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Abuse in remote communities is the oldest excuse for catastrophic evictions Abuse in remote communities is the oldest excuse for catastrophic evictions
(about 17 hours later)
The Western Australian police commissioner, Karl O’Callaghan, recently backed the closure of remote Indigenous communities in Western Australia on the grounds that there are high rates of sexual assault against women and girls, and of sexually transmissible disease. He painted a demonising picture of Aboriginal communities and men and admitted that the system failed to keep Aboriginal women and girls safe because of the remoteness of their communities.The Western Australian police commissioner, Karl O’Callaghan, recently backed the closure of remote Indigenous communities in Western Australia on the grounds that there are high rates of sexual assault against women and girls, and of sexually transmissible disease. He painted a demonising picture of Aboriginal communities and men and admitted that the system failed to keep Aboriginal women and girls safe because of the remoteness of their communities.
“I cannot respond to the safety and protection needs of these children in the way you would expect,” O’Callaghan wrote in the West Australian. “It is simply not possible.”“I cannot respond to the safety and protection needs of these children in the way you would expect,” O’Callaghan wrote in the West Australian. “It is simply not possible.”
Related: West Australian police commissioner backs closure of remote communitiesRelated: West Australian police commissioner backs closure of remote communities
He cited Oombulgurri, in the eastern Kimberley region, as an example of a community that was justifiably shut down on these grounds. How remote was the town? It had an airstrip, boat launch and road, telecommunications, power and water, and a police station, school and clinic.He cited Oombulgurri, in the eastern Kimberley region, as an example of a community that was justifiably shut down on these grounds. How remote was the town? It had an airstrip, boat launch and road, telecommunications, power and water, and a police station, school and clinic.
In 2011 the Western Australian Government forcibly evicted the remaining residents, and just last year, they demolished millions of dollars of houses, infrastructure and buildings. It was a political exercise with little thought for integration or the consequences the Oombulgurri community suffered after their eviction.In 2011 the Western Australian Government forcibly evicted the remaining residents, and just last year, they demolished millions of dollars of houses, infrastructure and buildings. It was a political exercise with little thought for integration or the consequences the Oombulgurri community suffered after their eviction.
The eviction was the option the WA government preferred over investing in the services needed to address dysfunction uncovered by a sexual assault taskforce and Coronial Inquest.The eviction was the option the WA government preferred over investing in the services needed to address dysfunction uncovered by a sexual assault taskforce and Coronial Inquest.
I was one of the last people to go to Oombulgurri before the demolition commenced in September last year, as part of an Amnesty research visit. I met with men, women and children and took statements. Their consistent message was that they had been made to leave against their will, and that they wanted to stop their community being demolished.I was one of the last people to go to Oombulgurri before the demolition commenced in September last year, as part of an Amnesty research visit. I met with men, women and children and took statements. Their consistent message was that they had been made to leave against their will, and that they wanted to stop their community being demolished.
The people of Oombulgurri have not been compensated for the loss of their homes or land. They cannot regularly visit their cemetary or sacred sites. They are still dealing with the trauma of the relocation.The people of Oombulgurri have not been compensated for the loss of their homes or land. They cannot regularly visit their cemetary or sacred sites. They are still dealing with the trauma of the relocation.
Day to day, they try to survive dysfunction that resulted from the poorly planned integration strategy: overcrowding, substance abuse, criminal activity, disengagement from school and unemployment.Day to day, they try to survive dysfunction that resulted from the poorly planned integration strategy: overcrowding, substance abuse, criminal activity, disengagement from school and unemployment.
This is not the first time the tactic of demonising Indigenous people as child abusers has been used as a reason to infringe upon the collective rights of Indigenous people.This is not the first time the tactic of demonising Indigenous people as child abusers has been used as a reason to infringe upon the collective rights of Indigenous people.
The Northern Territory intervention was based upon the Little Children are Sacred report. It was used as a reason to send in the army, suspend the Racial Discrimination Act and impose restrictive measures on communities. The report recommended no such thing.The Northern Territory intervention was based upon the Little Children are Sacred report. It was used as a reason to send in the army, suspend the Racial Discrimination Act and impose restrictive measures on communities. The report recommended no such thing.
