In other news…

…There’s been very little action here of late with the Brough plan. There was a rumour last week that the army were headed here, but we haven’t seen anything as yet. They really want to know if they’re considered one of the 60 (or however many there are) communities, because if they are, they might reconsider putting so much effort into the myriad of projects that have been set up to combat alcohol abuse, housing shortages and other pressing issues, since the federal government might want to take over such projects altogether.

The federal government (this was the situation last week anyway, things may have changed since then) claims that it would be dangerous to say which communities it has in its sights, because they may pre-emptively, temporarily force out grog-runners and so on to make the place look good. I doubt that. I think they’re playing it entirely by ear and don’t even know which communities are included.

Also, remember to watch insight tomorrow night (Tuesday 24/7), which will focus on this issue. SBS, 7:30pm (or ~~8:00pm~~ 7:00pm [I got the direction of the timezone wrong, silly me - this also meant I missed the first half as I was watching ABC news] if you’re in the territory).

8 Responses to “ In other news… ”

Comments:

Kim says:
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:32 pm

See David Nash in the comments to Jane Simpson’s most recent post over at Transient Languages and Cultures.
On the view that there is “no list” he says:

Not quite true: although I still haven’t seen a text list of the target communities, there was released on 26 June what I have been calling the MCOAL map, posted on FACSIA’s website linked from the Minister’s media release that day. I discussed it the following day. The file is called “reform_map.PDF” and shows 56 communities.

Now, in addition to the 56 communities already announced, there are 17 more in the NIT list:
CLC region (12): Alpurrurulam, Atitjere (Hart Range), Canteen Creek (Owatilla) [sc. Owaitilla], Engawala (Alcoota), Imangara (Murray Downs), Imanpa, Kalkarinji (Wave Hill), Laramba, Tara, Titjikala, Wilora, Wutunugurra (Epenarra)
NLC region (5): Binjari, Bulla, Kybrook Farm, Nauiyu (Daly River), Yarralin

The list of 73 just about matches the NT Infrastructure Group’s list of places with ‘Indigenous Essential Services’ (IES)….

Jane says:
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:40 pm

“it would be dangerous say which communities it has in its sights,”
Oh, the military mind….. looking for long-term solutions!

Jangari says:
July 24th, 2007 at 12:48 pm

Thanks Kim.

That thread grew so much while I was enduring ‘internet blackout’ that I neglected to read through all comments, especially given that there’s 5 people in this office competing to use one 32 kbps dial-up connection.

And sorry about the typos all through. I’ve fixed them up.

Jangari says:
July 24th, 2007 at 4:47 pm

I’ve just heard over the grapevine that the ‘survey’ team will be here on Friday, August 3rd.

I’m glad I’ll still be here.

David Nash says:
July 25th, 2007 at 8:43 am

Where you are isn’t on FACSIA’s map recommended by the NT Government but presumably comes under “all town camps in the Northern Territory” (here).

Jangari says:
July 25th, 2007 at 1:32 pm

Kybrook Farm is on that map, but I’m not sure of the point. It seems to indicate which communities are ALRA (Aboriginal Land Rights Act, I think) and which are not. Kybrook Farm appearks to fall under the non-ALRA category.

Certainly the Pine Creek town camp will fall under the definition of ‘all town camps in the Territory’, but in any case, Kybrook will also be visited next week (this was verified today with official notification to the community).