I just have to assume, for my own sanity, that Labor have a better holistic world view in these regards, especially in the sorts of aspects that don’t translate well into election-campaign policy teasers. I mean to say that they may be substantively close to the government on most areas of indigenous affairs, but may place a greater importance on bilingual education, for example, or for the recognition of the rights of indigenous people, self determination, the social value (rather than fiscal value) of community-based living, etc., all of the things that the government reject, but not publicly – you sort of have to sift through the policies and know a great deal of background on all ministers (and have a healthy degree of cynicism) to see it.

I’m sure you know what I mean, having been around and about, more or less, for over ten years.

Labor has backed the intervention and the legislation from day one. There is an election on though and so people in Australia tell me that the Labor party doesn’t want the intervention to become a “wedge” issue. But as of today, Kevin Rudd, the leader for Labor, has pledged to keep on keepin’ on with the intervention (see Rudd link above).

However, several Labor politicians from the NT have denounced the intervention. Most recently Marion Scrymgour the first Aboriginal female Cabinet minister in an Australian Government. About a week ago she gave a scathing speech, here’s a tidbit:

“John Howard and Malcolm Brough, this evening I am doing far more than merely criticising you and your government’s assault on Aboriginal Territorians, I am condemning its motivation; I am condemning its operations; and I am condemning-outright-its moral basis and the moral authority you purport to exercise in “saving the children”.”

(read or listen at the link above).

I haven’t heard much from others in the Pacific or elsewhere condeming the intervention. Some Maori groups have. I don’t think it has made “mainstream” news outlets outside Australia…any one else see anything?

The Labor party has supported the intervention and the legislation from day one. There is an election going on and apparently to avoid a “wedge” Labor is going along with the Coalition on this one. Kevin Rudd the Labor party leader has said he will continue if Labor gets in at the end of November (see this news story today).

Several NT Labor politicians, however, have come out against it. At the beginning of October Labor leaders said they would reinstate CDEP if elected (see my blog post here. Most recently, Marion Scrymgour–the first Aboriginal female Cabinet Minister in an Australain government, gave a scathing speech condeming the intervention:

“John Howard and Malcolm Brough, this evening I am doing far more than merely criticising you and your government’s assault on Aboriginal Territorians, I am condemning its motivation; I am condemning its operations; and I am condemning-outright-its moral basis and the moral authority you purport to exercise in “saving the children”

As for Pacific leaders, some Maori groups have condemed the intervention, but I haven’t heard anytyhing else–It seems to have barely made the news outside Australia, except through indigenous activist networks.

But things are beginning to change, as increasingly, news from the Territory is hitting front middle pages, and then of course there are us bloggers, doing as much as we possibly can. Tonight’s Four Corners had a very interesting report (transcript here) from Maningrida and Finke about how the intervention has progressed so far. I plan to post something about it, but not tonight.

It was great to see though, since it was the first time my family have seen even a little bit of what I’ve been harking on about for the past four months. The stresses on the Finke community store, where the manager has become an unpaid Centrelink accountant, or the orchard gardeners who used to be paid on CDEP, who can now sit back and live on the pittence that is the dole, or work their normal 25 hours a week for an extra, wait for it, $8.25 per fortnight, in “CDEP transition” top-up.

Strong, the leader of the Maori party in New Zealand (I can’t remember the actual name of the party nor his name) was very critical of the entire saga, for one. The opposition have given their ‘in principle’ support, but have promised, if elected in three weeks’ time, to roll back the changes to the CDEP program and re-instate the permit system, which, typically, has been dismissed by the government as (take your pick) a backflip, showing weakness, letting pedophiles win, etc. These are the bully-boy tactics that Kim referred to.

bq. But what they have managed to pull off is a relatively uncontested (the majority of the Australian public is still behind the intervention and there has been scant international coverage, let alone criticism) upending of indigenous rights.

I am curious about who all in Australia may be criticizing the intervention, outside the ‘Indigenous sector’. What does Opposition say? Also, does anyone know if or how other regional (Pacific) politicians and activists have responded?