|
Update on Power
to the People
- Charro
"Power
to the people - Clare" -- This
page emailed to NT Chief Minister - Clare Martin -
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Charro (Albert)
Morrison is the president of the Kumbutjil Association and
a respected elder of the Warlpiri mob. Many of the visitors
who pass through One Mile Dam from his country (near Tennant Creek)
prefer to have Charro speak on their behalf.
Charro taught
general studies at Ali-Churung school and Yirrara College between
1977-84.
Charro moved
to One Mile Dam a couple of years ago and has been in and out of
hospital frequently due to the sores on his feet which have yet
to heal and a host of other health problems including chronic deafness.
Prior to being accepted into the One Mile Dam community - Charro
camped in the coffee bush nearby.
A proud man
- Charro has difficulty accepting a hospital regime and has arrived
back at One Mile Dam community at least twice from Darwin Hospital,
with an IV tube and needle still attached to his arm. He is risking
blood poisoning which can have fatal consequences.
The condition
of his 'home' - open to the elements and insects - is not conducive
to healing. Charro's wounds have contained maggots in the past.
His practice of wrapping his feet in plastic bags to spare people
their odour, is exacerbating his injuries.
Charro's partner
Sabina has been cleaning and rebandaging his feet for about two
years. In common with many Aboriginal people charged with such tasks,
she does not receive any carer's allowance.
Pensioner
without power
The power problems
at House 3 are making Charro's already grim existence far worse.
His home has been without power since October 2004. Apparently an
electrical fault is the reason for the lack of power as Power &
Water have confirmed (March 02, 05) that power is available
to his home.
| David
Timber talks to Residents concerned about Charro's power
problems - 2nd March 2005 |
|
House
2 has been without power since 2003, thanks to the ADF.
ATSIC promised
to resolve House 2's wiring troubles early in 2004 with a one-off
payment, due to the Aboriginal Development Foundation's refusal
to act. This seems unlikely to eventuate now - given ATSIC's own
'power' problems.
Fixing these
electrical faults is the responsibility of the Aboriginal
Development Foundation - not the Kumbutjil Association.
Yilli Housing
could repair both houses' electrical faults, but are now claiming
the lack of a service level agreement with the Kumbutjil Association
leaves them unable to do so.
This despite
the 'good faith' they demonstrated at Amagul
and the verbal 'interim agreement' they entered into, at our meeting
on the 31st of December. This was to ensure the One Mile Dam community
were provided for, until a final agreement was reached.
Why the 'bad faith?' A service level agreement between the Kumbutjil Association and Yilli Housing
has not been signed, due
to Yilli furnishing incorrect information about the lease status
in regard to the ADF.
As we stated
(8th
February, 05), "The 'delays' in reaching a service level
agreement with Yilli Housing are clearly not the fault of the Kumbutjil
Association."
The refusal
to answer our widely-circulated requests as to why Yilli Housing
provided us with incorrect information (now three weeks) is demonstrative
of a general disregard for the rights of the people at One Mile
Dam community.
Our people
are endangered by the electrical problems here and (as Mr Hunter
has very recently pointed out) "living
in third world squalor". We will not be coerced
into an agreement. The Kumbutjil Association has a right to be fully
informed about matters involving our community and we continue to
await some explanation.
Open
and responsible government
It is the responsibility
of the Clare Martin Labor government to investigate the delays to
the service level agreement and in the meantime, ensure that the
Residents of One Mile Dam have access to the same services and conditions
other (non-Aboriginal) communities in the Darwin region experience.
Discrimination
in the provision of basic services and infrastructure has existed
for over a quarter of a century, regardless of service level agreements
and the remarkable 'good faith' of the One Mile Dam mob.
Power to the
people - Clare.
|
Terry
Trewin (The Age) speaks to Charro 18th February, 2005 | |
"People internationally
should be outraged that such conditions should exist in an affluent
supposed democracy like Australia. The stark contrast between wealthy
white suburbanites and fringe dwelling indigenous peoples seemed
to me to indicate the most cynical and exploitative colonial attitudes
still alive and well in the 21st Century." -
Steve Spencer, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
Compiled by Mick Lambe - Kumbutjil Association Project Officer - Authorised by Kumbutjil Association | 