It happened with the Stolen Generations, which we know, far from protecting children, did immeasurable damage for generations to come. And it’s happening today; half of all children removed from their families in Western Australia are Aboriginal.It happened with the Stolen Generations, which we know, far from protecting children, did immeasurable damage for generations to come. And it’s happening today; half of all children removed from their families in Western Australia are Aboriginal.
Now this same old excuse is dragged out to justify the closure of Aboriginal communities across Western Australia. Not just one or two dysfunctional communities, but up to 150.Now this same old excuse is dragged out to justify the closure of Aboriginal communities across Western Australia. Not just one or two dysfunctional communities, but up to 150.
It is the most significant threat to Aboriginal people, cultures and land we have seen for many years. We know the results will be catastrophic, as has been the case in the past.It is the most significant threat to Aboriginal people, cultures and land we have seen for many years. We know the results will be catastrophic, as has been the case in the past.
Related: Of three remote communities here, why are only the two Aboriginal ones under threat?Related: Of three remote communities here, why are only the two Aboriginal ones under threat?
The shock of Aboriginal people that this would be contemplated in 2015 was evidenced by the national day of action, organised by the Indigenous led #SOSBLAKAUSTRALIA campaign on 19 March, and the many organisations and individuals showing their support for these communities.The shock of Aboriginal people that this would be contemplated in 2015 was evidenced by the national day of action, organised by the Indigenous led #SOSBLAKAUSTRALIA campaign on 19 March, and the many organisations and individuals showing their support for these communities.
We know that living in remote communities is not simply a “lifestyle choice”. That Aboriginal people have custodianship of and a deep spiritual connection to their land – and a responsibility to care for it.We know that living in remote communities is not simply a “lifestyle choice”. That Aboriginal people have custodianship of and a deep spiritual connection to their land – and a responsibility to care for it.
Our work at Amnesty on homelands in the Northern Territory showed that when Indigenous people are supported to live on their homelands, it increases their life expectancy, improves health outcomes, reduces rates of domestic and other violence, and allows for participation in decision-making.Our work at Amnesty on homelands in the Northern Territory showed that when Indigenous people are supported to live on their homelands, it increases their life expectancy, improves health outcomes, reduces rates of domestic and other violence, and allows for participation in decision-making.
We also know that these people will be forced to move to hub towns that are already overcrowded. Those moved will have greater exposure to drugs, alcohol, violence, crime and will be at a higher risk of incarceration.We also know that these people will be forced to move to hub towns that are already overcrowded. Those moved will have greater exposure to drugs, alcohol, violence, crime and will be at a higher risk of incarceration.
Many of us are also aware of the successive neglect of remote communities by federal, state and local governments. This neglect was well document in the 2004 environmental health needs survey of remote Indigenous communities in Western Australia, and the 2007 living in the sunburnt country report, which gave a damning review of the federal government’s community housing improvement program (Chip).Many of us are also aware of the successive neglect of remote communities by federal, state and local governments. This neglect was well document in the 2004 environmental health needs survey of remote Indigenous communities in Western Australia, and the 2007 living in the sunburnt country report, which gave a damning review of the federal government’s community housing improvement program (Chip).
Chip had been running since the 1970s outstations movement, which sought to rectify the displacement of Aboriginal peoples that resulted from the poor way the basic wage was introduced in the late 1960s.Chip had been running since the 1970s outstations movement, which sought to rectify the displacement of Aboriginal peoples that resulted from the poor way the basic wage was introduced in the late 1960s.
After the sunburnt country report, the federal government did away with Chip, and in 2008 it started negotiations with states and territories. This was finalised in 2010 with the national partnership agreement on remote Indigenous housing, which expires in 2018.After the sunburnt country report, the federal government did away with Chip, and in 2008 it started negotiations with states and territories. This was finalised in 2010 with the national partnership agreement on remote Indigenous housing, which expires in 2018.
