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Racism at Port Augusta
March 22, 2005 · Print This Article
Below is an email about current issues at Port Augusta. By the way the Mayor of Port Augusta is Joy Baluch (Lib). Who I’m sure would love a letter or two… (http://www.portaugusta.sa.gov.au/council/members.html)
Hi Everyone
Just a note to let you know that things are pretty tough in Port Augusta right now.
As you are probably aware Port Augusta has always been a meeting place for Aboriginal people. Long before non-Aboriginal people arrived here Aboriginal people from many different groups used to meet on the coast, especially in the summer months.
However, our racist leadership has now decided they are no longer allowed to do this.
A meeting on Friday with Police, Council and Aboriginal leaders was told that they are going to bring in the Star Force Police to move the people who currently meet on the coast (near the new foreshore development) and arrest them if necessary to ensure they no longer congregate there
The city manager is quoted as saying "we don’t want them in our town and we will get rid of them"
Another quote from the meeting was "the star force will come through like the Tsunami and clean up the rubbish"
I was not aware of the meeting and therefore not in a position to attend, however these quotes come from people who were in attendance.
Our town also seems to have a vigilante group of non-Aboriginal people who are attacking Aboriginal people in this town.
Our leaders do not wish to work through the issues
they do not want to listen to the people
the answer is simply to arrest them
Our local Minister with the Uniting Church Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress was himself arrested last week for being under the bridge where these people meet and he refused to move on when instructed.
I have just come back from a rally under the bridge where local people met in solidarity with the Aboriginal people who meet there. I have taken some hope from the people who gathered, but I fear for the safety of the Aboriginal people when the star force arrive and they are on there own
These people are the most vulnerable in our community - don’t our leaders have an obligation to them as well not just the racist population of this town?
Please pass this e-mail on throughout your networks and at least raise the awareness of the plight of the Aboriginal people in Port Augusta
Yours in solidarity
Gayle Mather
Australia - always was - always will be - Aboriginal land
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Comment on ‘Racism at Port Augusta’
Church Expresses Solidarity
Posted by Age on 2005-04-07 14:13:55
From the Transcontinental
16/02: Church expresses solidarity
The Uniting Aboriginal Islander Christian Congress has staged a prayer meeting at the old roundhouse site, to spread a message of peaceful opposition to the arrival of STAR Force officers in Port Augusta.
Members of the congress church believe that heavy handed tactics may be used by the STAR Force in dealing with social problems in the Central Business District, and feel that itinerant people consuming alcohol at the old roundhouse site will be the most commonly targeted.
At the prayer service, Aboriginal people gathered under the trees at the site, expressed their frustrations at being constantly under the eye of police and believed they were being targeted as part of a racially motivated agenda.
The people gathered also expressed concern over a “double standard” where an almond tree that was illegally chopped down went unpunished whereas police were regularly attending to them.
Speaking earlier in the day, Rev David Wright of the Christian Congress said the actions of several political leaders had forced police into a situation where heavy handed tactics could be seen.
“These people (drinking at the Roundhouse) are the bottom rung of white and Aboriginal society and I don’t think this is the way to deal with these problems,” he said.
http://portaugusta.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=local&category=general%20news&story_id=371817&y=2005&m=2
Reply to ‘Church Expresses Solidarity’
re: Racism at Port Augusta
Posted by Age on 2005-04-07 15:31:04
I spoke with a member of Congress in Port Augusta yesterday. He put me onto the article above and said there are letters to the editor in the Port Augusta’s paper fuelled by racism. In general he stated that things were bad in the community noting that only a couple of aboriginal kids had any work.
(There is a follow up story or two on the news site. Search for ‘Star Force’. portaugusta.yourguide.com.au)
Reply to ‘re: Racism at Port Augusta’
SBS Insight Program this week
Posted by MoreTim on 2005-04-25 10:38:10
Just a quick heads up for anybody who’s interested, this weeks episode of Insight on SBS (Tuesday April 26 at 7.30pm) will be looking at Port Augusta and the Baxter Detention Centre.
You can read more here.