Links

Friday 21 February 2003, Media Release

NSWALC CONDEMNS "RACIST" LIBERAL PAMPHLET

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council has condemned a Liberal Party-sanctioned pamphlet distributed in Southern Sydney, labeling it racist and divisive.

"This material is garbage. The claims are untrue and it specifically targets Aboriginal people, unashamedly using race for political gain," Chairperson, Les Trindall said.

"The Liberal Party is really scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to scare-mongering and capitalising on people's fears for their own gain. First refugees, then they scare people with the prospect of war, now they are targeting Aboriginal people who own land and have the same rights as any other land owner.

"You have to ask - if this land was owned by anyone else, would this pamphlet have been released?"

The pamphlet was distributed to 29,000 households by the Liberal candidate for Menai, Brett Thomas, asking residents if they are aware that the "State Labor Government has handed most of West Menai to the Aboriginal Land Council for free" and that the Aboriginal Land Council is planning a development for "6000 extra people" in the area.

Chairperson Trindall said that it is clear Mr Thomas knows nothing about the NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act and obviously has no sympathy for the basis of the Act, which was to compensate Aboriginal people who had ALL their land stolen from them.

"Any land claimed in West Menai by the Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council was supported under State legislation. It would have been Crown Land, which was not earmarked for any essential public purpose. As a land owner, this LALC will face the same conditions and obstacles as any other landowner when it comes to development and as I understand it, this land would first have to be re-zoned for any development to take place," Chairperson Trindall said.

The Deputy Premier and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Dr Andrew Refshauge, also condemned the pamphlet, labeling it a "disgusting scare campaign" and seeking an apology from the NSW Opposition Leader, John Brogden.