OAM (LINK)

Media Release by ‘concerned Australians' (DOC)

Concluding Observations report by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
13 September 2010 (PDF)

Report by Australian Racial Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes
11 August 2010 (LINK)

Statement to the UN by the Australian Government
11 August 2010 (DOC)

Media Release by ‘concerned Australians’
28 August 2010 (DOC)

ABC Alice Springs interview with Professor the Hon. Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC discussing the Loss of Rights Report/UN CERD Concluding Observations
30 August (MP3)

Australian Aboriginal people give their views on the Northern Territory Intervention - February 2010

“This Is What We Said” Order Form (DOC)

“This Is What We Said” Media Release (DOC)

Launched on 9 February 2010 at Melbourne University by

Irene Fisher, former CEO Sunrise Health Service, Katherine, NT and

The Hon.Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC

Conversation with Elders held at the Melbourne University Law School on 19 May 2010.

Elders: Roslaie Kunoth-Monks OAM from Utopia in Central Australia
Rev Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra OAM from Galiwin'ku on Elcho Island in East Arnhem Land
Professor the Hon. Alastair Nicholson former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia

Facilitated by well-known journalist, Jeff McMullen

Conversation with Elders Transcript (DOC)

Click here for video with Elders night

“Will They Be Heard?” – a response to the NTER Consultations June to August 2009

Introduction by the Hon. Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC

Prepared by Alastair Nicholson, Larissa Behrendt, Alison Vivian, Nicole Watson and Michele Harris - Research Unit Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning, November 2009

Initiated and Co-ordinated by “concerned Australians”

Launched at Melbourne University Law School on 23 November by:

The Right Hon. Malcolm Fraser, AC CH,

The Hon. Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC

Larissa Behrendt, Professor of Law & Director of Research at Jumbunna Houseof Indigenous Learning, University of Technology,Sydney,and

“Will They Be Heard?” Media Release (DOC)

“Will They Be Heard?” Report (PDF)

PO Box 281

East Melbourne

Victoria, 8002

info@concernedaustralians.com.au

"If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together."