In a document sent to NSW
Premier, Bob Carr and Redfern/Waterloo Minister, Frank Sartor, the
Organisation of Aboriginal Unity, which represents the leaders of
every Redfern Aboriginal organisation, said that any attempt to
forcibly acquire Aboriginal land would be met with peaceful
resistance.
Community representative, Shane Phillips said
that local Aborigines would be joined by Aboriginal and non
Aboriginal people from around Australia and the world to stop a
Government land grab.
"We're appalled that the Government has
refused to rule out the forcible acquisition of Aboriginal land," Mr
Phillips said.
"If they were to try and take our land we’d do
what any other reasonable people would do. We'd adopt the tactics of
Gandhi and Martin Luther King to try and stop them," he
said.
Mr Phillips said that he hoped common sense would
prevail and that the issue could be resolved by discussions between
the community and Government.
"It's not just Aboriginal
people who will be affected by these plans. Our concerns are shared
by the residents group REDwatch
[Redfern-Eveleigh-Darlington-Waterloo residents action group], the
Redfern Chamber of Commerce and many other residents of Redfern and
Waterloo of all cultures."
"We're committed to working with
all these groups and the Government to achieve the best outcome for
the local area, but this will only happen if the Government works in
partnership with us," he said.
Mr Phillips said that
Aboriginal people were not against the creation of the Authority or
development in Redfern Waterloo.
"We want Redfern and
Waterloo to become secure and prosperous, but Aboriginal people
should be able to share in this, not be pushed out."
Mr
Phillips said the Organisation of Aboriginal Unity was concerned
about some aspects of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority
Bill.
"We're worried that the Bill puts too much power in the
hands of the Minister. We feel we c! an talk to Frank Sartor, but
the Authority will be in power for 10 years. The Bill would give the
power to a future Minister or Government to ride roughshod over our
community and take our land," he said.
A copy of the
statement to the NSW Premier from the Redfern Organisation of
Aboriginal Unity
Proposed Redfern Waterloo
Redevelopment
Aboriginal people are appalled that detailed
plans about the future of our community have been developed without
any attempt to consult with the organizations that represent
us.
We are concerned that a new all powerful Authority has
been created that could ride roughshod over our needs and
aspirations. We are worried that this Authority could undermine the
work that is currently being carried out by our community controlled
organizations.
We agree that the Government has to take a
coordinated approach but this must occur in partnership with
Aboriginal people.
We are particularly concerned about
suggestions that the land currently owned by the Aboriginal Housing
Company could be forcibly acquired by the Government. Aboriginal
people would regard any forced acquisition as once again the
dispossession of ! our people and occupation of our land. We would
fiercely resist this in a unified, determined but peaceful
manner.
We would be joined in this by Aboriginal and non
Aboriginal families from throughout Australia and indigenous people
from around the world.
However, we welcome the Government’s
assurance that no decisions over the future of Redfern Waterloo have
been made. We also welcome the Minister’s commitment to
consultation.
We hope that the Minister’s understanding of
consultation is the same as our own. Consultation in our sense of
the word means sharing ideas with an open mind to come up with a
joint agreement on the best way forward. It means listening as well
as speaking. It does not mean telling our people what is happening
after decisions have already been made.
If a genuine approach
is adopted by all parties, we are confident that a plan for Redfern
Waterloo could be agreed on that is in the best interests of
Aboriginal people, the broader ! community and the state of
NSW.
We want Redfern Waterloo to become secure and
prosperous, but Aboriginal people have to share in that security and
prosperity.
When new homes are built, Aboriginal families who
currently suffer a housing crisis should have access to a fair share
of these.
The Aboriginal Housing Company has produced a plan
to redevelop the Block. This plan is based on five years of solid
research and an award winning design. It has the support of our
community and we urge government to embrace it.
If 20,000 new
jobs are to be created in our community, Aboriginal people should be
given the opportunity to participate in this growth.
We also
want to ensure that a growing, multicultural Redfern Waterloo
retains its Aboriginal identity. Redfern is the home of Aboriginal
people in NSW and it has great historical significance to our people
around Australia. It is recognized by many as the hearth of the
Aboriginal struggle for land, justice, coexistence and
recognition.
Aboriginal people won’t be forced out of Redfern
Waterloo by governments, developers, or anyone. But we want to
transform Redfern so that it is once again a site of Aboriginal hope
and achievement.
We want to work with the government to
ensure this occurs.
Source: Redfern Organisation of
Aboriginal Unity incorporating
Aboriginal Children’s
Service
Aboriginal Housing Company
Aboriginal Medical
Service
Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council
Mudgin-Gal
(Women’s Service)
Murrawina Ltd (Childcare)
Sydney Regional
Aboriginal Corporation Legal Service
Tribal Warrior
Association
Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care
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