Dream on black girl

24

2005-06-15T10:44:00.000+10:00

This article is too hilarious NOT to post! Enjoy.

National Indigenous Times
Issue 81
June 12, 2005

Outrage at PM plan to keep blackfellas in the dark
By Chris Graham

NATIONAL: Prime Minister John Howard has hosed down speculation that
Indigenous Australia will receive another new dawn in the next few months,
sparking widespread outrage among journalists and sub editors at The
Australian newspaper.

During a speech to the recent Reconciliation Australia workshop in Canberra,
Mr Howard said:

"I'm delighted to have had the opportunity to come and address this
gathering," Mr Howard said.

"In the past there has been a sense in which dialogue between the Government
and many of the leaders of the Indigenous community has dwindled almost to a
point of non-existence.

"I don't sense that today. I sense there is a spirit of hope and optimism
about what can be achieved.

"I'm not going to talk about new dawns in reconciliation, we've had too many
false dawns in the past and those approaches are always doomed to produce
disappointment."

The comments have sparked internal dissent within the News Corporation
publication, with one journalist from The Australian, who asked not to be
named, telling NIT that "the Oz is gonna get the Prime Minister for this".

"This newspaper told Australia and the world that Aboriginal people got a
new dawn only last week," the unnamed source said.

"And the week before that, we told them Aboriginal people got six new deals,
eight new agreements and one new accord.

"We've been predicting new dawns for Aboriginal people on an almost
fortnightly basis for the past five years, and now John Howard tells us
there are to be no more. Who the hell does he think he is?

"We may have backed him in the last election, and the three before that, but
that doesn't mean we're just going to keep on doing it."

Another informed source, who spoke to NIT on the condition of anonymity,
predicted a vicious campaign of cartoons and mocking editorials from The
Australian.

"We're calling it the 'New Dawn in the War on Terra Nullius," she said.

"They can raid us, they can send the cops around, but all they find is a
truckload of government press releases and a few documents leaked by
friendly government ministers."

But not everyone at 'The Oz' was similarly outraged. One informed source,
who asked not to be named, said the "ending of the dawn of new dawns", also
known by staff as the "dawn of the era of no more new dawns" was, in fact,
welcome.

"To be honest, it's a bit of relief," the anonymous, informed source who
asked not to be named and spoke to NIT on the condition of anonymity, said.

"I think the editor-in-chief of The Australian who asked not to be named was
getting a little too close to all this.

"A fortnight ago, after we predicted a new dawn and a petrol bowser for one
Aboriginal community, the editor-in-chief of The Australian, who I can't
name for reasons of anonymity, sent 'round a memo asking all staff to refer
to him as 'Sunshine' from now on.

"It really was getting out of control."

NIT made no attempt to contact the editor-in-chief of The Australia, who we
were asked not to name, to confirm the unsourced, anonymous and
unsubstantiated claims, however NIT understands he is outraged at the Prime
Minister's plan to keep "Aboriginal Australians in the dark".

An anonymous journalist from the Daily Telegraph - another News Corporation
publication - said he was unaware of the dissent within his sister
newspaper.

"What's an Aborigine?" he said.

Meanwhile, the editor of NIT, Chris Graham, who has also asked not to be
named, apologised to readers for the apparent decline in the quality of NIT
articles.

The National Indigenous Times online

23

2005-05-27T14:58:00.000+10:00

Hello! I am back.

I hope you're all going to see at least one of the films at the Message Sticks Festival, they all look fantastic. I'll be attending the Saturday session, I'm far too shame to attend the film festival opening night tonight. Plus the weekend sessions are free, which is always a good thing. Including the word plus twice in a sentence, however, is not. I wish I had the cash to also see Mary G, alas Sigur Ros has emptied my piggy bank and as a result my Mum has disowned me. I will never be able to explain how I chose Icelandic muso's who sing in a made up language over our beloved Mary G. I'm also missing Jared Diamond at the Sydney Writers Festival, but I've yet to finish 'The Third Chimpanzee' so I don't feel too guilty.

Just less literarily elite and more of an indie wanker. Is literarily even a word? It is now!

I'm sorry for disappearing, it was a fight/flight response and we all know which option I chose. There was too much pressure, too much negativity, not enough tongue firmly implanted in cheek and certainly not enough lightheartedness. There is only so much seriously depressing material I can write. But I didn't want to tarnish any of my opinions by over personalising the blog, then again, why would you want to read a blog if you didn't at least get an inkling of the writers personality? Well, I know I wouldn't want to. It was disappointing having to disconnect for a while from this medium, because a strong black voice is still sorely needed, but I personally needed a little distance to get my head around what I could achieve by having a blog.

I've previously been accused of thinking too much, gees, ya think?

I still have no internet at home, but that shall be rectified in a month or so, I will update much more regularly then. I also missed out on Grog Blogging II, I felt like a bit of a fraud turning up when I hadn't updated in months. There better be another one soon, darp, otherwise I may never get a chance to get charged up and ranty with fellow bloggers.

Edit: Entry 23, for a 23 yr old whose birthday happens to be on the 23rd. How intriguing!

