|
Stop the Federal Government's Land Grab - Press Release |
|
|
|
|
The Rirratjingu Clan from Yirrkala in north eastern Arnhem Land have call on Australians to oppose the proposed amendments to the Northern Territory Land Rights Act (1976).
“My clan and others in North East Arnhem Land fought long to gain title to the lands we had occupied for millennia, starting with the Bark Petition to the Federal Parliament in 1963. We engaged with mainstream Australian law and after a High Court challenge, and a Royal Commission, in 1976 at last gained just recognition as traditional owners with passing of the N.T. Land Rights Act,” senior law holder of the Rirratjingu Clan, Langani Marika said today.
“Under the guise of eradicating child abuse, the Federal Government proposes the abolition of the Permit system. This was not a recommendation of the ‘Children are Sacred’ report which prompted the recent federal action...The permit system is fundamental to our cultural survival and essential for appropriate, sustainable management of our land.”
Langani Marika and senior clanswoman/senior clan member Rarriwuy Marika are asking Australians to go to the Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice's site at http://democracyandjustice.org to send an email to John Howard asking him not to amend the Nothern Territory Land Rights Act.
Langani Marika and Rarriwuy Marika are available for comment through Jenny Home on 0438 862 020
For comment from the Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice contact Hammy Goonan on 0402 072 653.
|
