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West Australian
7 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Young people at Banksia Hill invite ‘outside-in' for first-of-its kind Reconciliation Week event
Young people in youth detention at Banksia Hill Detention Centre invited the 'outside-in' for a first-of-its-kind National Reconciliation Week event. The Department of Justice's event, Benang Moorditjabiny — Becoming Stronger for Tomorrow — featured reconciliation messages from Government and non-government representatives, cultural dance performances and a group yarning session. Ninety guests attended, including former Senator Patrick Dodson, Attorney General Tony Buti, Minister for Corrective Services Paul Papalia, Elders and community leaders from across the State. Mr Dodson — the father of reconciliation — said it was 'a great initiative'. 'The fact that the people in here, the young fellas and the young people inside, wanted to see and invited people from outside to come in, that to me is a great initiative and a great compliment to them, but also a compliment to the authorities for enabling that to happen,' he said. Banksia Hill's 'outside in' event showed what can be done when people are serious about reconciliation, and what can happened when people come together for a common purpose. 'This helps both parties, the young kids, the people that work with them and gives everyone a sense that we are able to not only help people when they're here, but to hopefully put the onus back on the communities to make sure that they don't come back here,' Mr Dodson said. 'There's a lot of hope that, working together, we can make life better, not only for the young people, but for the people that work in these places. We sometimes don't see, but there are real possibilities, and real values in doing some of the things they might have to do.' Department of Justice Director General Kylie Maj said it was a 'first of its kind' event. 'We listened when young people told us they would like 'to bring the outside world in' to celebrate National Reconciliation Week,' Ms Maj said. 'Here at Banksia Hill, it's evident we are taking significant steps to improve outcomes for young people, alongside Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, including the introduction of important programs and supports.' Reconciliation WA's engagement with students at Banksia Hill focused on ways to encourage young people to find and use their voices and take part in ongoing conversations about reconciliation and their futures. Young people at Banksia Hill were involved in event planning and delivery and were supported by the Corrective Services' Aboriginal Services team and the Aboriginal Justice Transformation unit. Despite the 'marvellous achievements' of the Banksia Hill event, Mr Dodson believes a lot of work still needs to be done nationally. 'There's a bit more enlightenment in some of our jurisdictions that need to take place, and they better get on with it and make the changes to make things improve for the young people,' he said. 'For our communities, we've got to keep their young people out of harm and out of the attention of the police, which bring them into these places through the courts.' The event was hosted in partnership with Reconciliation WA.
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
‘Time to move on': Flinders Island councillor pushes to scrap Welcome to Country
A councillor on Flinders Island in Tasmania has called for the end of Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country, saying the ceremonies have 'served their purpose and it is now time to move on'. Flinders Island, part of the Furneaux Group in the Bass Strait off Tasmania's northeast tip, has a population of 800 people and the second-highest proportion of Aboriginal residents in the state at around 16 per cent. Councillor Garry Blenkhorn has put forward a resolution to be voted on at Wednesday's meeting for Flinders Council to 'cease reciting all references to Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country in any event or publication involving the council including, but not limited to, meetings of the council, meetings of special and subcommittees of the council, public meetings organised by or involving the council and the publishing and presentation of reports of the council including Annual Reports'. Mayor Rachel Summers told the ABC that she was disappointed Cr Blenkhorn had not raised the issue before submitting his notice of motion. She warned that the proposal would 'take us back 50 years, 100 years even'. 