Socialist candidate opposes NT intervention

On October 6, 40 people attended a public meeting on the Howard government's "emergency" intervention into Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory and the development of independent political voices for Indigenous people to aid the defence of their rights. Sam Watson, Brisbane-based Aboriginal activist and lead Socialist Alliance Queensland Senate candidate was the guest speaker.

Aboriginal activists and community elders, some coming from as far away as Kuranda and Mossman, spoke about their frustration and anguish at recent federal and state government attacks on Aboriginal communities, including the imposition of family income management schemes and the removal of CDEP schemes.

Former Cairns ATSIC commissioner Terry O'Shane expressed his support for the Socialist Alliance Senate ticket and thanked Watson for his visit.

The previous day, Watson had attended a lunchtime meeting of the Townsville Indigenous Human Rights Group. He and Gracelyn Smallwood, winner of a 2007 Deadly Award for Indigenous health care, were key participants in the discussion. The meeting helped plan activities to mark the third anniversary of the death in police custody of Palm Island resident Mulrunji Doomadgee.

From GLW issue 728