[Greens-Media] Government lets NT Indigenous communities down again

[Norton, Tim (Sen R. Siewert)]

Government lets NT Indigenous communities down again
Friday 28th November 2008

The Australian Greens attempts to restore the Racial Discrimination Act
(RDA) in the NT failed in the Senate last night.

"I'm extremely disappointed that the Government sided with the
Opposition to oppose my amendments to restore the RDA," said Australian
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert. 

"The Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) is blatantly racist
legislation - we knew this from the outset, when Howard and Brough
required the suspension of the RDA in the first place." 

"If the NTER measures are to the benefit of Aboriginal communities then
the Government has nothing to fear from restoring the RDA. Actions that
are to the benefit of Indigenous communities are exempt. They should be
able to stand or fall, therefore, on their own merits."

"Given that the ALP objected to the suspension of the RDA when they were
in Opposition, their lack of support for these amendments just serves to
show their true colours. The Greens will continue to work to overturn
this discriminatory piece of legislation," said Senator Siewert.

"We are also very disappointed that the Senate voted against reinstating
the permit system. Restoring the permit system is an important step on
the path to enabling Indigenous communities to manage their own lands."

"The Greens support the restoration of the permit system, and will
continue to fight for it. This is not an issue of tourism, public
access, visibility or sidelining, as has been suggested. It is about
ensuring Indigenous control of Indigenous land," she concluded.

For more information or media enquiries please call Tim Norton on 0418
401 180