Paul Canning
Sun, 21 Mar 1999 21:15:49 -0500
Statement by ATSIC Commissioner Inspector Colin Dillon 19 March 1999 UN reprimand important but necessary vindication of Indigenous concern Today's decision to reprimand Australia over its handling of indigenous affairs is an important but necessary vindication of indigenous concerns and rights. The Committee's decision vindicates the fact that we have had to take our concerns to the United Nations - to the international community. It confirms that our concerns were not heard and were not and are not taken into account by this government. It confirms that our rights have been acutely impaired and that discriminatory practices against us still endure. But despite the vindication, this is a sad day for indigenous Australians. It is a sad day for all Australians, that this is the judgement of the outside world. We take no joy in the fact that our beliefs and fears are now confirmed. We do not ask the federal government to be embarrassed by this decision. We ask them to take up the United Nation's concerns, to take up our concerns. We ask them to reconsider its approach to these findings, to its approach on our rights and how it treats our people, and to rectify these wrongs. This is how they can restore Australia's human rights record. It is matter of personal regret that we have been forced to take our case to the apex of the international system of nations in the search for some justice. It is ironic that indigenous Australians have had to take recourse to an institution that Australia was so instrumental in forming and was so strong in advocating. But in doing so we are also doing a service not just in the interests of indigenous people, but in the interests of all Australians. Australians have a right to know what their government is doing on their behalf - and whether our government's actions stand up to independent scrutiny. Regrettably the actions of this government do not. Australia's record on human rights is tarnished. It is now in breach of two articles of a major international convention. We hold no longer a record of excellence. All Australians are right to expect better of their government. We ask them to join with us and demand it. Commissioner Dillon and Commissioner Geoff Clark were ATSIC's representatives at the 54th Session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Media Contact: Commissioner Dillon can be contacted through ATSIC Public Affairs Queensland. Contact: Mark Heward on Mobile 0417724 292 Craig Sproule Craig Sproule Office of Public Affairs Ph: 02 6289 3450 Fax: 02 6282 2854 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------- RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use."