22

2005-03-08T10:24:00.000+11:00

Happy International Womens Day everyone!

Uncle Jimmy Little was on SBS's RockWiz on Saturday night and was absolutely deadly. Go uncle!

21

2005-03-04T15:21:00.000+11:00

Sorry for the lack of updates, I've been incredibly busy. I'm heading back home in a few weeks for a holiday, which should be excellent, but until then I'm absolutely flat tack.

Here are a few news items:
The UN to re-examine Australias treatment of it's Indigenous people

QLD Minister for Indigenous Policy Liddy Clarke resigns

Wongatha/Ngadju Elders to take protest to Canberra

I'm not sure what to say about the Macquarie Fields riots. I've never lived there, or even been out there, so I can't really say. All I know is the shock and trauma of losing loved ones can be overwhelming, but in my very honest opinion, nothing justifies violence. As an outsider I'm saddened by both the actions of the police and the actions of the community.

20

2005-02-21T13:11:00.000+11:00

Interview on Koori Radio 19/01/2005.

It's about 15 minutes long, feel free to have a listen.

19

2005-02-14T11:58:00.000+11:00

Sorry for the lack of updates, I will rectify that shortly. Let's just say that no one is safe from hatred, not even from their own people.

A few links:

ReconciliACTION Australia

Redfern-Waterloo Yahoo discussion group

Your Voice political party (still under construction)

18

2005-02-04T15:10:00.000+11:00

This article is a must read for anyone.

Speak of the real pain and no one listens

17

2005-02-03T16:16:00.000+11:00

I forgot to mention, I also had the opportunity to be on Noongar FM on Monday night, which was excellent. It's always good to talk to people back home, suss who's from where and who's related to who and see if your paths have crossed. For Perth folk, it's not that hard, I think there's maybe three or four degrees of separation when you're black.

I'm afraid I may have come across as a total hater in my previous entry, which is definitely not the case. Sometimes I just get so frustrated that I can't see the forest for the trees.

The NIC is one of the many instances where I feel the federal government has made an incredibly ill informed decision. But as angry and frustrated as I feel, seeing such a diverse and skilled group of people invariably go to waste, I have little choice but to follows the NIC's journey as what will probably be another failed attempt at Indigenous "sovereignty" and "self governance". I have little choice but to hope that the NIC will do something, ANYthing to promote reform and provide support for the current sad state of Indigenous affairs and issues. When all you've got is one group of people trying to work within an inherently flawed structure, you've got to hope that they come through, you've got no other choice.

ATSIC was a complex department, covering many different roles and functions all over Australia, in both metropolitan and rural regions. Given the majority of Indigenous folk live in regional areas, the role ATSIC Regional Councils played was an especially important one. I think we all agree that it was a flawed federal organisation that had quite a few bad apples, but abolishing ATSIC only proved the current federal governments unwillingness to support Indigenous Australia. The action spoke louder of the government than of the now defunct organisation, revealing a total lack of commitment and understanding of our issues and our desire for real, actual sovereignty.

The current furor over Ray Robinson being accused of gambling public monies only tells us that one or two men made a really stupid decision over a relatively (I'm thinking on a federal government budget scale) small sum of money. What about the embezzelment of almost a million dollars from the ABC late last year? Oh wait, the guy at the ABC was white, so that makes it ok.

Y'know, there are so many double standards with regards to Indigenous and non-Indigenous folk, not only the "justice" system, but within the subconcious a huge number of non-Indigenous Australians. It makes me so sad and so sickened that in 2005 we can STILL have Indigenous men dying in police custody after being imprisoned as drunk and disorderly. How the hell can that still occur in this day and age? And have you ever walked through Newtown, or Kings Cross, on any night of the week?! Drunk and disorderly is a way of life for some, but obviously only the drunk blackfullas need to be taught a potentially fatal lesson. I hope to any deities listening that that won't happen to my brother, or my nephews, or my cousins, or my uncles, or even my own future sons.

In other, much lighter news, there's an Indigenous travel expo on at the Sydney Opera House this Saturday Feb 5, with heaps of free stuff going on, including harbour cruises every hour after 1pm. It's not just for blackfullas y'know, it's time non-Indigenous Australians showed some initiative and experienced some black culture for no other reason other than to learn.

16

2005-02-02T10:05:00.000+11:00

If you haven't seen Gary Foley's website, do it now! During my interview with Koori Mail yesterday (which will be published in the next few weeks) the Sydney correspondent reminded me of his webpage, which is practically a blog. I didn't realise he still updated after so many years, so I'm going to go read it now.

Also reccomended:

James Henry's site. Fabulous musician and grandson of Jimmy Little.

Nyoongar land, Nyoongar spirit. A few deeply moving stories in language about Nyoongar land and Nyoongar spirit.

Metro Screen Indigenous Mentor Scheme. A Metro Screen NSW initiative to fund AND mentor Indigenous film makers. Bloody awesome stuff. There are many funding schemes out there, but without the mentoring and support the recipients projects often go belly up.

