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Traditional owners urge PM to address ‘chronic and systemic’ neglect of remote communities leading to Alice Springs crisis
Lorena Allam
Lhere Artepe, the representative body for the traditional owners of Alice Springs, has released a statement urging the PM to “look deeply” at the issues that plague Central Australia when he arrives this afternoon.
The native title holders say the situation is “truly out of control“, with people coming into town from remote communities “where they live in Third World conditions with no future and little hope.”
If [Albanese] looks properly he will see that the current crisis in Alice Springs arises from the chronic and systemic neglect of our remote communities over many decades. He will see things that should shame our nation, the Parliament and its elected representatives.
As Territory Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said today: ‘there is something inherently broken at the front end’ and that you cannot ‘police away’ the problems. What Commissioner Chalker knows is that it is the long term failure of government policy in remote Australia which is seeing the destruction of remote communities by under-investment, lack of government attention and a non-existent economic base all of which has led to the flight of individuals on to the streets of Alice Springs.
Lhere Artepe says alcohol is a big problem and a crackdown is needed on supply.
With alcohol available from 10am in pubs and from 2pm in bottle shops in the centre of town and with town camps now free-grogging zones, the situation is truly out of control, and has been for many years.
The Arrernte people are pained that we do not have the capacity to help our brothers and sisters, many of whom are related to us by kin and ceremony.
We are hurt by the negative images and stereotyping of all Aboriginal people.
We are harmed by the violence and alcohol abuse in our midst.
These problems cannot be talked away. They are real and require a massive undertaking from all stakeholders.
We urge the Prime Minister and Chief Minister to work with us as the traditional owners of Alice Springs and help us turn the tide with serious action.
Key events
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Cyclone in the Timor Sea now less likely
Some good news for those nervously watching a tropical low off the coast of Western Australia. The Bureau of Meteorology believes it is now less likely to develop into a cyclone.
The tropical low now sits in the Timor Sea north of #WA. It is expected to continue to move westwards before making a southerly turn later this week. Current model guidance suggests a decreased risk of this developing into a cyclone, though we will continue to monitor it closely. pic.twitter.com/KBxYddD33A
— Bureau of Meteorology, Western Australia (@BOM_WA) January 24, 2023
Authorities to discuss dangers of dating apps
Dating apps are being weaponised by criminals, including alarming rates of revenge porn and sexual extortion, with politicians and police joining forces to stamp it out, AAP reports.
More than 3 million Australians use dating apps in the hopes of finding love, but too often discover something much darker.
A roundtable meeting on Wednesday will bring together state and federal ministers, dating app representatives and police.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant warns there are dangers in using the apps, particularly for women and gender-diverse people:
Through our own complaints schemes, we have certainly seen this borne out in how dating sites can be weaponised by offenders.
Today, we are dealing with crippling levels of reports about sexual extortion.
It’s clear online dating apps and websites must do more to make their platforms and services safer and this roundtable is an important next step in finding solutions to these problems.
Graham Readfearn
Western Australia to legislate climate targets
Emissions reduction targets will be legislated in Western Australia later this year in a move the McGowan government says will “establish a framework” to reach net zero by 2050.
The legislation will put into law the government’s 2030 target to reduce emissions by 80% below levels in 2020 and create a statutory requirement to set interim emissions reduction targets and develop strategies to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
In a step that mirrors the federal government’s climate legislation, passed last year, the new law will include a requirement for the climate change minister to report annually to parliament on progress towards the targets.
Climate and environment groups welcomed the move, but said the legislation contrasted with the government’s support for the expansion of offshore gas production.
The climate action minister, Reece Whitby, said in a statement:
Climate change is the greatest challenge of our lifetime. We need to take decisive action this decade. This legislation will help accelerate our transition to net zero emissions in a responsible and achievable way.
A new adaptation strategy will be released this year to help enhance our State’s climate resilience and ensure adaptation is reflected in Government decision-making.
Natasha May
Until tomorrow, I leave you in the excellent hands of Henry Belot!
Monique Ryan calls on government to give ‘definitive’ answer for 2,000 refugees caught in visa limbo
The independent MP for Kooyong, Monique Ryan, has called on the Albanese government to fulfil its election promise of getting rid of temporary protection and safe haven enterprise visas for refugees and instead granting permanent visas.
The Albanese government was elected on an undertaking to rid this country of temporary protection and safe haven enterprise visas for refugees.
Eight months later, almost 20000 individuals are still waiting for a definitive answer from our govt.
