Indigenous rights - Labor fails again!

Word came to the Wombats yesterday that the Howard government's package of legislative amendments to back up their attack on Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory went to Parliament yesterday. Thanks to the support of the ALP, the package passed the Lower House last night. The Government has now given the Senate only one day to review the bills, before they ramm them through on Friday.

Predicting the spineless response from the ALP, outspoken indigenous activist Michael Mansell called Kevin Rudd and Labor's Indigenous affairs spokeswoman Jenny Macklin "intellectually lazy and politically weak" on indigenous issues.

"They have failed to show leadership on any Aboriginal issue put before them."

"That shows how intellectually inadequate Mr Rudd is."

"Kevin Rudd is a dead loss. So is the federal ALP."

The head of the Combined Aboriginal Organisations of the Northern Territory, Pat Turner, also lambasted Warren Mundine, former National President of the ALP, after he launched an attack on the Labor Left for criticising the Government's plan. Mundine supports the government's attacks on Land Rights.

Turner was among the Aboriginal leaders who came from across Australia came to Canberra this week to stop the Government's legislation allowing it to grab Aboriginal land, smash Aboriginal self-government and occupy Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory with police and soldiers. Mal Brough and representatives of the government refused to even meet with them, so there will be a further protest in Canberra this Saturday:

Protest Howard's attacks on Aborigines
11. 00 am Saturday 11 August
Aboriginal Tent Embassy, in front of Old Parliament House,
for a march up the hill.

Anyone wanting to sign a petition against the attacks, you can download one here, and stay tuned for more updates and actions.