15

2005-01-27T17:06:00.000+11:00

I recently recieved an electronic version of the National Indigenous Council's Terms of References.

NATIONAL INDIGENOUS COUNCIL - TERMS OF REFERENCE

The National Indigenous Council will:

1. Provide expert advice to the Australian Government on how to improve outcomes for Indigenous Australians in the development and implementation of policy affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people;

2. Provide expert advice to Government on how to improve programme and service delivery outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people including maximising the effective interaction of mainstream and Indigenous-specific programmes and services;

3. Provide advice on Indigenous Australians’ views on the acceptance and effectiveness of Australian Government and State and Territory Government programmes;

4. Provide advice on the appropriateness of policy and programme options being considered to address identified needs;

5. Provide advice to government on national funding priorities;

6. Alert government to current and emerging policy, programme and service delivery issues;

7. Promote constructive dialogue and engagement between government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and organisations;

8. Provide advice on specific matters referred to it by the Minister; and

9. Report to the Minister as appropriate on the NIC’s activities and achievements.

It is also expected that the NIC will use its contacts and networks to assist consultation.

Advice will not be sought from the NIC on specific funding proposals or specific planning or programme matters related to individual communities or regions.

More information can be found in a badly written press release here.

What I don't understand is how the council, appointed by non-Indigenous members of the Federal Government, can be a part of the revised governance arrangements for Indigenous Affairs. The word governance is totally incorrect, as that gives the impression that we actually made a choice. These are non-Indigenous Australians, appointing Indigenous Australians, to fulfill an advisory role in regards to national Indigenous services. Don't you think INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS could choose their own National Indigenous Council? I would certainly think so! But this is yet another instance where the Federal Government takes that option out of black hands, further enforcing the belief that blackfullas can't handle their own issues.

Let's not forget the fact that ATSIC previously filled this role, not only providing a diverse mix of age, gender, skills and experience, but also providing region/language group/tribe specific advice in the form of Regional Councils, something the NIC sorely lacks. But ATSIC has been tarred by the fact that greedy people are in every culture, black or white and can really truly stuff things up for everyone else. Unity is no guarantee in Aboriginal culture, when you have hundreds of different cultures all chucked in the same big melting pot. Another thing I can't understand is the total destruction of ATSIC, as opposed to restructure, or re-workings, keeping the foundations of our first and only self governing body and rebuilding it is surely more logical than demolishing the whole thing?

Anyway, there's naught we can do about that now, so back to the NIC. The Council will only meet four times a year. That's one meeting every three months, to some how keep up to date with and advise on all Indigenous issues. But of course they will not be providing specific advise on funding proposals, or specific planning or programme matters, unless those matters are referred to the Council by the Minister. So you've got a group of people, not representing any particular area, maybe not even representative of an entire state (I see no Tasmanian members, but then again there probably aren't enough remaining Tasmanian Aboriginals to warrant representation), with specific skills and experience, unable to give advise to specific things. But they are able to advise the Federal Government on all Indigenous Australians’ views on the acceptance and effectiveness of Australian Government and State and Territory Government programmes! Even though the Council doesn't represent all the cultures that make up Indigenous Australia! Yeah, that makes sense! It makes sense like tits on a bull, or an ashtray on a motorbike.

This is yet another token effort by the Federal Government to solve the 'Aboriginal problem'. What they've concocted is a council that will sit around and not be able to do anything, advising only a non-Indigenous Minister for Indigenous Affairs and hoping that that Minister will take any suggestions made on board. As a colleague of mine said, what a toothless tiger.

What I'm really hoping is that the rumoured rival Indigenous Council gets up and running, and soon.

14

2005-01-27T12:24:00.000+11:00

Despite massively delayed public transport (we were told a bus went missing - thankyou for that helpful information, 131500!) and the heat, Yabun was great.

Redfern Park was absolutely packed, there was plenty of good cheap food (even TI cuisine) and various stalls with plenty of free stuff. The main stage PA was set up so you could hear the music no matter how far from the stage you were seated, which is a difficult thing in the best of venues, let alone a big open park. I even enjoyed Troy Casser-Daly, but that could've been the heat stroke haha! Nah just kidding Troy was pretty good live, not as good as the Stiff Gins though.

In other non-Indigenous politics, what the hell is going on with the Labor party? Once Latham finally admitted his health was deteriorating rapidly and resigned from politics altogether, Labor had the opportunity to pull their socks up and show some unity and backbone in finding a new leader for their completely directionless party. The three main contenders were obvious, previous party leader Kim Beazely, shadow minister for health Julia Gillard and shadow minister for foreign affairs, Kevin Rudd. What wasn't so obvious was where the caucus held their preferences and who out of the three would make a great Labor leader.

Unfortunately those two questions don't matter now, as both Julia and Kevin have developed what could only be called 'cold feet' and subsequently withdrawn from the race. Why? Kevin Rudd rang Kim Beazely personally to say that he does not have enough votes within the caucus and will be withdrawing. Julia follows the exact same train of thought, claiming "There are obviously issues in having a ballot in circumstances where I know I can't win." So by that logic, if you don't think you can win, there's no point in even trying. With that sort of mentality perhaps it's a good thing they've both withdrawn, who knows what kind of leader they would both make? Now we'll never know, as the caucus only has one option, rendering the process of nominating and electing a new Labor leader absolutely useless.

