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Wednesday September 12 2007,Media Release

NSWALC URGES HOWARD GOVERNMENT BACKING OF UN DECLARATIONON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) today urged the Prime Minister, John Howard, to become an “aspirational internationalist” and allow Australia to vote in favour of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

NSWALC Chairperson, Bev Manton, said the UN vote in the coming days may be Mr Howard’s last chance to demonstrate genuine support for the rights of an estimated 370 million Indigenous people around the world.

“During these dying days of Mr Howard’s current term as Prime Minister, the Aboriginal people of NSW are hopeful that he will have a change of heart and demonstrate his support for the rights and aspirations of Indigenous people,” Ms Manton said.

“This crucial Declaration is set to be endorsed by the UN’s General Assembly within days, after more than 22 years of painstaking negotiations and redrafting, and it is still not too late for the Australian Government to reverse its current decision to oppose it.

“The Declaration gives recognition to the rights of Indigenous people – including control over lands, resources, intellectual property and self determination – and would be of immediate benefit to hundreds of millions of people in both developed and undeveloped countries.

“It is not a binding document. Rather, it sets aspirational targets and international benchmarks for fair dealings with Indigenous people and gives recognition to the need of Indigenous people to enjoy the same rights and opportunities as everybody else.”

Ms Manton said the 23,000 member NSWALC and many other Aboriginal organisations were disappointed that Mr Howard had last year persuaded his recent guest, the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, to reverse his country’s support for the Declaration.

“In light of the Prime Minister’s extraordinary invasion of the Northern Territory and arbitrary removal of land rights, income and jobs from 40,000 Aboriginal people, there are certainly many Aboriginal people who believe he is incapable of recognising Indigenous rights.

“During these extraordinary times, however, I don’t rule out the possibility of a miracle conversion on the part of the Prime Minister.

“If he were to decide that Australia would vote in favour of the UN Declaration, it would go some way towards rehabilitating our nation’s currently poor international image.”

Further information: Paul Molloy 0419 690 926