Before Christmas APY management offices on the lands were “raided” by State and Federal authorities. There is no confirmation of this to hand and the raid has slipped under the radar..
In a complete mis-description of the amendments Greens MLC Tammy Franks said "We are apparently in a crisis mode and stripping the democratic rights of the people of the APY Lands," But an extensively researched report by Robyn Layton exposes that there is no democracy up there for the rank and file who want changes: men and women on the Executive • smaller communities to be represented • all to have a right to vote • standards for candidates • no convictions for serious offences.
"No council would accept this Parliament acting in such a way and no local government would accept this Parliament acting and riding rough-shod over them in such a way." Says Franks. But no other Council excludes outsider observers, has control of so many aspects of community life or has presided over the most terrible and vile contemporary history reported in this State. No other council has reportedly sacked its manager for failing to provide funds to its Chairman on a Saturday night at the Alice Springs Casino!
The Mullighan Inquiry states that Anangu girls accept that they will be sexually abused. They do not consent to the sexually abusive activity. It is expected of them. They simply believe that resistance is futile. The Advertiser reports that sexual abuse continues and crosses all barriers and includes children of both sexes.
The children of the lands are crying out for someone who has the power to stand up to the Management Board, with 7 managers in the last 5 years, when they make bad decisions. Women want involvement.
A Ministerial Appointment of an administrator, someone who cannot get sacked for making good decisions, such as not providing casino funds on a Saturday night, is hopefully a temporary measure.
APY land residents can be brought into the first world and democratic inclusive indigenous management can be re-set.
I hope the major party bi-partisan support continues.