My mate Rangi has just turned up we're going fishing, say's he's going over to Aus there's easy money to make out of gullible Aussies. Reading some of these posts he's right. porkpie
***edited for brevity***
porkpie - suggest you look after NZ problems - and we'll look after ours.
I saw an aboriginal family on Elizabeth Street in Melbourne a few days ago, and they were a very rare sight indeed. They do not form part of our mainstream communities and culture and why is this so? Why are they so isolated?
I suppose they all left since the coalition got ousted?***edited***
Half my family are now expats because of what they can earn overseas. If this economy dives because of Labours focus on social issues instead of economic issues I think the expac percentange will increase, and social unrest could go anywhere.
rob (and/or coll)1. Not another cent of my well earnt is going there.
2. I believe K07 has stuffed this one up real bad and could have masive implications for Australia.
3. Half my family are now expats because of what they can earn overseas. If this economy dives because of Labours focus on social issues instead of economic issues I think the expac percentange will increase, and social unrest could go anywhere.
From ABC, 11 Feb. 08
ABORIGINES HEAD TO CANBERRA CALLING FOR COMPENSATION
Hundreds of Aboriginal people are making their way to Canberra to hear the Prime Minister officially apologise to the Stolen Generations, as calls are made for compensation from the Federal Government.
The area around Canberra's Aboriginal Tent Embassy is being prepared for the influx of people who are expected to arrive from around Australia ahead of the apology.
The Tent Embassy's Isabelle Coe says she is pleased the site is still a focus for Aboriginal protest.
"We've had to fight to stay here because we've been fire bombed, we've been petrol bombed," she said.
"They wrapped up our old demountable in black plastic and drove it off to somewhere we don't know, but we have fought to stay here for the last 36 years."
COMPENSATION
Many of those expected to travel to Canberra will also take part in a rally from the Tent Embassy to the federal Parliament on Tuesday in support of calls for compensation to the Stolen Generations.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has ruled out compensation but many Aboriginal leaders who have travelled from across the nation to be in Canberra for the event are still arguing for reparations.
Ms Coe says she thinks some form of compensation is inevitable.
"I don't think that this country can get out of paying it because a lot of Aboriginal people were affected by the Stolen Generations," she said.
"The mothers, the fathers, the grandparents, the aunties, the uncles, the cousins, and we had to run and hide when the welfare came to our mission."
Former Keating government minister Michael Lavarch, who established an inquiry into the Stolen Generations more than a decade ago, agrees money should be paid.
"Money can't overcome the problems that have been inflicted on so many families, on so many Australians," he said.
"But as part of an overall response I really think it should be something that the Government should look at."
'SORRY IS ENOUGH'
A member of the Stolen Generations who launched the first compensation case against the Commonwealth 12 years ago has welcomed the Commonwealth's plan to say sorry.
Lorna Cubillo and Peter Gunner failed to get compensation in 2000, because the High Court ruled it would not be a fair trial because of the time that had passed since their removal.
Ms Cubillo will be in the public gallery when the Commonwealth's apology is announced on Wednesday.
However, she says the Prime Minister's decision to rule out compensation for victims, does not bother her.
"Whatever happens, a sorry is okay for me because this is what I waited for and I knew it was going to happen one day and this is my moment," she said.
"People disagree, but that's okay. I'm not asking for anything more, just sorry is good enough."
Former Wimbledon champion Evonne Goolagong-Cawley says the apology to the Stolen Generations should help address the issue of Indigenous disadvantage.
Ms Goolagong-Cawley, a patron of Reconciliation Australia, will be at Parliament House to witness the apology.
She says it will be a mark of respect that should be followed by efforts to reduce the life-expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
"Once we all gain that respect together, then we can work together as a group, and work for the future," she said.
"In fact, I think the next step is attending to the gap of 17 years life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people."
SPEECH WORDING
It is long-standing Labor Party policy to say sorry, and it will be the key word Mr Rudd utters on Wednesday.
But the rest of his speech is still being finalised, along with the plans on how many others will speak and whether an Indigenous Australian will respond.
Manager of Government Business Anthony Albanese says the wording of the apology will be revealed tomorrow.
"We'll be giving formal notice of the motion on Tuesday, so not just the Opposition, but everyone will get to see it in advance," he said.
The apology is set to overshadow the other key political event this week - the introduction of a bill to scrap WorkChoices.
APOLOGY SHOULD BE 'SEPARATE FROM COMPENSATION'
Reconciliation Australia says Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology to the Stolen Generations should stand alone from any compensation claims.