13

2005-01-19T17:25:00.000+11:00

Did anyone hear the Koori Radio interview? Did I sound like a fool? Let me know, so I can waste no time in feeling shame. I'm hoping to grab a copy of the interview at some stage over the next few weeks, I'll make it available for download as soon as that happens. I think we spoke for nearly 18 minutes and she played a Yowarliny Singers track, which originated from the Yirra Yaakin Noongar Theatre Choir. Those girls do an absolutely breath taking Welcome to Country song, in language, if I can locate a copy I'll make it available for download from here as well.

I've also been approached by WA's 100.9FM Noongar Country Radio so I'll keep everyone posted on how/when that happens. Blogs are a relatively new technology for blackfullas, when you can't afford a computer how do you ever learn about the internet? Plus I'm always up for a yarn, I've always been told I have a ~~face~~ voice for radio.

Lastly, I've made it easier for non-blogspot/blogger comments by implementing HaloScan, subsequently losing all previous comments. I'll re-post the old comments and my replies as soon as I can. I also added a handy little tool 'Who Links Here', have a click and see what it comes up with.

Enough about radio interviews and blog accessories, I've got a National Indigenous Council rant brewing that will erupt messily if ignored much longer. As always, stay tuned, there is definitely more to come.

12

2005-01-18T13:46:00.000+11:00

NEWS FLASH:

I've just been approached by the presenter of Koori Radio's Blackchat programme to be part of tomorrow's show. Tune in to 93.7FM from 10.30am to hear us yarn about blogs.

Also, you can vote for my blog in the Aussie Blog Awards '05 here. If'n you feel so inclined, that is.

11

2005-01-17T11:31:00.000+11:00

I'll be at the Yabun Survival Day Concert down at Redfern Park next Wednesday 26 January. I strongly suggest all Sydney siders attend, it should be an awesome day, drug and alchohol free, so bring the kids too.

I lived in Redfern for a while back last year and it's astounding for one lone inner-city suburb to cop so much unnecessary flack. It is the only area I've lived in in Sydney that felt like it had any character. The local residents actually looked you in the eye and said hello, the girl at the local charcoal chicken shop remembered my name AND my order (large chicken and large chips with extra chicken salt thanks) and I never, at any time, felt unsafe.

So come along to Yabun and celebrate the survival of Indigenous Australians and celebrate the suburb of Redfern.

10

2005-01-13T13:22:00.000+11:00

I came across this article, written by Linda Doherty, in the weekend Herald a few weeks back. While the piece reads like a press release, it signifies an incredible leap in the way the NSW Education Department views Indigenous custodianship.

Pupils to salute Aboriginal custodians

NSW public school students are to acknowledge Aborigines as the the original custodians of the land, under the new Department of Education guidelines.

The Aboriginal "welcome to country" greeting and the "acknowledgement of country" will be performed at assemblies and other formal school functions. They are already used at functions attended by NSW and federal ministers, including the federal Education Minister, Brendan Nelson, but their extension to NSW public schools and TAFE is an Australian first, and have been hailed by Aboriginal leaders as a major milestone towards reconciliation.

The president of the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, Dave Ella, said the greetings would engender respect toward Indigenous people and raise students' self esteem. "It's probably one of the biggest developments since the reconciliation Bridge walk[in 2000]," he said. "The community is really excited about it."

The state Education and Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Andrew Refshauge, said the guidelines were not mandatory but were a "useful" way of explaining the proper form of address and acknowledgement. "People do want to recognise the traditional owners, that's been part of a growing feeling about people understanding our history and having respect," he said. "And all political parties have agreed that respect is the starting point you need for reconciliation".

The guidelines, which will be implemented this year, explain the "welcome to country" can take the form of a speech of a dance but can only be performed by an Aboriginal elder. The acknowledgment, which can be said by anyone, recognised the school event is "taking place on the country of the traditional custodians". Both would show "respect for Aboriginal people as Australia's first peoples."

For Aborigines in Sydney, around the CBD, eastern suburbs and inner west, the greeting would be: "I would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people, who are the traditional custodians of this land. I would also like to pay respect to the elders, both past and present, of the Eora national and extend that respect to other Aboriginals present."

The plan originated with Aboriginal teachers in the NSW Teachers Federation and was adopted by the Education Department and the Aboriginal Educational Consultative Group, which advises the Government.

The senior vice-president of the federation, Angelo Gavrielatos, said using the greeting in school was emblematic of Aborigines' "rightful place" in Australia's history. "It will have an incredibly positive affect on Aboriginal students across the state. They will be able to feel pride in terms of their inheritance and identity," he said.

A recent state government review highlighted the acknowledgement of Aboriginal identity - inextricably linked to "belonging to the land and to each other" - as important to improving the performance of Indigenous students.

