Get in contact with the CAAMA newsroom: news@caama.com.au
CAAMA Radio produces three local news bulletins airing at 12pm, 2pm and 5pm every weekday.
A full bulletin can also be heard online.
In this bulletin:
NAIDOC Week officially starts on Sunday…a time when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people unite for a week of celebrations…although it’ll be a bit different this year as the Voice To Parliament referendum will feature prominently, with some planning to Vote Yes, and some NO;
The Yes 23 Campaign is holding a series of community events across the country this weekend, including at the Todd Mall Markets in Alice Springs on Sunday;
It’s Territory Day tomorrow celebrating the anniversary of the Northern Territory gaining self-government in 1978;
Several rainfall records have been broken in north-west and central parts of Australia in the last week, as more rainfall is expected this weekend;
In the AFL…Melbourne are strong favourites when they meet the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Traeger Park in Alice Springs on Sunday.
A report published by Friends of the Earth detailing high levels of sodium and other dangerous chemicals and minerals shows data outlining long-term exposure for people living in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. The water quality data has been collated over the last 20 years by the Power and Water Corporation in the Northern Territory.
The findings of the report have been updated on the Australian Drinking Water Map and summarise levels of chemicals and minerals higher than the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines legal for safe health standards.
Long term exposure of sodium, barium and uranium have leached into bore water infrastructure over the years and are reported to impact the health and wellbeing of people including those living with chronic health issues in remote communities. Anthony Amis Land Use Researcher from Friends of the Earth says Water Services Australia estimate $2.2 billion could ensure remote communities would have access to safe drinking water and the proposed $150 million released by the Albanese government means that communities will miss out.
The Coalition for Healthy Remotes Stores in the Northern Territory is calling for action on storeowners and retailers to be supported to improve the healthiness of retail stores in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia. The group of representatives from non-government retail, health and academic organisations are supporting the NT government on the move to develop legislation within the NT Food Act of 2004 to continue and strengthen the Remote Stores Licensing Program and move towards International best practice to create healthy stores and communities and improve food security.
Doctor Megan Ferguson from the University of Queensland Public Health faculty spoke to Kirstyn Lindsay about the Coalition for Healthy Remote Stores and their push for federal support to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Prevention of management of chronic health issues is the focus of the coalition to restrict the placement and promotion of unhealthy food in high traffic areas in stores and reduce the number of large bottles of sugary drinks displayed in fridges.
Dr Megan Ferguson University of Queensland Public Health.
In May GetUp members and supporters handed a petition of 24,500 signatories to the federal Minister for Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek’s at her electorate office in Sydney. The call to action focuses on the protection of Larrakia cultural heritage and to stop the Middle Arm gas hub. Gurang Gurang First Nations Justice Campaigner Amy Gordan Gurang says GetUP supports traditional owners in the Northern Territory and the Labor government must implement federal cultural heritage legislation and stop fracking and risk to sacred sites and the water for the region.
No Benefit In The Gas Industry For Our People; Jingili Elder Samuel Janama Sandy
It’s going to affect my Grandchildren and everybody within the Beetaloo Basin
The Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation is concerned that fracking will cause the industrialisation of the Beetaloo Basin and destroy what is left of their cultural heritage including sacred rock art and the water table. Jingili Elder and Deputy Chair Samuel Janama Sandy says the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority have to protect their sites from harm. He says the rights to determine the outcome of any decisions made about fracking on his people’s country need to be respected and he is calling for a regional summit with the Northern Land council and all companies involved including government to develop a process with Nurrdalinji that supports consent and consultation Mr Sandy is saddened and very concerned on what fracking will do for the future of his grandchildren’s cultural heritage.
First Nations advocates supported by GetUp, Original Power and Australian Progress have been working on research over two years to deliver the Passing the Message Stick.
This framework is used for strength-based messaging that combines community led solutions to build support for First Nations self-determination and justice. GetUp CEO Larissa Baldwin-Roberts joined Kirstyn Lindsay to discuss what messages need to be delivered on this year’s referendum not only in the media but with the campaigns for and against an enshrined voice to parliament.
This week the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) Bill 2023 has been passed in the Senate and within six months we will see the roll out on the referendum to vote on a constitutionally enshrined voice to parliament. Larissa Baldwin-Roberts explains what information is needed for people to make an informed choice and to share that information with family and community.
“In terms of what that body looks like, candidly what those things can do also hasn’t been decided yet.’ Larissa says ‘In a way where we talk about persuasive messaging it’s not just about agreeing or disagreeing with government it’s about saying what we stand for.”
With the referendum timeline speeding up, Passing the Message stick provides solutions to the unanswered questions and detail on what really is important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people when it comes to understanding all of the outcomes of either a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ vote. Larissa points out “In one hand Dutton’s no vote is creating enough confusion that people don’t know what they are voting for and on the other hand the Labor government isn’t telling us what is going to be the best model of representative of a democratic institution for First Nations people because they don’t know what it looks like.” Larissa says she has a lot of empathy for community who feel they are forced to respond to something in such a short amount of time and discusses how this information can be strengthened in its delivery if there was more time.
Photo: Gomeroi Journalist and Activist Boe Spearim
The call for Treaty and land rights has been a human rights challenge for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples since invasion. In the early 70’s the Larrakia People issued the Kenbi Land Claim under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act of 1976 with one of the four family groups who applied finally having their claim settled thirty-seven years later by the former Turnbull in 2016.
Gomeroi journalist and activist Boe Spearim says the call for transformative justice, truth telling, and reparations isn’t new and treaty agreements would give First Nations people the opportunity to survive and thrive. The Treaty before Voice campaign has been actively opposing constitutional recognition prior to the dialogues held in Yulara in 2017.
We need truth, we need ACCOUNTABILITY, we need reparations or some form of process where we feel our words are being heard
Boe believes that an elected advisory body by the Prime Minister in parliament would see any recommendations watered down or represented in a way that the government wants Indigenous peoples to be represented and the ‘Treaty before Voice’ movement see that the Voice to Parliament platform is taking away of what is happening on the ground in communities. Boe says “One thing that I always say in my podcasts is that history always informs us of our relationships.”
Get in contact with the CAAMA newsroom: news@caama.com.au
CAAMA Radio produces two local news bulletins airing at 12pm and 5pm every weekday.
A full bulletin can also be heard online.
In this bulletin:
Chairpersons of the four NT land councils meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to deliver the Barunga Declaration, calling for a Yes vote for Constitutional change and a Voice To Parliament;
A panel discussion this week talked about the Federal Intervention and its 16th anniversary of the intervention this week;
Arrernte singer-songwriter Paul AhChee releases his latest single “Morning Star”;
The Beanie Festival has started in Alice Springs and on this weekend…the right time of the year to be wearing a beanie.
The owner of the Facebook page Action For Alice 2020 has announced he will be taking a break from the page, saying the page has taken its toll on his social and emotional well being.
The page was originally set up to highlight ongoing crime in Alice Springs – but it received criticism for the comments on the page being poorly moderated, allowing people who didn’t even live in Alice Springs to spread hateful racist comments throughout the page.
Territory Attorney-General CHANSEY PAECH told CAAMA’s Jenni Hubert that he agrees with local business and tourism operators that the southern media’s coverage of the page has been damaging to Alice Springs.
The Attorney General also talks about Statehood, the Voice to Parliament, the new Northern Territory Anti Discrimination Commissioner and pokies inthe Alice.
“It can be quite damaging and it can be quite distressing and upsetting particularly for Aboriginal people. “
