Moree, central NSW, 29 May - - Aborigines of the Gumilaroi Nation are about to move onto several pastoral properties in western NSW to reclaim them as Aboriginal land, says the spokesman of the Nation, Michael Anderson.

He is available to give more details on phones 07-46250808 (landline), 0428547693 (mobile, not covered everywhere).

Images are available at
 http://images.google.com/images?q=Michael+Anderson+Aboriginal&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images


Below is his initial statement to the media on this matter:

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Media release by Michael Anderson, Spokesman of the Gumilaroi Nation


The Gumilaroi Heads of Government have issued instructions to their People to take possession of all houses and lands purchased with money appropriated by the federal and state governments for the benefit of Aboriginal People.

This action is prompted by the fact that the People of the Gumilaroi Nation have not and do not benefit from any of these land purchases. No economic benefits flow to our communities from these lands.

The Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) purchases land for Aboriginal People but then retains control and management of it, thus preventing the People for whom the land was purchased from benefiting. This is not acceptable practice and we intend to have it changed.

It is ironic that this Federal Body Corporate was established by the Keating Labour Government with their Aboriginal Collaborators to assist Aboriginal People to gain land they would not otherwise gain under the Native Title procedures. This is happening but not to the benefit of the People who are asking.

Moreover, the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council has become a farce and it is time that they and the Minister are held to account. The Minister dismissed the last elected Land Council for alleged lack of performance and accountability.

The Gumilaroi Council of Elders argue that this current regime established by
the Minister has become a rich boys’ club who, it seems, are determined to sell
land to pay their bills.

This will not happen and the Gumilaroi Elders are asking our People to take the necessary action to hold those responsible to account and to protect all that has been gained by the efforts of the past activists who fought to achieve these benefits.

We must break away from this dictatorship besieging Aboriginal People.

The Gumilaroi Heads of Government argue that we must make every effort to
change our impoverished communities and the only way that we know is to
develop economic strategies which cannot work without the land.

The land was gained by appropriations from the taxpayers’ money to benefit Aboriginal People. If governments and their appointed bureaucrats fight against us to prevent us from achieving what we now seek, they must be asked whether they lied to the Australian public and totally deceived the Aboriginals by saying that it was for their benefit.

If this is the case, we will request that the Federal Senate estimates committee and the Parliamentary Committee on Aboriginal Affairs inquire into the real purposes for so much money to be allocated for a program or programs that have failed to bear fruit.

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Background on the recent convening of the Gumilaroi Nation:  http://radio.indymedia.org/news/2005/04/4643.php