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"It's time to get it right"- rallies show national opposition to NT intervention

16 November 2007 - Women for Wik Media Release -This weekend, people in nine cities and towns across Australia will attend public events protesting the federal government's intervention into Northern Territory Aboriginal communities.

Barbara Shaw from Tangentyere council addressing the rally to appose the NT intervention Sydney

150 days have now passed since the 21 June announcement of the federal intervention. Despite the federal government's claim that the intervention is a response to the Anderson & Wild "Little Children are Sacred" report, there have been no new charges laid in connection with child sexual abuse. No new community-based services to ensure the safety and protection of children have been established, and there has been notable duplication of services - particularly in the area of child health checks.

The only visible change in most communities has been the construction of new housing for government business managers. Many people are skeptical about allocation of promised funds, with 700 new public service jobs having been created and $88 million being spent to administer the welfare quarantine changes.

People across the country are standing together this weekend to say "Its time to get it right". Protests are demanding the incoming federal government listen to Aboriginal people, stop wasting public money, improve services to families and children, build housing for Aboriginal people not public servants, and stop moving people out of paid work (CDEP) on to welfare (work for the dole). Protesters argue the intervention is racist and are calling for removal of 'business managers', an end to welfare quarantines and restoration of the Racial
Discrimination Act.

"The people of Darwin will gather this Saturday to show their support for the Larrakia and all Indigenous peoples of the NT as they oppose the racially discriminatory, coercive and controlling NT "Emergency
Intervention". We join with Australians nation-wide to call for full recognition of Indigenous Rights and for the Federal Government to immediately consult with Indigenous leaders regarding alternative measures in their communities" said Alyssa Vass, spokesperson for the Darwin Intervention Reform Coalition.

Barbara Shaw, a town camp resident in Alice Springs and executive member of Tangentyere council, is traveling from the NT to address the Sydney rally. "The little children are sacred report had nothing to do
with land, and the Commonwealth's legislation has nothing to do with children" , said Ms Shaw.

"John Howard has neglected us for the last 11 years, now we have no rights to anything. With the intervention there's been changes to every law; land rights law, the racial discrimination act, the social security act. Minister Brough now thinks he's got the power to take everything off us. I'm coming to Sydney to inform the rest of Australia about the changes, to share stories of those on the ground, on prescribed Aboriginal land."

Source: Women for Wik

Further information: NT intervention issues page - includes news index and external links