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Government commitment to UN Indigenous Declaration is common sense

17 February 2008 - Media Release - Confirmation by the Foreign Affairs Minister,Stephen Smith, that Australia would acknowledge the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, is commonsense and a return to international political reality, said Les Malezer today.

Les Malezer is the Chairman of the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action (FAIRA) in Australia and has been representing Indigenous Peoples at the United Nations Headquarters in New York since 2006.

In June 2006, he was appointed as Chairperson of the Global Indigenous Peoples Caucus which represents more than 1,000 Indigenous delegations to the UN from all regions of the world.

His job in New York was to meet with government representatives to gain support for the Indigenous Declaration but his work was made harder by the Howard administration from Australia which set out to discredit the Declaration and to prevent the United Nations from establishing a universal human rights standard for Indigenous
Peoples.

Mr Malezer returned to Australia in October 2007 after the Declaration was successfully adopted by an overwhelming vote in the General Assembly of the UN.

His work is now focussed upon raising awareness of human rights in Australia and improving relationships between the government and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

'When Australia voted against the Declaration in New York last year, it was a disaster for the government,' he said.

'Nearly all other governments gave whole-hearted support to the Declaration, but were very aware that the Howard
government was unable to respect the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The concerted effort by the Howard administration to have governments vote against the Declaration completely backfired and brought Australia into disrepute.

'Australia has, over the past ten years, stacked up a long list of human rights offences which are well-known and
well-documented in the United Nations.

'Ultimately these breaches, mostly against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, but also including Asians, Muslims and Refugees, lead to loss of credibility and influence in other areas of importance in the international community,' Mr Malezer said. He believed the Rudd Government has made an enormous leap back into credibility and Mr Malezer is receiving positive messages from around the world following events of the past week.

Les Malezer said the government must take a look at the situation and realise that the future path is for a partnership between the government and Indigenous Peoples in Australia.

The move for bipartisan approach to Indigenous policy issues is seen as the rights step but Mr Malezer says it is not necessary for the Opposition to agree with the ALP on matters, as they do not matter if they choose to return to their discriminatory policies of the Howard years.

'Aboriginal self-determination calls for a robust relationship between the Aboriginal Peoples / Torres Strait Islander Peoples and the Australian Parliament,' Mr Malezer said.

'Self-determination does not require unanimous support from the government, just the majority, and we are better of not being caught up in partisan politics as these are distractions to the exercise of self-determination.

'Our goal, as Indigenous Peoples, is to establish a good relationship with the government of the day, whatever its
political persuasion, and to be in control of our own affairs through our own structures and decision-making procedures,' Mr Malezer said.

'This week is the most positive beginning we could have hoped for, with the apology, the education resources and
confirmation of Australia's support for the international Indigenous Declaration.

'Now we are looking for action, not words, and we need a way to engage with government in the absence of ATSIC.

'We expect to see some solid moves from both sides, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, by 30 June 2008,' Mr Malezer said.

Source: Les Malezer on +61 (0) 419 710720

Further information: UN Declaration issues page - includes news index and external links

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