The organisation's board is meeting in Canberra today to discuss its agenda after the Government's formal apology is delivered on Wednesday.
Reconciliation Australia board director Fred Cheney says he wants governments to carefully consider all the recommendations in the 'Bringing Them Home Report', including compensation.
"That was an issue raised in the report 10 years ago. It's an issue being addressed at some levels of government, but the apology is a freestanding thing important in its own right," he said.
"I have no doubt that issue will go on being discussed and negotiated by state governments, as well as the Commonwealth Government over the coming years."
But co-chair on the Reconciliation Australia board of directors, Mark Leibler, says the 17-year life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is his top priority.
"It involves important steps in improving the life of Indigenous people; education, health and we're confident it'll be easier to address those issues in a meaningful way together with Indigenous communities once we have concluded this unfinished business on Wednesday," Mr Leibler said.
The Federal Government is also facing more criticism over its refusal to provide compensation as part of the apology.
Aboriginal activist Michael Mansell says sorry means little without reparations.
"I think the Prime Minister, if he's genuine about the apology, has got to set up a compensation package," he said.
That sentiment has the support of Greens Leader Bob Brown.
"It's not a case of what is politically good or bad, it's a case of what is the right thing," he said.
But on this issue, the major parties are in step, with Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson telling Fairfax Radio that compensation may cause resentment.
"These calls for compensation will seriously undermine the goodwill of good-hearted Australians that are prepared to go along with this apology," he said.
The wording of the apology will be released tomorrow and many people travelling to Canberra for the apology are also expected to take part in a rally, in support of several issues, including reparations.
Mark Leibler, says the 17-year life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is his top priority.
How odd!I am slowly getting sorry fatigue syndrome.
How odd!
If you were one of the stolen generation you would be counting the hours.
Maybe. But on the other hand, I daresay there are many among the stolen/rescued generation who are grateful for having an education and a job, a decent work ethic and decent living standard, instead of being uneducated and living among drunkenness, violence, squalor and poverty, which is quite likely how they would have ended up if they hadn't been rescued by people who considered them worthy of a better life.
From ABC, 12 Feb. 08
THOUSANDS PROTEST TO 'STOP THE INTERVENTION'
By Penny McLintock
Thousands of people have marched across the lawns of Parliament House to protest against the Federal Government's intervention in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities.
Aboriginal people from across the country and non-Indigenous supporters gathered at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy near Old Parliament House to hear leaders speak against the intervention.
They called for the intervention to be overturned and an end to quarantining of welfare payments and compulsory land acquisitions.
Members of the crowd threw leaves onto the sacred fire, chanting "Stop the intervention - human rights for all".
Mark Lord from near Bourke in north-west New South Wales was one of the Aboriginal dancers leading the march, which began just after midday.
He says the intervention order is not the Australian way of doing things.
"It's a racial act really. We want to be like white people, walk in [to shops] and pay for things with our own cash not half with Centrelink payment and the rest in vouchers," he said.
"We human people, we are not animals.
"If they don't listen to us, they are going to hear us. They can not listen to us all they want, but they will hear us today."
A group of school students travelled from southern Sydney to take part in the rally.
Teacher Mark Goudkamp from Kingsgrove High School says the intervention repeats a lot of mistakes made in the past and the students wanted to speak out.
"It's punitive, it punishes people who are doing the right thing with welfare quarantining," he said.
"The other thing Rudd should do to break with the Howard legacy, is to wind back the intervention."
Kingsgrove student Ross Bougoukas says it is important young people are involved.
"Other young people will see us and hopefully follow our lead. We can give a fresh approach to this," he said.
Surrounded by media, the group marched around Old Parliament House and up Federation Mall. Some Aboriginal elders were taken in a bus
Australian Federal Police lined the the ring road around Parliament House keeping an eye on the procession as they walked to the top of the lawns.
A large Aboriginal flag was laid on the lawns and protesters gathered to hear key speakers condemn the intervention.
Greens Leader Bob Brown was among the speakers, labelling the intervention "racist legislation".
"It's a racial act really. We want to be like white people, walk in [to shops] and pay for things with our own cash not half with Centrelink payment and the rest in vouchers," he said.
oh goody.
i eagerly await the word 'sorry' and millions in compensation sorting out all the problems in aboriginal communities and ending the rampant alcoholism and child sexual abuse that is so prevalent in aboriginal communities.
by saying 'sorry' and admitting to these horrific past wrongs im led to believe we will now be equal? does this mean we no longer pay the billions in grants and other special assistance given to aboriginal people??
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