SYDNEY — On February 3, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission announced that it would contribute $6 million to "alleviating the social and environmental problems of Sydneys Redfern Aboriginal Community" by funding a proposal for redevelopment by the Aboriginal Housing Company (AHC). A response was issued on February 4 by the Redfern Aboriginal Housing Coalition; following are major excerpts from it.
The Aboriginal community of Redfern are outraged at yesterday's announcement by the chairperson of ATSIC, Gatjil Djerrkura, that ATSIC will grant $6 million to a company that has been continuously mismanaged.
The Redfern Aboriginal Housing Coalition demands that the state government and ATSIC require a full audit of the Aboriginal Housing Company's past operations and a detailed analysis of its management skills and competencies before gaining any public funds.
Our group does not oppose people's choices of where they want to live, but believe the process undertaken by the AHC, ATSIC and the state government has been misleading and ambiguous. Tenants have not been given the real picture and are still concerned about their future.
Redfern is an important part of Australian history. It is the birthplace of the indigenous political movement, which exposed the appalling contraventions of human rights for Aboriginal people in this country. It is also the birth place of self-determination for Aboriginal people. Redfern has been a refuge and a haven for many Aboriginal people, including those of the stolen generation.
The Redfern housing coalition wants to know why ATSIC is allocating $6 million of public money to the Aboriginal Housing Company when this company has not properly consulted with the Aboriginal community about what should happen to the "Block" area.
Residents are concerned that the so-called detailed proposal of the first stage has not been discussed or revealed to residents of this community.
A recent survey undertaken by consultants who were engaged by the AHC and the state government, to gauge tenants' needs, did not give the full picture. In our view, questions related to tenants wanting better housing did not reflect future long-term Aboriginal presence on the "Block" and did not address the real issues of the community.
The summary of the AHC survey indicated that tenants would not be able to buy houses on the "Block". Isn't this forced relocation if tenants do not have that choice?
The coalition is also concerned that no details have been given as to the future of the "Block" and what sort of development is under consideration.
Why has ATSIC not supported the continuation of the CDEP [Community Development and Employment Program] in Redfern? The Redfern Aboriginal Corporation's funds were suspended in December 1996. This organisation was the major employer of Aboriginal people in the "Block". Many of those employees were youth.
With the recent allegations of high youth crime in Redfern, the coalition believes that some of the money would be better spent on employment and training for the people of the community.
Moving to another suburb, even if it is better housing, does not alleviate social problems. Racism still exists in wider Australian society. Are the assimilationist policies of the past still being pushed but now under the guise of better health?