The review found Aboriginal students were up to five years behind non-Aboriginal students in reading and writing by Year 7.

© Sydney Morning Herald 01/01/2005

When I was in high school (a sort of posh yet open minded all girls school back in WA that claimed to produce "feminine feminists") I remember spending a whole term of Social Studies learning about Australian history. We worked backwards through the years until we reached the late 1700's, the time of invasion/colonisation. I sadly realised then that there would be no Indigenous history included as it was the last week of term.

I remember standing up, in front of everyone and asking my teacher why we wouldn't be learning about Aboriginal people. She looked shocked that a Yr 9 student was actually questioning what they were being taught. Fumbling for words, she explained that as Indigenous history wasn't written down, or recorded properly (hah! properly!) that there was no way to include it into the curriculum. I nearly burst into tears. I had plenty of responses, what about the elders who can tell stories, what about my great Grandmother who can sing a Yamatji lullaby, what about the languages, there's an entire culture none of you people know just waiting to be heard, why is our history irrelevant? How can it be irrelevant?! I swallowed all those words all the way down losing my pride somewhere along the way. That was the day I began to hate the education system.

My marks slumped, my attendance levels were absolutely shocking and finally, sometime in Yr 10, I just never went back. What was the point? What was the point of attending such a supposedly prestigious school, where I was the one of three blackfullas in the entire school (the other two were sisters and not in my year) and not even my own ancestors stories were being told?

A few years later, when I started work, I heard my first welcome to country and acknowledgement of country. It made me feel so proud, like I was an important part of something much bigger and that I certainly was not alone. It's now become automatic to expect a welcome to country and acknowledgement of country at major Indigenous cultural events. It gives elders the opportunity to speak some language, to show non-Indigenous people that we are a fiercely proud people determined to not be forgotten, to not be ignored anymore.

I would love to see non-Indigenous events including a welcome to country and acknowledgement of country, the impact on the general public would be astounding. As a blackfulla, it's a beautiful thing to hear, for wadjella's, well I don't know how they would respond. Maybe with a mix of shame, for the way we have been treated for so long, and awe, for a small insight into a culture that has been hidden for centuries. Can you imagine the impact it would have on both Indigenous and non-Indigenous kids? I think it'd be incredible.

The only problem I have with the guidelines is that they are for NSW only and are not mandatory, so each NSW school can choose whether or not to implement them. Here's hoping other state Education Department will realise what a bold step this is towards real reconciliation and take it on board.

9

2005-01-11T16:33:00.000+11:00

Three posts in one day, that's pretty phenomenal. None of them have any real content though, there will be more of that to come during the week.

I've just spent the last half hour wading through HTML (ew!) and have sorted myself out a links list. I'm starting off small for now and as always, more will come later. If anyone has linked to me over the past few months I would very much like to return the favour, so please leave a comment and I'll add you to the list.

Actually, now that I've found a way to alter the template HTML, I can regress back to the mid 90's and add blink tags everywhere! I might even embed a .wav file that starts playing automatically when you visit this blog! Mwahahahaha! Nah, just kidding. I think.

8

2005-01-11T13:49:00.000+11:00

Who would've thunk it? I'm nominated for a 2005 Australian Blog Award in the Best New Blog category! If that's not impetus to start writing in here properly, I don't know what is*.

Read more here, or register and vote if you feel so inclined.

*Other than chocolate, lots and lots of chocolate, from my adoring fans.

7

2005-01-11T12:12:00.000+11:00

After a relaxing (and much needed) break away from work and away from computers and netstuffs, I'm back. To start the year off I'm posting an article written by George Megalogenis for The Age. I'm not one for posting other peoples pieces in place of my own, but I felt this article was well worth it.

No more mistakes on reconciliation

THERE are 20,000 more indigenous Australians than there are Tasmanians - 480,000 v 460,000. The last federal election reminded us which voters have the greater pull.

Just as intriguing is the headcount between first citizen and immigrant. Indigenous Australians outnumber all but one of our overseas-born groups, namely those from the UK. Our Aboriginal ranks are double those of the Italian-born Australian, triple those of the Greek-born Australian and about 100,000 more prevalent than those of the New Zealand-born Australian.

These comparisons are worth bearing in mind as John Howard embarks on his third attempt in six years to secure what he once termed "true reconciliation". They illustrate the role that politics and the public have played in neglecting our first citizens. The way to appreciate this is through the window of wogdom.

Australians once saw immigrants as men viewed their wives: someone to cook for them. But as each foreign wave over-achieved and was accepted by the community, the definition of what it meant to be an Australian changed along with the menu. Yet we have never paid indigenous Australians the same compliment of helping to shape the national character.

The only level that white is prepared to engage with black is through art. We don't eat their food or learn their language. We certainly don't know them or what it means to be an indigenous person in the way that we live alongside and understand what it means to be continental or Asian. It might seem a trite observation, but it goes to the heart of the paradox of Australia - a nation open to all comers, except those who were here all along. Even the most recent Muslim arrivals - the once-demonised Afghan and Iraqi refugees detained on Nauru and Manus Island and now resettled in the bush - happen to feel more welcome here than many of our first citizens.

