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National Aboriginal Alliance welcomes Jenny Macklin to ministerial post

29 November 2007 - Media Release - The National Aboriginal Alliance welcomes the appointment of Jenny Macklin as Indigenous Affairs Minister but calls on Prime Minister elect Kevin Rudd to directly involve himself in dealing with Aboriginal issues, Spokesman Michael Mansell said today.

Mr Mansell said, "The meeting of over 120 people in Alice Springs some months ago to establish the Alliance were desperate for some national leadership to bring a change from the Howard approach. We believe Jenny Macklin can give that leadership provided Mr Rudd becomes heavily involved in dumping the NT Emergency laws, saying "sorry" and offering compensation, and establishing a representative Aboriginal voice at the national level.

We also seek a review of the various processes for returning lands to Aboriginal people. Native title is essential. However the means by which native title is achieved has caused division and unnecessary trauma.

The first thing we urge Mrs Macklin to do is broaden out her consultation with Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders from the hand-picked group of John Howard. The policies of blaming the victims, so long the theme of the Howard years, must be abandoned by the Rudd government. New ideas based on involvement of Aboriginal people can bring about the desired change. Mrs Macklin and Mr Rudd must recognise that Aboriginal culture is not a hurdle but a valuable asset in seeking results.

Our people suffered badly under Howard. Politicisation of funding humiliated our people, and Shared Responsibility Agreements made our people more dependent, not less. The Howard/Brough era also created tremendous uncertainty for small Aboriginal communities. The dignity of Aboriginal people had been undermined by the aggressive Howard/Brough style of "their way or no way".

Aboriginal people will be looking for statements and actions from Mr Rudd and Mrs Macklin to indicate things are going to be different from the dark and traumatic Howard years. The test will be whether Howard policies are to be followed or dumped.

We believe the Macklin appointment is a sound one".

Michael Mansell

Source: National Aboriginal Alliance

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