Paul Benedek, Brisbane
"Peter Beattie's axing of Indigenous affairs as a stand alone ministry, just days after the election, is a disgrace", Murri leader Sam Watson told a protest on September 15.
Around 40 people rallied outside the Queensland government executive building to protest against Beattie's decision to shaft Indigenous affairs into the "communities" portfolio. "The only time such a move could be justified is when Indigenous people have the same unemployment rate, housing conditions and health services as non-Indigenous people", Watson said. "But we have Indigenous communities with 80% or 90% unemployment, compared to 4.5% statewide, no health services and 12-year waiting lists for housing."
"This shows the survival of apartheid in Queensland", Indigenous poet Lionel Fogarty told the protesters. "Beattie's action are criminal. They still control our stolen wages — just like the Zionists control the Palestinians, just like the whites controlled the black population in apartheid South Africa, and now they take our ministry." Elder Wadjularbinna also condemned the Howard government for "taking our land".
Watson, who stood against Beattie in the September 9 state election, noted that the "85% of Aboriginal people on Palm Island who voted for Labor have been betrayed". He added: "Through the election, no one raised Indigenous rights except the Socialist Alliance and we were rebuffed by the media and the corporate parties. True to our word that we'd continue campaigning after the election, it's Socialist Alliance that's standing with the Murri community against this government's arrogance."
"Howard and Beattie are the 'gruesome twosome'", Watson concluded. "Howard axes ATSIC and Beattie axes Indigenous affairs. Beattie should be sitting with the Murri community to work out programs to fix social problems and not sweep the issues under the carpet."
The protesters, who want to meet with the premier, vowed to return on September 22 at noon in larger numbers. For more information, phone Sam on 0401 227 443.