Page 7 - Newsletter#15finalcopy

On Video pages of the Newsletter Flipbook versions, I’ll Page.4
place simple, but effective YouTube links, In summary
Margo reminded us of some vital statistic. 2 in 5 women Journalist Kerry
(39%) and 1 in 4 men (26%) face such sexual O’Brien acknowledged
harassment. Charlie Perkins was
the first Aboriginal man
The age group most prevalent are those between 18– to graduate from
29-year Old’s. Other’s more likely are ATSI people, university and
People with disability, LGBQT community, workers from continued to advocate
cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds, migrant for ATSI peoples
and visa holders with insecure work, and casual and throughout his life. His
labour hire, or part time workers. niece Thea Perkins, an
indigenous artist, has paid tribute to her grandfather
These same statistics show the risks of sexual Charlie, with her painting, titled: “A bastard like me” and
harassment rises when a person faces multiple forms of is a finalist in this years Telstra National Aboriginal and
discrimination, and these factors make it less likely Torres Strait Islander Art Awards in the NT on August
th
harassment of any kind will be reported! The Australian 7 .an event to be staged live online. Check the link.
Human Rights Commission found the cost of sexual www.natsiaa.com.au
harassment to the Australian economy is estimated to
be around $3billion, over 5yrs, partly from a significant While the focus on last Wednesday’s session with
loss of productivity in the workplace as well as Thomas Mayor and Alan Lui, on Indigenous cultural
compensation and other costs. issues are to be lauded, and given the MUA’s
internationalism one would have thought, the UN event
th
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) session. celebrating the yearly July 18 for ‘Nelson Mandela Day’
would have received a similar level of recognition and
Newly appointed Asst/National Secretary for First should have been included in the Qld Branch News.
Peoples’, Thomas Mayor held a Zoom link to delegates Nelson Mandela visited Australia and in his tour,
attending this session, followed by Alan Lui who pointedly paid tribute to the SUA at the Sussex Street
elaborated upon a history of Indigenous people, offices for its role in support for the international
particularly in the Torres Strait Islands and the heritage sanctions, that tipped the balance towards the ‘downfall
and customs and island laws. of the Apartheid Regime’.

Thomas explained that Aboriginal & Torres strait When elected the first
Islander Commission (ATSI) communities were the first Black African to the
to claim sovereignty and had laws and customs of their White South Africa
own. He outlined the struggle for indigenous recognition State, instead of the
and land rights since the British invasion in 1788 and the predicted retribution
initial Penal Colony. Thomas outlined the long struggle by fearful international
to achieve some critical benchmarks in advancement. and white SA
community, he
*“from ‘settler colony to industrial capitalism, from the opened up a ‘truth and
colonial genocidal war to the heroic war of resistance” reconciliation
process’, to bring
From the Indigenous slaughter of 1838 Myall Massacre South Africa’s mixed
to the Pilbara Strike in 46-49, the Darwin Aboriginal community together. Of his 27-year incarceration and
Strikes 47-51. Petitions and protests, marches etc by struggle for freedom, and upon his release from Robin
Charlie Perkins ex WWF worker and his Freedom Ride Island he said, “courage is not the absence of fear,
in 65. John Howard’s Government deliberately but the triumph over it”. Sadly, It’s a shame very little
undermined the ATSIC representative body. progress has been achieved since his passing.

From the many struggles in between, to the Wave Hill The same edition confirmed attendance by the ‘Branch’
walkout, which led to the Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) (officials?) to the NAIDOC Week Awards and to the
Act in 1976, the Mabo Decision and the recent coming inaugural Rail Transport & Bus Union (RTBU)
together of all indigenous peoples to agree upon the conference, with both conferences held in Brisbane.
Uluru statement of the Heart, with its central demand for Forming closer ties with such transport unions is
Constitutional Recognition and a VOICE in Parliament. commendable and necessary.
https://www.clc.org.au/our-history/
The Acting Branch Secretary identified participating in a
*(see: Marxist left review No21-by Jordon Humphreys ‘delegate focused educational process’, aimed at
for a fuller analysis of a Marxist explanation of RTBU R&F members. You’d think that MUA R&F
Indigenous oppression Today) members would also have been of some useful benefit
between the shared experience of both organisations
https://shop.redflag.org.au/collections/marxist-left- R&F members.? We note the MUA National Secretary
review/products/marxist-left-review-21 attended.