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The Australian Sex Party has condemned a French-born exotic dancer’s strip show on top of Uluru.

Alizee Sery, 25, says the show was meant as a tribute to Indigenous culture, but the Central Land Council has called for her to be deported after she released footage of the strip show.

Australian Sex Party president Fiona Patten says many exotic dancers will view the display as a tasteless publicity grab.

“With an industry such as ours which is quite often marginalised – and workers in our industry do have difficulties in so many aspects – this makes it even more difficult, when people like this do something that could only be considered stupid,” she said.

“Sadly it probably will bring her a lot of attention, but for the wrong reasons,” she added.

“And while I support her right to be an exotic dancer – and I think sex and sexuality can play a role in performance art – certainly doing it on Uluru was really thoughtless.”

Northern Territory Police spokesman David Harris says the woman has committed an offence and could face a $200 fine for stripping in public.

“It’s the first anyone down there at Uluru has heard of it and certainly there has been no complaint made to police,” he said.

“So until such time as someone does make a complaint and knows perhaps where this woman is, there’s really not a lot we can do.”

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh is standing by her Government’s controversial Wild Rivers legislation and says she has the support of the Federal Government.

The state laws are designed to protect Queensland’s river systems.

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott introduced a private member’s bill to overturn the laws and that passed the Senate last night.

It goes to the Federal House of Representatives tonight.

Ms Bligh says the bill will not be passed.

“This should be seen for what it is, a political stunt by Tony Abbott,” she said.

But Cape York Aboriginal leader Gerhardt Pearson says the Queensland act erodes the rights of Indigenous people.

“They are giving away the opportunities of people who are in the most marginal parts of society,” he said.

The Wilderness Society says the legislation is needed to protect Queensland’s rivers.

The Senate has passed a Federal Opposition bill to override Queensland’s Wild Rivers legislation.

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s private member’s bill to throw out the legislation which aims to protect river systems in Cape York and elsewhere in Queensland was passed late last night in Canberra.

Mr Abbott says the Queensland laws are denying many Indigenous people the right to enjoy better lives and impedes economic development.

The Opposition’s bill mandates the development or other use of native title land in north Queensland cannot be regulated under the state law without the consent of the traditional owners.

The bill will now have to go to the House of Representatives where the Federal Government is likely to oppose it.

North Queensland Senator Ian Macdonald says the bill will ensure Parliament debates the issue before the winter recess.

“That Queensland legislation was introduced by the Labor government in Brisbane to get green preferences at the last State election and it really had nothing to do with protecting the Cape or helping Indigenous people,” he said.

Senator Macdonald is urging the House of Representatives to also pass the bill.

“To become law it has to be passed through the House of Representatives – we would hope that [Prime Minister Kevin] Rudd, with all of his talk about helping Indigenous people and saying sorry, will do something that will get them off the welfare dependency,” he said.

Federal Parliament has passed laws to extend income management in the Northern Territory to non-Indigenous welfare recipients.

Some people in Indigenous communities already have part of their welfare payments quarantined for essential items.

The new laws will apply to non-Indigenous people in the Northern Territory on the same benefits.

The extension of the program has allowed the Government to restore the Racial Discrimination Act, which was suspended as part of the intervention.

“That is a very significant commitment that we have now delivered on,” the Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Minister, Jenny Macklin, said.

“We do think that we should have laws in Australia that affect people equally and not be based on race.”

Ms Macklin says a comprehensive information campaign about the income management changes will start immediately.

“There will be one-on-one interviews with all existing Centrelink customers,” she said.

“People will be informed of the changes and this will be rolled out over the next six months.

“It is going to take a little bit of time as we get around and have proper discussions with people.”

She says people on the Newstart allowance and parenting payments will be most affected.

“There are other groups to whom it will apply, people who are on welfare payments who were referred by the child protection authorities to Centrelink where there is the view that it would be in the interest of the child, or where Centrelink can see that a person is particularly vulnerable.”

