P A R L I A M E N T  O F  A U S T R A L I A

H O U S E  O F  R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

fit '

PARLIAMENT HOUSE  CANBERRA, A.C.T. 2600  TEL. (062) 721211

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c in e m a ' c e n tr e b u il d in g

CNR DENHAM ST & ALMA LANE  P.O. BOX 193 ROCKHAMPTON, OLD 4700  TEL. (079) 27 6455, A/H 2 4408

30 August,  1978

BLACK POWER STRONGER THAN ATOMS

The cry of Aborigines for a right to exist as they wish and

to claim part of this ancient land, their only material possession,

will soon ring around the world like the cry of black southern

Africans,  to Australian's shame.

This was the claim of Dr Doug Everingham, Federal Opposition

Spokesman on Aboriginal Affairs,  Wednesday.

He was commenting on recent developments in Queensland and

the Northern Territory, and the warning published on Monday from

Dr H.C. Coombs, in an open letter to the Minister for Aboriginal

Affairs, Mr Ian Viner.

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"The 1975 election promise, when the Liberals and Nationals

unveiled their "inalienable1  land rights policy, has turned to

ashes.

"The traditional owners were pushed out in decisions of the

Land Rights Commission on Borroloola,  holding back central island^

of the Pellew group which are coveted by Mount Isa Mines as a

possible seaport for an improbable lead-zinc mine.

"The Government has repeatedly delayed for many months

approvals of pastoral lease purchases by the Land Fund Commission

until the land was no longer available, then each year cut the

money available for such purchases in the Federal budget because

the previous year's sum was not all spent.

"In Queensland no purchases at all have been approved despite

vital land coming on the market. This is because the Queensland

From DOUG EVERINGHAM, M.H.R., M.B., B.S. FEDERAL MEMBER FOR CAPRICORNIA  OPPOSITION SPOKESMAN ON ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS & NORTHERN AUSTRALIA Cont..

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government opposes Aboriginal group ownership. The Premier sees

co-operatives as undermining capitalism and as a step towards

communism. But communism is barely a century old.

"Joint ownership was the rule of the first Christians.

Chapters 2 to 5 of the Acts of the Apostles show how severely they

enforced the rule of selling personal belongings and sharing the

proceeds according to need. Aborigines practised this coirvhunal

sharing before Christ was born," Dr Everingham said.

"The proceeds of uranium mining will disappear in another

generation, leaving us with derelict pubs, ghost towns,  rubbish

dumps and moonscapes. Unless Aborigines have control, it will

destroy their ancient sacred sites,  their tribal discipline, their

selfrespect and independence,  and some of Australia’s most S ^re-

spectacular scenery, which Aborigines are willing to with U ia> tourists/on their own terms," Dr Everingham added.

DOUG EVERINGHAM  Shadow Minister for  Aboriginal Affairs

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