The Prime Minister is at the apex of his powers, with a government majority in the Senate from July1 next year, and has nominated reconciliation as a priority for his fourth term. Hopefully, he will have learned a lesson or two from the last time he had effective control of the Senate, from August 1996 to May 1999. Back then, Howard valued the voters from the nation's smallest state above all others - black or white, poor or rich.

"We were afraid Tasmania was going to sink under the weight of all those dollars," one government insider said this week as he recalled the days when Tasmanian independent Brian Harradine held the balance of power in the Senate.

Howard understood Harradine's hip pocket. But Harradine found Howard harder to motivate on matters on race.

A reminder of how the Howard-Harradine Senate operated was the contrast between the part sale of Telstra in 1996 and the Wik native title debate in 1998. Harradine voted for privatisation in exchange for, among other things, a $250 million telecommunications fund. The theory behind this pot of money was to give the bush a leg-up to the information age with phone towers and internet connections. In practice, it was one of the greatest examples of pork barrelling of the 1990s. Tasmania contained 2.5 per cent of the national population and 3.9 per cent of all Australians living outside capital cities. But it pocketed 23 per cent of the so-called Regional Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund. NSW, meanwhile, had 35 per cent of the nation's bush dwellers but received only 15 per cent of the dough. Perhaps this might explain why the National Party's last two leaders, Tim Fischer and John Anderson, couldn't get a mobile phone signal at their respective properties in southern and northern NSW until recently.

The punchline of this period is what happened when the topic switched from satellite dishes to native title: Harradine suddenly lost his potency. He wanted more for indigenous Australians out of the Wik legislation. But Howard would not bend. So it was Harradine who blinked. In explaining his reasons for passing the compromise bill, the Tasmanian senator made what remains one of the most telling put-downs of Howard's first term in office: "We were heading headlong into a divisive double-dissolution election which would have torn the fabric of our society and set race relations back 40 or 50 years."

A race-based election, which Howard risked losing, was avoided in favour of a GST-based election, which he won.

Howard now cites the Wik debate as one of his great regrets because he let the argument drag on too long. "I should have spent less time on it," he told Paul Kelly this month. This does not quite match his apology for his anti-Asian immigration comments of 1988, but it is a start.

What it does reinforce, though, is the double standard at the heart of Australian politics. Our system deals with disadvantage via the low road of the lifestyle subsidy. Fine, in the short run, if you are a Tasmanian logger or a Queensland sugar farmer. The cash tends to exceed your immediate need when marginal seats are at stake. Not so good if you are a white single mother with minimal job prospects, because welfare cements your place at the bottom of the income ladder.

And if you happen to be living and dying in Third World conditions or even if you are comfortably off but still want something else for your people - say, an apology for their past mistreatment - forget about it.

All politics has had to offer black Australia is a taxpayer-funded ticket to exclusion. Unlike the handouts that go to white Australia, the black cash has not carried the pretence of empathy or willingness to engage. At best it has been charity, at worst guilt money.

Yet white Australia could confront this contradiction only after indigenous leaders began their campaign to end welfarism. By any definition, this is a pox on white Australia. It marks a failure of vision, not just from Howard but also from Labor and the media, the last continuing to traffic in just two black stereotypes - the petrol sniffer and the sporting hero.

Consider the big economic story of the past two decades. It was the politicians, assisted by an informed press gallery, who made the case for removing most of white Australia from the teat of tariff protection. The system didn't wait for the last blue-collar worker to lose their job before acting.

But on reconciliation Howard seems to equate leadership with waiting for his opponents to give up. Imagine playing this game of chicken with any of the established immigrant lobbies.

This is not to discount Howard's genuine commitment to reconciliation. The worry is that he, like most white Australians, still can't grasp the idea that we should treat black Australia as an equal as a first step to improving the national dialogue. One simple way of showing his commitment would be to go on a listening tour of indigenous Australians at every level, from the remote communities to the cities.

Howard knows he must devote significantly more time in this term than he did in the past to building a consensus for reconciliation.

The mistake the reform aficionados are making at the moment is to see the Government's Senate numbers as Howard's chance to get cracking at policies from industrial relations to media ownership. These jobs do not require 24/7 micro-managing from Howard. The debates are largely over and can surely be delegated to the relevant ministers.

Howard has a rare opportunity to operate beyond the short attention span of the media and electoral cycles. He should use this historic moment to connect the one piece missing in our national fabric - our first citizens.

© The Australian 24.12.04

I also recommend checking out Destiny Deacon's exhibition at Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art, Walk and don't look black. More to come later.

6

2004-12-20T14:53:00.000+11:00

I've been incredibly (and I mean incredibly) busy over the past week but I just wanted to follow up on the positive post promised in my last entry.

The Indigenous person I would consider my own idol (for want of a better term) would be Ivan Sen.

I first came across Ivan's work in the SBS made 'Shifting Sands' collection of Indigenous short films. The short piece featured in 'Shifting Sands' was extended and released as his debut feature, Beneath Clouds.

