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Friday October 12 2007, Media Release

RIP VAN HOWARD'S NEW ORDER

Statement by NSW Aboriginal Land Council Chairperson, Bev Manton.

Yet again Prime Minister John Howard has unilaterally decided to play political games with the lives of Aboriginal Australians with his “new order” proposal to conduct a referendum on reconciliation.

While it is refreshing to hear the Prime Minister finally and grudgingly accept his responsibility for the total failure of his Aboriginal policies over 11 and a half years he has again demonstrated that he “just doesn’t get it” and has proposed to move forward only on his terms.

Mr Howard’s announcement was yet another example of his talking at Aboriginal Australians – except for a chosen few -- rather than talking with them, particularly those elected to represent them.

His continued dismissal of an apology demonstrates this is all about John Howard in the anticipated dying days of his Prime Ministership rather than any genuine attempt to reconcile this nation.

How can there be a true reconciliation, first promised by him in 1998, when the views of Aboriginal people are not even asked for, let alone considered?

Mr Howard has said he will consult with indigenous leaders and others on his proposed referendum but meaningful consultation means more than secret meetings with a small and favoured clique.

The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council could not even access an official copy of his speech from his own website by lunchtime today. We had to obtain it from a mainstream media website.

Howard’s term as Prime Minister is littered with missed opportunities. It was only weeks ago his government refused to sign the UN declaration on Indigenous rights.

The 40th anniversary of the 1967 referendum came and went earlier this year without a peep from the PM. We are now meant to believe he wants to swap his dog whistle for a clap stick.

Sorry, Mr Howard, it is simply too little too late.

Further information: Paul Molloy 0419 690 926