Australia: Protestors denounce Labor's Northern Territory intervention

While the government and media insist that the purpose of the intervention was to save Aboriginal children from sexual abuse and other problems fueled by alcoholism, its real purpose is to cut welfare, break up remote communities and townships, and take control of Aboriginal land. It suspended the Racial Discrimination Act, appointed so-called business managers with wide-ranging powers over the Aboriginal communities and imposed income management on Aboriginal people. Already, some 50 percent of welfare for Aboriginal people in government prescribed areas is now being issued in the form of plastic cards or vouchers that can only be used in government-designated stores.

Protestors called on the Labor government to repeal all the Northern Territory intervention laws and provide increased government funding for health, education and other basic services that Aboriginal communities desperately need.

About 400 people heard speakers in the inner-Sydney suburb of Redfern and then marched to the Sydney Town Hall chanting Repeal the racist legislation, human rights for all, Aboriginal control over Aboriginal affairs and other slogans. The Melbourne rally outside the State Library attracted about 150 while about 100 demonstrated in Brisbane with smaller numbers at protests in Wollongong, Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth.

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