'It's literally 30 seconds, 60 seconds, when we just acknowledge the contribution the Aboriginal community has made over their time as custodians of the land,' Cr Summers said. The Palawa people of the Trawulwai Nation are recognised as the traditional owners of the Furneaux Islands. Flinders Island is also the site of the old Wybalenna Mission where Indigenous Tasmanians were sent in the early 1800s, many dying from disease and poor conditions. Cr Blenkhorn said there had 'recently been an increase in discontent throughout Australia regarding the use of Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country at public events'. 'The use of Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country is seen as divisive, unnecessary and not contributing to reconciliation between Indigenous Australians and others,' he wrote. 'I believe the two protocols have served their purpose and it is now time to move on. These protocols are not historical and have only existed for around 50 years … It is not a long-held tradition and should not be regarded as such.' Cr Blenkhorn highlighted the 2023 defeat of the Indigenous Voice Referendum by a 60-40 margin. Flinders Island recorded a slightly stronger yes vote at 45.6 per cent, but Cr Blenkhorn said the overall result was 'a vote against constitutional recognition for Indigenous peoples throughout Australia'. 'There can be many interpretations put on the result … but the major certainty is that Australians do not want separatist development,' he wrote. 'That is called apartheid. Many will recall or have read of the White Australia policy which was developed after World War II. We do not want to go back to those days where your future in Australia was determined by your race. Those days have gone and should never return.' Flinders Council general manager Warren Groves raised concerns about the motion, saying the Flinders Island Aboriginal Association Incorporated (FIAAI), the Cape Barren Island Aboriginal Association (CBIAA) and the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania (ALCT) were all 'strongly opposed'. 'I am concerned that any such action will cause potentially significant offence and affront to those associations and the communities they represent,' he wrote. 'An Acknowledgement of, or Welcome to Country, is a relatively short expression of respect, acknowledging, amongst other matters, the strong ongoing connection of the Aboriginal people to Australia for more than 40,000 years.' Flinders Council has used the Acknowledgement of Country since 2019, and in 2014 'took what was reportedly viewed as a progressive step, to support an inclusive celebration of being Furneaux Islanders on a date separate to Australia Day'. 'This change has since been widely celebrated for its inclusive and progressive perspective,' Mr Groves wrote. 'I have significant concerns that removing the Welcome to or Acknowledgement of Country from Council events may be seen as a retrograde step and offensive to our Aboriginal community, as well as reputationally and socially damaging for council both within and outside our island communities.' CBIAA chair Aaron Maynard told the ABC 'words can't really explain how disgusting and just how disrespectful this is to everyone'. 'Our people on this land in Australia are the oldest living race in the world at 65,000 years old, and we're still not celebrating that to our full capacity,' he said. Debate over the use of Welcome to Country ceremonies has grown since the Voice Referendum, with the Liberal frontbencher Jacinta Nampijinpa Price previously warning people are 'sick if it'. 'There is no problem with acknowledging our history, but rolling out these performances before every sporting event or public gathering is definitely divisive,' she said. 'It's not welcoming, it's telling non-Indigenous Australians 'this isn't your country' and that's wrong. We are all Australians and we share this great land.' Reconciliation Australia, the national peak body dedicated to reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider community, says the ceremonies are an important sign of respect. 'Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have experienced a long history of exclusion from Australian history books, the Australian flag, the Australian anthem and for many years, Australian democracy,' it says. 'This history of dispossession and colonisation lies at the heart of the disparity between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other Australians today. Including recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in events, meetings and national symbols contributes to ending the exclusion that has been so damaging.'
