August/September 2006 Volume 6, Issue 21
This edition of the Indigenous Law Bulletin includes a reprint of the first edition of this journal, or the Aboriginal Law Bulletin as it was then known. We have included this by way of celebrating the 25th birthday of this publication and of the Indigenous Law Centre. We will be including a favourite article, chosen by former editors, in each issue of the year ahead. This edition includes an introduction by Neil Rees; a founding editor.
In this edition, Tom Calma, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (‘HREOC‘), has written about the ongoing crisis in Indigenous health and discusses the HREOC campaign for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health equality within our lifetime.
James Dawson, from the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (‘NAAJA‘), discusses the visit by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing to the Top End of Australia. He discusses the way in which legislation and international law is being breached in relation to the provision of housing in Indigenous communities and suggests some solutions.
We also have a discussion, by Sonia Cooper and Terri Janke, of a ground-breaking move by Melbourne City Council to adopt of a code of practice for galleries and retailers. The code encourages good faith relationships between artists and galleries, advocating the use of written contracts and promoting the sale of authentic Indigenous arts and crafts.
Bill Pritchard, Senior Aboriginal Programs Officer at Community Justice Centres (‘CJCs‘), has written about the provision of Indigenous-specific mediation services by CJCs in New South Wales (‘NSW‘). CJCs commenced the provision of Indigenous mediation services in 2002, initially in the Northern CJC region, which was ultimately expanded to the remainder of NSW.
This has been an eventful two months as reflected in our regular Recent Happenings section. Some of the events worth noting include the ruling by the Federal Court in favour of the native title claim by the Nyoongar people in Perth and the finding by the Queensland Deputy Coroner that Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley was responsible for the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee in Palm Island in November 2004.
Archives of the Bulletin from Volume 1, Issue 1 (1981) to 6(9) 2005 are available at www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/ILB/
General Edition
Setting the Challenge: Achieving Health Equality in a Generation
by Tom CalmaA Hidden National Crisis: Indigenous Housing in Australia’s Top End
by James Dawson
Special 25th Anniversary Reprint: Aboriginal Law Bulletin 1981 1(1)
Many, Many More Words
by Neil ReesCode to Boost Ethical Standards in the Sale of Indigenous Art
by Sonia Cooper and Terri JankeA Reflective Evaluation of Indigenous Mediation Services Provided by NSW Community Justice Centres
by Bill Pritchard
Regular
Recent Happenings August 2006
Recent Happenings September 2006