The changes will be rolled out from August starting with the Barkly Shire, then Alice Springs, Katherine, the MacDonnell, Roper Gulf and East Arnhem Shires.

Greens Senator Rachel Siewert says information about the changes should already be available.

“What I’m extremely concerned about is many people won’t actually realise that they are caught up in these changes until they actually get the letter in their letterbox saying, ‘We’re having a forum tonight, or an information session tonight around income management and it applies to you’,” she said.

“I think they’ve wanted to keep the changes to the income support scheme, our social security scheme, as quiet as possible.

“Because broader Australia certainly doesn’t understand that there are significant changes being made to the social security legislation.”

The Northern Territory Council of Social Service says welfare recipients classed as vulnerable are going to be taken by surprise when half their payment is quarantined.

The council’s Wendy Morton says families and individuals will need a lot of support.

“I don’t think people really realise that it might be happening to them and I know that organisations, our memberrs, are saying to us that their clients don’t realise that it might be happening to them,” she said.

“They don’t know how they are going to support their clients through this.”

She says there is not enough evidence the system works.

“We know it’s costing around about $352 million of taxpayers’ money to have this happen.

“That’s about $4400 per person.

“I just think in every other area of public policy we would have had a much greater debate across the country and we would have expected a lot more evidence to show that it works before we spent that amount of money.”

The architect of the Commonwealth Intervention in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities says there should have been more progress after three years.

Former federal Indigenous affairs minister Mal Brough says he stands by the policies he introduced in 2007 in response to a report on child abuse.

But he says a lack of leadership and too much bureaucracy has limited the effectiveness of the emergency response.

“I’d originally put before the Parliament that we would lease this land, compulsorily acquire it for five years,” he said.

“I felt that in a five-year window you should have been able to make the fundamental changes to the infrastructure and people’s aspirations on the ground.

“But three years in, that clearly hasn’t happened, so that’s of grave disappointment.”

Mr Brough says he supports the Government’s moves to link welfare payments with school attendance but says it needs to be enforced.

Legislation to extend income management to non-Indigenous welfare recipients in the Northern Territory and put more onus on parents to send their children to school regularly has passed the Senate.

Mr Brough says he flagged a similar idea.

“I’m very much supportive of that policy,” he said.

“Where it’s failing, because it has been trialled, is that the Government talks about it but every report I’ve had from the communities such as Hermannsburg is that Centrelink is not following through on the policy and therefore families aren’t seeing cause and effect.

“Where they’re not sending their children to school there still isn’t the financial burden placed upon them.”

The Government promised that it would reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act in the Northern Territory.  Two and a half years later it has ensured that this will not happen. The Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform and Reinstatement of Racial Discrimination Act) Bill 2009 was passed today irrespective of widespread criticism in Australia, internationally and from the United Nations.

The legislation is not consistent with Australia’s international obligations.  Government has been warned that the legitimacy of so called ‘special measures’ that restrict the rights of individuals will be brought into question.

Former Chief Justice of the Family Court, Alastair Nicholson, has said, “Because there were no prior consultations with, nor active participation of, affected peoples, the ’measures’ will be open to challenge”.  Such warnings were provided to government by a number of well qualified legal bodies in submissions to the Senate and appear to have been completely ignored by the Government and the majority of the Senate Committee.

The AIDA (Australian Indigenous Doctors Association) and the Menzies School of Health have each indicated concerns about the Intervention. AIDA has gone so far as to suggest the Intervention may in fact have a negative impact on the health of Aboriginal people and the Menzies School of Health can find no evidence that Income Management has led to an improvement in nutritional intake of the people it is targeting

Michele Harris of ‘concerned Australians’ says,   ” This new legislation which is racially discriminatory   will now become class discriminatory.  Blanket measures in emergency situations may be necessary but to design programs in such a manner is simply irresponsible. To punish and shame whole communities is simply wrong.  In Australia we are mature enough to function within a justice framework whereby there are consequences for those who engage in inappropriate behaviours. What we have at present is a government incapable of finding genuinely targeted solutions and it ignores the advice and guidance offered to it by numerous prestigious organisations in the fields of health, welfare and legal knowledge, in addition to that provided by the United Nations.” 