ABC News
07-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
How the NT's housing crisis is forcing sick and elderly people into a cycle of homelessness
Each year, many residents from remote communities across the Northern Territory head to Darwin in search of safety, services and space. Often it's to access healthcare, but it can also be to escape overcrowded homes or issues arising from alcohol use. But once people arrive in the city, they can become trapped in a cycle of temporary accommodation and homelessness. There are long wait times for social housing right across the NT's remote and metropolitan areas. ( ABC News: Michael Franchi ) Government data shows a wait time for priority applicants in social housing of up to eight years for a one-bedroom unit in Darwin, or six years for a three-bedroom home. In more remote parts of the territory such as Nhulunbuy, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, wait times are closer to a decade. Remote communities struggling with alcohol and overcrowding In Katherine, government data indicates just 3 per cent of applicants were allocated public housing in 2024. In Binjari — a small Aboriginal community about 16 kilometres west of Katherine — mother-of-five Stella Raymond has been waiting since 2018 for a bigger home. Seven people share her two-bedroom flat, including her five children aged between 21 and two. Extended family also often stay when visiting town. "It's a lot, it's crowded, and we need a bigger house," she said. Stella Raymond says she's seen her community's quality of living deteriorate over the years. ( ABC News: Pete Garnish ) Ms Raymond grew up in Binjari and said life in the community had become worse. "Housing and alcohol, those are the big issues here," she said. " The kids see people come in with alcohol … we never saw that when were kids. " Stella Raymond loved growing up in Binjari, and wants the same for her children. ( ABC News: Pete Garnish ) In the last two years, the community's pre-school shut and the local clinic has closed. The community is also Ms Raymond said she felt Binjari had been forgotten by government. "They promise they'll do things for our community, but it doesn't happen," she said. Seven people, including five children, live in Stella Raymond's two-bedroom flat. ( ABC News: Pete Garnish ) Darwin housing providers 'always full' The strain of overcrowding, antisocial behaviour from alcohol use, and limited access to healthcare are among the factors pushing people from communities into Darwin. But even in the city, a critical shortage of long-term housing options see many stuck in temporary accommodation. CatholicCare NT's senior housing manager Steve Kopandy said the organisation's 180-bed hostel accommodation facility in Darwin was always full. "Sadly, we have a lot more referrals than what we can handle. We're always full here, there's such a demand for it," he said. Steve Kopandy (standing next to Marama Johnstone) says he feels the NT often misses out on needed funding. ( ABC News: Tristan Hooft ) Residents at the accommodation are often people from bush communities with complex health needs. They can include dialysis and cancer patients, pregnant women, and people escaping unrest or domestic violence. "There's a huge need for housing in remote Australia but people will always need to come to Darwin," Mr Kopandy said. Michelle Martin travelled from Maningrida in Western Arnhem Land and has been at the facility since January. Michelle Martin has been living in CatholicCare NT's hostel accommodation facility in Darwin since January. ( ABC News: Tristan Hooft ) Her sons and grandsons suffer from a rare brain disorder, and the family often travel from Maningrida for treatment. "There's no hospital there, it's just a little community clinic," she said. Ms Martin also has her own health challenges and needs to be close to doctors. "I had a heart bypass operation last year so I'm looking for a house for myself too," she said. Healthcare access saw Michelle move from her remote community to temporary accommodation in Darwin. ( ABC News: Tristan Hooft ) The 65-year-old has been on the waitlist for social housing in Darwin for five years, but her application has recently been put on hold until she is able to obtain a housing reference. Photo shows A photo of a rough sleeper camp with personal items layiong on ground. Rough sleepers in the Top End have been significantly impacted by the hot and humid weather conditions this wet season, with community service providers urging the government to do more. Marama Johnstone, who works with participants staying at the facility, said women and families are sometimes forced to return to violent or dangerous situations in community due to a lack of options in the city. "With overcrowding in communities there's a lot of anti-social behaviour … and unfortunately because of the housing crisis here in Darwin people have had to go back to where all the trouble is," she said. NT being 'left behind' in nationwide housing push CatholicCare NT acquired a 5-hectare hostel site in 2022 with plans to build a further 44 new social housing residences and 10 transitional homes. The site would include a health service and a training facility to help people develop the skills to take care of a home. CatholicCare NT was hopeful the project would be funded under the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF). Steve Kopandy says CatholicCare NT's 180-bed hostel accommodation facility in Darwin was always at capacity. ( ABC News: Tristan Hooft ) But despite having support from the NT government and development application approval, the project was rejected. "The NT does miss out … the issues here are complex and quite costly to solve," Mr Kopandy said. The HAFF is a $10 billion federal government initiative to support 20,000 new social homes and 10,000 affordable homes across Australia over five years. Of the 183 projects selected for funding under round one of the Housing Australia Future Fund, just five are from the NT. Mr Kopandy admitted the $42.5 million project may not fit with the government's value-for-money criteria but said without Commonwealth support, much needed public housing projects would be unable to get off the ground. "If Housing Australia is looking at quotas and ticking boxes, the territory is going to get left behind," he said.