This was a $5.5bn agreement to deliver up to 4,200 new houses and refurbish up to 4,800 existing houses nationally in remote Indigenous communities. Western Australia received $496m.This was a $5.5bn agreement to deliver up to 4,200 new houses and refurbish up to 4,800 existing houses nationally in remote Indigenous communities. Western Australia received $496m.
Under the national partnership agreement, in order for the states and territories to be granted the money, they had to ensure that the relevant departments of housing were managing those houses. In 2008, Western Australia passed an amendment to the Housing Act which enabled the government to start negotiating 40-year housing management agreements with communities. The Western Australian Department of Housing would then start managing the tenancies, including rent collection.Under the national partnership agreement, in order for the states and territories to be granted the money, they had to ensure that the relevant departments of housing were managing those houses. In 2008, Western Australia passed an amendment to the Housing Act which enabled the government to start negotiating 40-year housing management agreements with communities. The Western Australian Department of Housing would then start managing the tenancies, including rent collection.
Since then, community by community they have been negotiating the housing management agreements. The communities who have signed up have been receiving repairs and maintenance on existing houses, some new houses have been built and they have come under the new tenancy arrangements, including being covered for the first time by the Residential Tenancies Act.Since then, community by community they have been negotiating the housing management agreements. The communities who have signed up have been receiving repairs and maintenance on existing houses, some new houses have been built and they have come under the new tenancy arrangements, including being covered for the first time by the Residential Tenancies Act.
The communities who have not signed up are slowly being neglected, and it is those communities in Western Australia that are now most at risk.The communities who have not signed up are slowly being neglected, and it is those communities in Western Australia that are now most at risk.
This is a federally-driven agenda that has been going on for some time. To claim that communities are dysfunctional because of sexual abuse against women and children is misleading. If abuse against Indigenous women and children in remote Indigenous communities is so well known to the police and governments, then they must invest in services in those communities to counteract those experiences.This is a federally-driven agenda that has been going on for some time. To claim that communities are dysfunctional because of sexual abuse against women and children is misleading. If abuse against Indigenous women and children in remote Indigenous communities is so well known to the police and governments, then they must invest in services in those communities to counteract those experiences.
It is disappointing that the full recommendations of the 2012 Gordon inquiry, which came about after abuse was identified in the Swan Valley Nyungah community – which was also forcibly closed – have not been fully implemented by the Western Australian government. Funding for organisations that combat these issues, including the Marniwarntikura women’s resource centre in Fitzroy Crossing, look set to lose funding from both the Western Australian and federal governments. It is disappointing that the full recommendations of the 2012 Gordon inquiry, which came about after abuse was identified in the Swan Valley Nyungah community – which was also forcibly closed – have not been fully implemented by the Western Australian government. Organisations that combat these issues, including the Marniwarntikura women’s resource centre in Fitzroy Crossing, look set to lose funding from both the Western Australian and federal governments.
Related: The trauma of Oombulgurri's demolition will be repeated across Western Australia | Tammy SolonecRelated: The trauma of Oombulgurri's demolition will be repeated across Western Australia | Tammy Solonec
The national debate currently underway about violence against women – led by the prime minister, Tony Abbott, and advocates such as Australian of the Year Rosie Battie – must consider funding allocations for services in remote Indigenous communities. This is the only way to respond to dysfunction, even if it won’t be cheap to do so. The national debate about violence against women – led by the prime minister, Tony Abbott, and advocates such as Australian of the Year Rosie Batty – must consider funding allocations for services in remote Indigenous communities. This is the only way to respond to dysfunction, even if it won’t be cheap to do so.
That is something that Australia has to come to terms with, and something the federal government must continue to support. Handing responsibility of these communities to state governments will not excuse the federal government from its international obligations to all of its citizens – to provide the most basic services like power and water, to ensure that women and children are safe, to prevent forced eviction and further intergenerational trauma.That is something that Australia has to come to terms with, and something the federal government must continue to support. Handing responsibility of these communities to state governments will not excuse the federal government from its international obligations to all of its citizens – to provide the most basic services like power and water, to ensure that women and children are safe, to prevent forced eviction and further intergenerational trauma.