After the premiere at the Luna cinemas in Leederville, Perth, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ivan for the (now unfortunately defunct) Perth based Aboriginal Independant newspaper. He was quietly spoken, shy and vaguely uncomfortable, which isn't surprising considering I was 19 and gushing over him like a silly fan-girl. He was only 26 at the time and not only had he written the script and screenplay, he directed AND provided the soundtrack for 'Beneath Clouds'. I was and still am in complete awe of such a talented (and gorgeous (ahem!)) guy.

I've tried many different things, perhaps too many and I am green with envy at those who can pinpoint their passion and motivate themselves to be involved in it. I have many passions, arthouse and independent film, alternative and electronic music, body modifications (yes yes I am part of the pierced/tattooed masses) and obviously Indigenous issues. But how to combine all four passions into a career? Script-writer/musician/piercist/Indigenous issues blogger doesn't really fit into any selection criterias I can think of.

As a young Indigenous person living in a society where so much needs to be done, there's no clear direction as to where to start making a difference. So I'm doing what anyone else would do, trying my best to make a difference at home, within my own family, and building up from there.

5

2004-12-09T13:31:00.000+11:00

It's a real pity I don't have a whole heap of time to dedicate to this blog, the more I interact with other bloggers (both left and right wing) the more I realise that an Indigenous voice is sorely needed.

Looking back on my four posts, maybe I haven't given enough background on my own story and my own beliefs. Maybe a certain RWDB (which I initially thought meant right wing dead beat, apparently I'm mistaken, but for me is still rings true) was correct in suggesting my blog was a bunch of whinging negative posts. The few posts I have made were in response to what was currently in the mass media spotlight, a place where positive Indigenous stories are lacking.

If you want a positive Indigenous story, pick up the Koori Mail, or the National Indigenous Times. Would you believe I once asked a newsagency back in WA for the latest Koori Mail and they pointed me to the Courier Mail? On clarifying that I actually wanted the KOORI Mail, they had no idea what I was talking about, even after writing the name down. Oh how I laughed! Then I cried for their ignorance. Next week I promise to provide the blog world with my views on a story with a positive bent. Promise. And don't worry, blackfullas don't go back on their promises.

Anyway, I'm here to write about what I feel particular passion for, negative or positive. I think four posts can't really determine what my entire blog will consist of in one month, or six months.

Now that's over and done with, I'd like to give a quick briefing as to my use of the term Indigenous Australian. I identify with being an Indigenous Australian. The Indigenous Australian community also agree with me. My entire family identify with being Indigenous Australian. So, along with my family and along with my community (back home in WA and here in NSW) there is zero doubt as to my identity as an Indigeous Australian. Phew, how many freakin' Indigenous's can we put in one paragraph? Here are a few links to further explain my use of what I believe is a correct term. Approximately 50,000 years of inhabiting this country equates to Indigenous Australian. I don't use the term Aboriginal Australian as much because of the negative associations of that term, with slang words like 'abo' and 'boong'. That's a personal choice, but I do still believe the term Aboriginal Australian to also be a correct term, albiet one I don't use as often.

Shit, I feel like I'm in a job interview.

How many times will Indigenous people have to confirm their identity and their use of words to identify themselves to non-Indigenous Australia? Countless times, continuing right into the present. It's absolutely sickening. I still can't believe there are non-Indigenous Australians who think the years of Stolen Generations are untrue. Then again, some folk believe the Holocaust never happened.

Lunch time is over, time to get back to work.

4

2004-12-08T12:05:00.000+11:00

Yeah, what she said.

3

2004-12-06T16:00:00.000+11:00

I should probably title these entries so I can find them at a later date. Eh, I’ll do it later.

I’ve been keeping up to date with Michael Longs trek from Melbourne to Canberra to highlight the ongoing issues facing Indigenous Australians. John Howard agreed to meet Long and apparently they discussed issues in an open and honest manner.

Do you honestly think that our illustrious leader had any common ground with Long? Would you believe that anything discussed between Long and Howard would actually be implemented? I certainly don't! When you take into consideration Howards abolishment of ATSIC and subsequent removal of any structure for Indigenous self determination, this seems an almighty flip flop by the Liberal government.

Obviously the Liberal Party realised it would've been embarrassing to ignore Longs trek. Long was actually invited to join the Government appointed National Indigenous Council but was warned by his elders to not to touch the committee with a ten foot pole, advise he wisely followed. There is a history of Australian governments (state and federal) appointing their own Indigenous advisory boards, with no consultation with the Aboriginal community, further cementing the general populations subconcious belief that blackfullas can't make decisions for themselves, or manage their own departments. Richard Court (ex-PM of WA) appointed a state Indigenous council, including an "elder" embroiled in allegations of paedophilia (apparently justified as cultural practice - I'm sorry, there are no dreamtime stories in the whole of Australia about raping little girls), the trade of solvents for sex and the countless suicides in and around his suburban community. Richard Courts ignorance in this instance is appalling, but no different to another other white politician making decisions for Indigenous Australians.

Wow, sorry for that tangent, back to Long.

