Wave Hill descendants highlight continuing injustices at 50th Walkoff anniversary

No Justice Just Us

Descendants of the Gurindji stockmen and their families who walked off Wave Hill Station in 1966 have used the 50th anniversary to highlight continuing injustices against Aboriginal Australians. The group is angry at Northern Territory and federal government responses to the recent ABC TV Four Corners program on the Don Dale Detention Centre in Darwin that showed the use of tear gas, beatings and chair restraints on youth detainees. “We are people with Gurindji cultural affiliations who wish to express our total lack of faith in the justice system in relation to the ever-increasing incarceration of our people in detention centres, gaols and similar institutions around the country,” a statement released today said.


“We cannot sit by and be silent while our children – “We cannot sit by and be silent while our children – our future generations - are being irreparably damaged.” It outlines a list of demands endorsed by ‘concerned Australians’. “We ask people who want to see this situation addressed to contact your local and federal members, and the Prime Minister in support of our demands, which are:

·      The immediate release of the youth portrayed on the 4 Corners program 

·      PM Turnbull to remove the NT Govt from any involvement in the Royal Commission other than as witnesses;

·      PM Turnbull to provide appropriate resources and funding be made available as a priority for Indigenous people to be self-determining and responsible for devising solutions, programs and services in every social and economic sphere to address the problems Indigenous Peoples experience, which have been created by successive governments;

·      The Don Dale Juvenile Centre closed and responsibilities be moved to a provider who conducts education, restoration and rehabilitation services. The NT Govt to provide suitable accommodation designed for proper rehabilitation and reintegration back into society;

·      That every Australian to never forget the images they saw on Four Corners because the speedy decision to call for a Royal Commission is designed by government to silence the masses by sending a covert message: “It’s fine Australia, we have it sorted.”

A banner, designed specifically for the group, was unveiled at Wave Hill 50th anniversary celebrations held at Wattie Creek today.

“Reflected in this child’s eyes are the eyes of concerned citizens of Australia and the world who expect positive, not punitive action – now.”

- See more at: http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/pr-article/wave-hill-descendants-hi...

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50 Years Freedom Day Festival

Lingiari celebrated at walk-off 50th anniversary

Aboriginal land rights champion Vincent Lingiari has been described as a hero for Australia as thousands gathered in the remote Northern Territory community of Kalkarindji to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wave Hill Walk-Off which he led.

 

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Alice Springs based Aboriginal radio, CAAMA, will broadcast many of the events live from Kalkaringi and Daguragu over the weekend and bring the stories from this historic event throughout the following week.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath has ordered an independent review into the state's youth detention centres after released internal government reports show the alleged mistreatment of children.

 

The government's Ethical Standards unit quarterly reports from Queensland's two youth detention centres, Cleveland Youth Detention Centre and Brisbane Youth Detention Centre, dated between 2010 to 2015, were released under Freedom of Information laws on Thursday.