“The government has been determined to press ahead with this legislation even though there is no credible evidence that any of the measures have enhanced the lives of Aboriginal people in the NT, nor improved their health. In light of this, the government would take a huge risk by expanding income management to other disadvantage communities. This legislation signals a drastic shift in welfare policy for which the government has no mandate, nor does it have support from the overwhelming number of individuals and organisations that submitted their views to the Senate Inquiry.”

Once more government breaks its promise, the reinstated Racial Discrimination Act will be a very restricted version and the wishes of the majority of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory have been overlooked by a government that promised so much more. Better not to mention the Apology.

Contacts:             Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC     041

Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson says it is possible some of the officers who investigated the death in custody of Cameron Doomadgee on Palm Island in 2004 might face criminal charges.

Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) chairman Martin Moynihan released a scathing report yesterday, finding the initial police investigation and its review were flawed, unprofessional, and full of double standards.

The CMC chairman criticised the police response to Mr Doomadgee’s death in the island’s watch-house off Townsville in north Queensland.

It found there was an unwillingness to admit to failings, a culture of covering up mistakes and protecting the Queensland Police Service’s (QPS) reputation.

The CMC has given Commissioner Atkinson 14 days to recommend disciplinary action against six police officers.

If the CMC is not satisfied, it will take the matter to the Civil Administration Tribunal.

Commissioner Atkinson says the CMC is now investigating the findings of the latest coronial inquest into Mr Doomadgee’s death.

In May, Chief Deputy Magistrate Brian Hine handed down an open finding but also raised concerns about possible police collusion.

Commissioner Atkinson says that investigation still needs to be completed.

“If there is evidence to support coroner Hine’s findings, that is very, very serious and it’s far more than misconduct,” he said.

“Misconduct is something that can be dealt with by an Assistant Commissioner of Police and there are a whole range of sanctions; it is either criminal charges – that is conspiracy to pervert the course of justice – or it’s official misconduct.”

Indigenous academic Stephen Hagan says the CMC should take action to discipline the six police officers now, instead of giving the police service a deadline.

“Why does the chairman need the Police Commissioner to report in 14 days – why don’t they just call it as it is,” he said.

“There is so much rhetoric going around about who did and didn’t do the right thing.

“This whole episode is one of passing the buck – someone else is to blame and the Police Commissioner should do this and other people should do this.”

Reappointment row

Commissioner Atkinson also says he is not aware of any attempts by the CMC to block his reappointment.

There was disagreement yesterday over whether the State Government had sought the CMC chairman’s agreement before announcing Commissioner Atkinson’s reappointment.

Mr Moynihan said he was told about the Government’s intention to reappoint Commissioner Atkinson and offered no comment.

He also said he expected the Palm Island death in custody report to affect Commissioner Atkinson’s reappointment.

Mr Moynihan has this morning clarified his comments about the reappointment of the Police Commissioner.

In a statement released this morning, Mr Moynihan said at the time, he was not aware his approval was required.

He said he has since held discussions with Police Minister Neil Roberts about conditions on the reappointment.

Mr Moynihan said a letter of congratulations sent to the Police Commissioner was standard practice and not necessarily an endorsement of Bob Atkinson.

Commissioner Atkinson says the Government made an offer which he accepted and he does not believe the CMC tried to veto it.

“In fact, as far as I understand it, that actually hasn’t occurred,” he said.

“The discussions that have occurred have just been around the arrangements with it, but they’re really matters for the Government.”

Premier Anna Bligh has this morning again rejected the claim that she misled Parliament over Commissioner Atkinson’s reappointment.

“I reject in the strongest possible terms any suggestion that I have misled the Parliament,” she said.

“I acted on the advice of my Police Minister and that advice was subsequently confirmed in writing by his staff before I made any announcement in the Parliament.”