Long was also forced to remove an Aboriginal flag he was posing with whilst taking a touristy shot in front of Parliament House the day before he was due to meet the PM. Ruh-roh shaggy! That blackfullas armed with a flag! This could start another riot!

The only part of Longs journey that hasn't had nation-wide media coverage (Longs meeting with Howard even appeared on Channel Tens late night news, the last bastion of ethical journalism!) is his early support from Labour leader Mark Latham, who joined Long to continue his push for a national sorry and to continue down the road of positive politics. Latham refuses to play dirty, shrugging off the lack of Liberal response at the time. When will you learn, Latham? You gotta fight fire with fire!

It seems as though Indigenous issues are resurfacing in the media, slowly but surely and the ideal of a continuing journey towards reconciliation is suggested, one more time.

I really wish society would do something about its short term AND long term memory loss.

2

2004-12-03T14:38:00.000+11:00

There is so much happening in the world right now that enrages and outrages me, especially in my own back yard and to my own people. I feel so special, like I'm spoilt for choice as to where to begin. NB: tongue planted firmly in cheek. The sad thing is none of these events are new to us. Black deaths in custody? Hell there was a commission into that! Racism in army barracks in rural QLD? Is anyone really shocked about that? Riots! Violence! Open season on blackfullas! It's been happening for hundreds of years, coincidentally right after European invasion and I am no longer shocked and appalled.

Now that's out of my system, I'll step back down to earth for a while. I've only very recently developed a social conscience and I've only just begun to fight the power. But that has more to do with age than passion or interest. Traditionally youth are encouraged not to think things through too much, as we're taught that the individual is unable to make much of an impact on the way things are, so there's no need to bother our baby minds. Apathy, complacency and narcissism are the current evils of modern society, along with Paris Hilton and the OC.

I know I am still a relatively young thing, I had and still have alot to learn, but working in a particularly political environment has really opened me up to the realities of life. To think only a few years ago I would shy away from such heated discussions for fear of offending someone, or of being offended, or of sounding stupid. Thank fuck I grew a spine!

One thing that's been playing on my mind is last months Australian Federal election. As the results were announced, I realised that I'm in yet another minority and that I am going to have to get involved to support the political party that supports my beliefs. But the Australian Government have made voting intelligently incredibly difficult. You've got to consider who your chosen political party is preferencing, the fact that the leader of the party is chosen by the party itself, the different policies each party hold and the fact that you may only agree with a majority of them. Then there's the double edged sword of supporting Aboriginal politicians. Do you support your own people, regardless of what their party stands for? Or do you use your vote to get another white person in parliament? Where do you draw the line? Who the hell do you support? Is it worth all this angst? I'd say, hell yes. Shuttup, do your research and don't be a dumbarse.

Now I initially came across the Family First Party when their election campaign leader Andrea Mason was listed on the ABC's Message Stick website as one of the few Indigenous faces to watch during the election. She is a fellow West Australian, with an understandable passion for Indigenous issues. She has also suggested bringing back the notion of a national sorry, an important reminder for the Federal Government that Indigenous people have never and will never forget. This is a bold yet incredibly hypocritical motion for a party that wants to preserve Australia's Judeo-Christian foundations, among other such religiously motivated conservative crap. Check out their policies for yourself. Do I even need to mention Andrew Evans and the parties connections with Assemblies of God?

Where is young Andrea now? It looks like the party has dumped her for Steven Fielding. So what will happen to the idea of a national sorry? Who knows. It wouldn't surprise me if Steven simply forgot about it, people have such short memory spans these days. Perhaps another Indigenous politican will suggest it again in a few years time. They might also remind the Liberal Party of a far fetched ideal known as reconciliation. Regardless, I am rendered speechless at Family First's timing of the change of leader, it's amazing to see a political party literally show their true colours so soon. I also have to question a party that details it's senate candidates sporting achievements on their website.

But we can all assume, correctly, that I didn't vote for Family First. So who the hell did? I'm guessing those blackfullas who saw a black face and the prospect of a national sorry and assumed she'd continue as leader AFTER the election. The other policies don't matter if we can get little Johnny to apologise on behalf of the current and previous Federal Governments about their part in the stolen generations, right? WRONG! Politics is a dirty business when you've got a religious agenda to pursue.

1

2004-12-02T10:25:00.000+11:00

So, here we are. Well, here I am. As the title of this blog suggests, I am indeed a black girl dreaming of a brand new day/bran nue dae.

I'm a 23 yr old Nyoongar/Yamatji from Perth, Western Australia, currently living in Gadigal country, otherwise known as Sydney, New South Wales. This will generally be a sociopolitical opinion blog, focussing mainly on Indigenous issues.

First up, here are a few blogs I like to peruse:

Is it Wrong to Wish on Space Hardware

Dr Klig

Turning the Tide

Hi Spirits

My favourite webcomic of the moment:

A Softer World

And lastly, an opinion piece on community backlash afetr yet another Indigenous death in custody, this time on Queensland's Palm Island:

One Death too Many

Now, to make this blog look half decent..