They deserve better. https://t.co/f2tfUOAgG6
— Dr Monique Ryan MP (@Mon4Kooyong) January 23, 2023
You can read what that means for individuals like Zaki Haidari here:
Traditional owners urge PM to address ‘chronic and systemic’ neglect of remote communities leading to Alice Springs crisis
Lorena Allam
Lhere Artepe, the representative body for the traditional owners of Alice Springs, has released a statement urging the PM to “look deeply” at the issues that plague Central Australia when he arrives this afternoon.
The native title holders say the situation is “truly out of control“, with people coming into town from remote communities “where they live in Third World conditions with no future and little hope.”
If [Albanese] looks properly he will see that the current crisis in Alice Springs arises from the chronic and systemic neglect of our remote communities over many decades. He will see things that should shame our nation, the Parliament and its elected representatives.
As Territory Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said today: ‘there is something inherently broken at the front end’ and that you cannot ‘police away’ the problems. What Commissioner Chalker knows is that it is the long term failure of government policy in remote Australia which is seeing the destruction of remote communities by under-investment, lack of government attention and a non-existent economic base all of which has led to the flight of individuals on to the streets of Alice Springs.
Lhere Artepe says alcohol is a big problem and a crackdown is needed on supply.
With alcohol available from 10am in pubs and from 2pm in bottle shops in the centre of town and with town camps now free-grogging zones, the situation is truly out of control, and has been for many years.
The Arrernte people are pained that we do not have the capacity to help our brothers and sisters, many of whom are related to us by kin and ceremony.
We are hurt by the negative images and stereotyping of all Aboriginal people.
We are harmed by the violence and alcohol abuse in our midst.
These problems cannot be talked away. They are real and require a massive undertaking from all stakeholders.
We urge the Prime Minister and Chief Minister to work with us as the traditional owners of Alice Springs and help us turn the tide with serious action.
Severe thunderstorms heading for greater Geelong
The bureau of meteorology has updated its severe thunderstorm warning for Victoria, now including the greater Geelong area.
Greater Melbourne, parts of the Mallee, Wimmera, South West and Central districts were all included in the initial warning half an hour ago.
Jelena Dokic calls for better patrolling of online bullying
Former world No 4 tennis player, now commentator, Jelena Dokic, has opened up about the online abuse she has woken up to each morning for the past two weeks of working at the Australian Open, largely centred around her weight.
She writes in an op-ed for the Nine newspapers:
No matter how hard I try to work on my commentary, my interviews, my reporting on the tennis, for many trolls my weight disqualifies me from having an opinion – I should simply stop eating and be a free target for their dark and evil abuse.
Not a chance. That’s not who I am. I’m stronger than all of that. I’m a survivor.
… No matter how often you read their abuse it makes you sad. Even when you have as thick a skin as I do, when someone tells you that you should kill yourself you wonder how humanity can conceive of such thoughts and how society allows platforms where such thoughts can be shared, unpoliced and unpatrolled.
Dokic says she wants to be part of the education about how the next generation can cope with online bullying and finding ways to make people accountable for their online behaviour.
Severe thunderstorm warning for greater Melbourne and regional Victoria
Sever thunderstorms could be on the way for Victoria as well as NSW and Queensland.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings for severe thunderstorms for parts of the Mallee, Wimmera, South West and Central districts, as well as for parts of greater Melbourne. Heavy rainfall and damaging winds are also risks, the bureau says.
Ampol to install chargers for electric trucks
Electric delivery trucks may clear another speed bump to adoption after Ampol revealed plans to install commercial chargers for larger vehicles at its Australian service stations, AAP reports.
The petrol giant announced a partnership with local mobility firm SEA Electric on Tuesday, revealing the companies would also work together to build destination chargers and commercial depots to support the technology.
The deal is one of several announced by Ampol in Australia to boost its electric vehicle-charging network, which is due to reach 120 locations by the end of the year.
Ampol energy general manager, James Myatt, said the new AmpCharge announcement was designed to encourage Australian businesses to adopt zero-emission vehicles.
We know our business customers are looking for lower emissions solutions and want to ensure their investment in commercial electric vehicles can be supported with efficient and reliable charging technologies.
Charging stations developed under the deal will be located across Ampol’s 1,900 Australian service stations.
The company has only rolled out five AmpCharge charging stations on its properties so far – in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia – but has committed to installing chargers at 120 sites by December 2023 in a program partly funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
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