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Worldwide Women's Protest Against Federal Action In The Northern Territory

16 September 2007 - Media Release - An international women's day of action is planned for Friday, October 19 to protest against the Australian Government's action in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.

Women for Wik, a grassroots organisation of Indigenous and non-Indigenous women, has attracted more than 1500 signatures on its website and at least one international sister group since going public on this issue two weeks ago.

A group of women from Australia, Scotland and France, organised a protest at the Australian Consulate in Edinburgh on September 13.

Organiser Kate Worland, said, 'It is vital to raise awareness all over the world about what is going on right now in Australia. We need to stop the implementation of this draconian legislation any way we can.'

Women for Wik, originally formed in 1997 to combat the Howard Government's attempts to extinguish native title, is calling on Australian women around the world will organise similar events on October 19. Action kits are available through the Women for Wik website, www.womenforwik.org.

Australian organiser, Associate Professor Claire Smith, says "We live in an interconnected world. Once we started providing access to information about the impact of this Federal action on Aboriginal community people, it was inevitable that this movement would garner international support."

'It is ironic that this occurred on the same day that the UN Declaration of Rights for Indigenous peoples passed. This shows how far Australia is out of step with the rest of the world', says Associate Professor Smith.

Professor Lynn Meskell of Stanford University says: "It is not enough that the Prime Minister has Australians involved in a war abroad that is not our own, we have begun persecuting and dominating our own people at home."

Professor Meskell continues: "Like one million other Australian citizens, I live overseas. This does not mean that I do not notice, or care about, what happens in Australia.'

Legislation allowing the Australian government's action in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities passed the Senate in August. The government seized control of around 70 Aboriginal towncamps and community centres. This has been done without consultation with Aboriginal organisations.

The Government acted in response to the Little Child Are Sacred report that reported widespread child abuse in NT Aboriginal communities. But even the authors of the report say the feel they betrayed by the Government's response to this report.

Federal actions include alcohol and pornography controls and controversial changes to the permit system for access to Indigenous land. Many opponents, including Women for Wik, object to the way the child-abuse issue has been linked to land rights.

"This wouldn't be accepted by any other section of the Australian society," says Olga Havnen, Indigenous leader and CEO of the Combined Aboriginal Organisations of the Northern Territory. "If they tried to implement this against women, or Jews, or gays, the country would be in an uproar. Why do we accept it for Aboriginal people?"

Background Information

WOMEN FOR WIK-MONITORING THE FEDERAL ACTION IN THE NT STATEMENT

The Federal Action in the Northern Territory could provide a unique opportunity to improve conditions in Aboriginal communities, but there is also a real possibility that it may make things worse. As currently planned, it will undermine key aspects of Aboriginal societies - country, kin and culture. Moreover, by using a top-down approach, it has the potential to work against self-government and, in some instances, contravene human rights. This will not improve the lives of Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory.

Accordingly, we call on both Federal and Territory governments to recognise the importance of Indigenous identity and develop an environment of mutual respect through cross-cultural awareness, communication and engagement. Like the many Australians who walked the Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of reconciliation, we believe our generation can ensure a fair go for Indigenous citizens.

Supporters
Prominent women supporting us monitoring the Federal Action in the Northern Territory include Lady Deane, Tamie Fraser, Lowitja O'Donoghue, Justice Elizabeth Evatt, Helen Caldicott, Anne Deveson, Kate Grenville, Gabi Hollows, Faith Bandler, Anita Heiss, Margaret Fulton, Rosemary Stanton, Judith Rodriguez, Drusilla Modjeska and Margaret Pomeranz.

Contacts
Eileen Cummings, Former Policy Advisor to the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory on Aboriginal and Women's Affairs, 0412 463218

Associate Professor Claire Smith, President World Archaeological Congress, 0424388925

Mary O'Malley, Press Officer, 0438881124

Women Re-Unite To Monitor Government Intervention In Aboriginal Communities
Women for Wik, a group of prominent Australian women, has been reignited to independently monitor the implementation of the Federal Government's intervention in Aboriginal communities.

"Women for Wik" was formed in 1997 and was endorsed by 130 women's organisations, representing hundreds of thousands of Australian women. Its original members included Ruth Cracknell, Jane Campion and Justice Elizabeth Evatt. It received overwhelming mainstream support.

The group was inspired by a speech by Lady Deane, the wife of the then Governor-General, Sir William Deane, who said women had to take the lead on the issue of reconciliation. This week Lady Deane reaffirmed this view stating "It is up to the women of Australia to get our country back on the path of reconciliation."

"Women for Wik" intends to independently monitor the implementation of the Federal Government plan, both now and in the future.

A co-founder of the original group, writer Rosie Scott, said "10 years ago we raised issues that had been effectively hidden, and helped to disprove the fear campaign that Indigenous people would take over our backyards. We now intend to go through the same process with the Federal Government intervention in the Northern Territory. We intend to provide a voice for the women of the Northern Territory whose lives are being directly affected."

Lowitja O'Donoghue, a member of the original group and former Chairperson of ATSIC stated "The Northern Territory intervention is patronising and unworkable. We need policies that will take us forward, not backwards."

Christine Olsen, writer-producer of the film Rabbit-Proof Fence, said "The answer to the problem is the support of Aboriginal culture. Not the destruction of it."

Statements Of Support
This wouldn't be accepted by any other section of the Australian society. If they tried to implement this against women, or Jews, or gays, the country would be in an uproar. Why do we accept it for Aboriginal people? Olga Havnen, Indigenous leader and CEO, Combined Aboriginal Organisations of the NT (and founder of the original Women for Wik group).

In 1931 Molly walked home with her two sisters, following the rabbit proof fence. Mr Neville, the Government Protector, was outwitted and defeated. Now, 76 years later, John Howard is subjecting Aboriginal communities to the kinds of laws and the kind of thinking which Mr Neville used. Mr Howard says that "Unless the Indigenous people of this country become part of the mainstream of the nation, their future is bleak." Aboriginal culture lies at the very heart of this country. What will we do if that is destroyed. Christine Olsen, writer & producer of the film Rabbit-Proof Fence.

"The quality of justice in a democracy is measured by the quality of rights the weakest and most vulnerable enjoy. Women know this. Indigenous Australians know this. But does the Federal Government?" Diane Bell, Emerita Professor of Anthropology, George Washington University, DC; Professor of Anthropology, University of Adelaide.

Source: Women for Wik

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