Marching against the Intervention

By Kieran Adair

Sydney’s George Street was gridlocked on Friday night as hundred of activists marched against the Federal Government’s Northern Territory Intervention.

The protesters were particularly critical of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, who they say is yet to even step foot in areas of the Northern Territory where the effects of the Intervention are being felt most.

The previous Government bought in the Intervention claiming it would tackle “rampant pedophile rings” present in the Northern Territory and help solve extreme poverty within Indigenous communities.

But activists say the Government is using the Intervention to secure mineral rich Indigenous land for mining companies, bring back the ration system of slave labour and effectively implement a Northern Territory apartheid.

“We’ve been copping it for 150 years,” Indigenous activist Rebel Hanlon told the crowd on Friday.

“But enough’s, enough!”

Since the Intervention was implemented the rate of suicide amongst young Indigenous males has jumped 300%.

None of the promised Indigenous housing has been erected, while the number of mineral exploration permits granted on Indigenous land has skyrocketed.

The Government’s plan to tackle poverty by bringing in the BasicsCard – a form of CentreLink payment where welfare can only be spent on certain products – has led to the firing hundreds of Indigenous employees hired under the Community Employment Development Program, which was set up to bring Aboriginal workers into the workforce.

Community outrage has seen some Aborigines rehired into those roles, but under a ration-style system where they are not entitled to a self-managed income, superannuation, or even proper OH&S regulation.

Ms Macklin, during a recent radio interview, floated the idea of removing Indigenous children from their parents if they are unable to regularly attend school.

But decreased Government investment in remote Northern Territory community education means this simple task is made more difficult for families who wish to stay on their land, which is often far away from Government schools.

Activists say this is just another attempt by the Government to strong-arm Indigenous people off their land.

The next demonstration will take place on the 20th of June to mark the 3rd year of the Intervention.