CENTRAL LAND COUNCIL TAKES MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS

A motion of no confidence was moved last week in relation to the CEO of the Central Land Council. The motion demonstrates yet again that the needs and concerns of Indigenous Australians are not a priority for the Albanese Government. 

In September last year, the Coalition moved a motion calling for an inquiry into the governance of the Land Councils, however the Albanese government refused to heed that call. Through last week’s vote, a majority of Central Land Council members showed their support for the dismissal of the CEO due to unprofessional conduct.  

Although unsuccessful, the motion was backed by the Central Land Council chair Matt Palmer, who said, “the voices of people in community have been ignored for too long and many in this community are being kept in poverty. Voices are ignored, people are left behind and the vision of the Central Land Council has been lost. There is majority support for change of direction and leadership in the Central Land Council, and it is time to get things done that matter for the people in the heartland and homelands of the Council.”

“Hard questions need to be asked, like why there are Traditional Owners still living in tin sheds? And why are we still vulnerable while living on our homelands? Where have all the funds and resources gone that should be getting to our grass-roots, to make a difference for our mob?” asked Mr Palmer. 

“Following last week’s vote, will the Albanese government simply leave the Central Land Council members to fix this issue by themselves?” asked Senator Nampijinpa Price. “Will they simply label this an isolated issue and continue to pretend that issues like this are not also present in other aboriginal organisations?” 

Senator Nampijinpa Price said the Albanese government has presided over the ongoing failure of NAAJA, has ironically given boards with domestic violence offenders money to deliver domestic violence prevention services, and has overseen the inexplicable cessation of ABA grants for Homelands. 

“At the end of the day, it is the most marginalised Indigenous Australians who suffer when aboriginal organisations are not held to a proper standard. Minister Linda Burney needs to step up and actively ensure these organisations are being run to the highest standard possible; the same standard we would apply to any other organisation in Australia,” said Senator Nampijinpa Price.  

“If Minister Burney continues to let these organisations off the hook as she has done with other Indigenous-run organisations, she is simply revealing the racist low expectations she holds with respect to Indigenous Australians, and doing nothing to actually improve the lives of those people she claims to represent,” Senator Nampijinpa Price said.  

Senator Nampijinpa Price said a review into the Land Rights Act must be conducted to ensure greater transparency and accountability. “For too long the status quo has overseen an  arrangement whereby traditional owners are land rich but dirt poor, and have little hope of being empowered to use the resources available to them to build their own economic independence.”

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Media Contact: Rebekah Hart – 0459 893 181