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Wednesday 21 September 2005, Media Release

SARTOR'S WATERLOO

The Minister for Planning and Minister for Redfern Waterloo, Frank Sartor, should do the honourable thing and resign from his portfolio.

It is clear from the debate in State Parliament yesterday, and the media today, that he has compounded the offence and embarassment caused by his original comments to Aboriginal Housing company head Mick Mundine with a clumsy attempt to spin his way out of trouble.

In the process, he has left Premier Morris Iemma, in an embarrassing situation.

Premier Iemma told Parliament yesterday Mr. Sartor had apologised for his "inappropriate remarks," and "rectified them by making an apology."

He now expected Mr Sartor to "get on and work with the Aboriginal community in Redfern-Waterloo to resolve a number of the issues there."

It is obvious, however, that the staged public handshake between Mr Sartor and Mr Mundine and the Minister's claim of a long term friendship between the two men was media spin. Mr Mundine has not accepted the Minister's apology, nor should he.

He has also made it clear, as have other members of the Redfern community, they do not wish to work with Mr. Sartor.

The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council, the State's peak Aboriginal organisation, seeks to build constructive relationships with the State Government and all other major political parties.

We have developed a close working relationship with the new Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Milton Orkopoulos, but we won't sit back in silence and be taken for granted by the State Government.

Aboriginal people in New South Wales, and elsewhere, are heartily sick and tired of being used as some form of political sport by all major parties. We are also sick of being considered silent bystanders in public debate on these issues.

Premier Iemma may think Mr Sartor's gaffe has been rectified; many in the Aboriginal community do not.

William Johnstone
Cheif Executive Officer, NSWALC
September 21, 2005