Opposition spokesman Tim Nicholls says the State Government is willing to reappoint the Police Commissioner despite what the head of the CMC thinks.

“Phoning someone 30 minutes before you’re about to make a public announcement and presenting it as a fait accompli is not in any way shape or form agreement about the terms and conditions,” he said.

‘Fearless’ CMC chair

Meanwhile, the Doomadgee family’s barrister, Andrew Boe, says the CMC chairman is the first anti-corruption officer to speak fearlessly about the death in custody.

Mr Boe says it is the first time since the investigation began that a senior law enforcer has shown he is staunchly independent.

He says Mr Moynihan is doing what should have been done six years ago.

“For the first time we have a very robust and independent mind, being a retired former Supreme Court justice who has got no allegiances anywhere, is calling it straight,” he said.

Mr Boe says the initial police investigation has altered the natural course of justice and it is time for the Police Commissioner to fix it.

“Blind Freddy can tell you that the only options that are really available are to root out these officers and get them out of the force,” he said.

With the Western Australian Government’s plans for a liquid natural gas processing plant on the Kimberley coast unravelling, Premier Colin Barnett has repeated his intention to take the land needed by compulsory acquisition at the end of this month.

But whatever action the Government takes, it now seems approval for the plant could be years away.

As ABC1′s Four Corners reports tonight, a dispute over Native Title involving the Government’s preferred site for the plant could take years to resolve, and the process of negotiation for the land is now being challenged in the Federal Court.

Two years ago supporters of the plan to develop a massive gas processing facility on the Kimberley coast boasted the deal could offer unprecedented opportunities to the region’s Indigenous communities.

It has been estimated that local people could receive more than $1 billion over the next 30 years as they share in the resource riches.

Negotiations to choose a site began some time ago but were short circuited when Mr Barnett announced the location as James Price Point.

The point, 60 kilometres north of Broome, and the land around it are untouched by development except for some narrow walking tracks.

A preliminary agreement to develop the site was signed last year by the Government and the Kimberley Land Council.

That agreement now appears to be under threat due to legal action taken by local resident Joseph Roe.

Mr Roe has a Native Title claim against James Price Point and is resisting the development, saying it is a threat to Aboriginal heritage.

Currently, Mr Roe’s approval would be needed to hand the land over to the State Government for the development.

Mr Roe lodged the claim to Native Title 15 years ago. The claim was never finalised, but it has never been challenged until the decision was taken to develop the site.

Mr Roe says the Aboriginal heritage at stake is a song cycle – the traditional story of the land and its law – which was handed down to him by his grandfather Paddy Roe.

Paddy Roe, who died in 2001, established the Lurrajarri Heritage trail along the song cycle on the land at James Price Point and was awarded the Order of Australia.

The trail is known for its annual nine-day walk, led by Aboriginal elders. The walk is thought to be unique and attracts tourists from all over the world.

Mr Roe’s opposition to the development did not stop the Kimberley Land Council reaching agreement for the site with the Government last year.

But now Mr Roe says the council was not properly authorised.

The council itself admits that the process forced it to act under pressure and many in the region have questioned the process of consultation.

They point out the Kimberley Land Council has been given $16 million to pay for its work in consulting people from across the Kimberley.

Despite this, the council is now being challenged legally by Mr Roe and other Indigenous people are taking out their own Native Title claims on the land around the point.

All this has left the community divided, the Government angry and frustrated, and forced the company to put its development plans on hold.

The Kimberley Land Council has threatened legal action against a number of television stations over the broadcast of a documentary about the Kimberley gas hub.

Journalist Julie Nimmo’s film, Divided by Gas, screened last week on Foxtel, National Indigenous Television and Broome-based Goolari TV.

The film includes an interview with the KLC’s Wayne Bergmann, Woodside boss Don Voelte and Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett.

The council says its lawyers have demanded the film be withdrawn because of allegedly defamatory statements made by former federal court judge Murray Wilcox.

