The Voice—Second Reading Speech, 30 March 2023
The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP delivering the second reading speech for the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) Bill 2023 This is the Second Reading Speech for the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and [...]
“Take my wife … please!”* The Haunted Smile: The Story Of Jewish Comedians In America.
The Haunted Smile traces the rise to dominance of Jewish comedy through successive mediums, beginning with Vaudeville, then radio, talking pictures and television, with side trips to the Borscht Belt and stand-up comedy venues across the nation.
Death on a dirt road. The killing of Jabanardi by NT Police at Ti Tree on 20 July 1980
We may never get to a “true” version of what happened on that dirt road forty-one years ago. Further crucial details may be found in the many thousands of pages of Court, Coronial and RCDIAC transcripts and the numerous submissions, statements, correspondence and exhibits used in those matters.
Voter suppression in Australia’s deep north?
Last week two Aboriginal men—Matthew Ryan and Ross Mandi—filed a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission (the AHRC) against the Australian Electoral Commission (the AEC) alleging that the AEC has effectively suppressed the Aboriginal vote in remote areas in the Northern Territory.
How good was racism in the ’70s and ’80s! A short history of bigotry in the Northern Territory
Keep Australia Clean (Kill a Coon); If Abos want land they should buy the bastard the same as the whites do. They have no rights to any land whatever. If they don’t want to work under our system – let ‘em starve; People with black legs won’t be served; and Buy some Coon cheese today for catching black mice: Noticeboard, Daly Waters Hotel, 1978.
“We, the leaders of the Gurindji people …” On This Day, 1967
It was not until 16 August 1975 that negotiations with Vesteys, owners of the Wave Hill lease, were completed, and the lease for the Gurindji tribal land at Wattie Creek was handed to Vincent Lingiari, leader of the Gurindji.
Finding Lost Mudburra Art. Part One
Not a lot has changed since I last looked at Elliott/Kulumindini six years ago—it is still stuck in an administrative worm hole. Services from all levels of government fall between the jurisdictional cracks often because Elliott is equidistant from the major Northern Territory service and administrative centres of Darwin and Alice Springs.
Tree of The Week—The Top End’s self-decorating Xmas tree, Xanthostemon paradoxus
While the settlers may have struggled to find a suitable name for Xanthostemon paradoxus, it is unsurprising that local Aboriginal language groups have no shortage of names—and uses— for this tree.
‘Murdered by a person or persons name unknown.’ The unsolved deaths of Nabbutta Abbott Nabarula and David Charlie. Part 2
Lois Nambajimba: Then I heard people singing out they was crying. Then saw those people shaking. I saw that woman first that one that died. I saw that woman first drop and then shake.
‘Murdered by a person or persons name unknown.’ The unsolved deaths of Nabbutta Abbott Nabarula and David Charlie. Part One.
The neck is stretched out, the head thrown back, the legs straight and stiff. The fits are brought on or made worse by the slightest touch, sound or light. Finally, one dreadful seizure follows another, until they are continuous and death ensues.