Goolari managing director Kevin Fong says he has agreed to take the film off air for the time being.

“They believe that some of the comments made by Murray Wilcox are clearly defamatory,” he said.

“We’ve complied by suspending the program for 14 days while the allegations are considered.”

Meanwhile, Kimberley environmentalists have denied being responsible for divisions within the Aboriginal community over the building the gas hub.

Mr Barnett this week re-stated his willingness to compulsorily acquire the land at James Price Point should a deal not be struck with Woodside by the end of June.

He accused “anti-development groups” of driving a wedge between native title claimants, leading to a breakdown in the negotiations.

Save the Kimberley member Rod Hartvigsen says it is unfair for Mr Barnett to use green groups as a scapegoat.

“To label us as anti-development is incorrect and also to infer we’re possibly responsible for driving a wedge is not correct,” he said.

“We have as members both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.”

Former Richmond footballer Mal Brown has apologised “unreservedly” for referring to Aboriginal players as cannibals and denies he is a racist.

During a lunch in Melbourne yesterday to promote this year’s 15th EJ Whitten legends match, Brown referred to an occasion when a match had been played on a poorly lit ground.

“And because there were no lights, I couldn’t pick any of the cannibals. I couldn’t pick Nicky Winmar or Michael Mitchell,” he said.

“All the good black fellows, we couldn’t pick them because they couldn’t see them in the light.”

Brown has conceded his comments were “inappropriate”, but said he has worked with Aboriginal players for many years and there was no malice or racism in his remarks.

“I can’t believe the amount of people and the phone calls from the media when you consider the prime minister is stuffing up the country and we made a slip-up at a charity function to raise money,” Brown told Channel Nine.

“Look, what I said was applicable 15 years ago. I would have used that terminology 15 years ago as the boys I coached with and grew up with would know.

“Today, from what’s happened I can see that I was insensitive and it was inappropriate in 2010. I’m not racist but when I die, I’ll let the Aboriginal people assess me.”

Brown said his remark would have been a term of endearment back when he was coaching.

“I owe an apology to those that I’ve upset but a lot of the young boys that I’ve coached and played with and all that, that was the terminology we used,” he said.

“It was a term of endearment. It wasn’t racially motivated. It might be inappropriate but I’ve never been racist.”

Pressed to make an unreserved apology, Brown replied: “You told me I have to say this so I’m saying it, I unreservedly apologise for it, for inappropriate comments that had no intent other than to be fun, humorous and and became insensitive,” he said.

“But it was in relation to 15 years ago, not today.”

Demetriou disgusted

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said he was disgusted by the remark and that Brown does not speak for the AFL.

“He is in the minority and I’d say in a very, very small minority, because we’ve spent years and years educating players, administrators, club officials,” he said.

“And I think the football population in general – our fans – would share my disgust.

“If you can find people out there, anyone in the community who would stand up and say, ‘those comments are worthwhile and I support them’, I would be absolutely horrified.”

Demetriou also said Brown’s comments do not reflect the current culture of the sport.

“Those sort of old player lunches are exactly what they are: a reflection of a bygone era,” he said.

“They’re not part of Australia today and they’re certainly not part of our football community.”

Inaugural Fremantle Dockers coach Gerard Neesham, who runs Aboriginal football academies around Australia, said Brown has a history of strong support for Indigenous players.

“I think the comments were silly and Brownie himself virtually apologised,” Neesham said.

“What’s more important for me as a person who played against the sides that Mal coached in the 70s and 80s, he was the first person to actually have large numbers of Aboriginal men playing in his teams in any major league in Australia.

“Someone had to break down the barrier of having not one or two or three players, I mean he had five and six in his team constantly, and they were wonderful teams to play against – the whole team, not just the Aboriginal fellows.

“He was the first person to really break down the barrier of having large numbers of Aboriginal players in a major league team.”

Brown’s remarks come just days after racist comments by New South Wales State of Origin assistant coach Andrew Johns prompted Parramatta’s Timana Tahu to quit the squad.