Report - Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights

members burnt <strong>the</strong> no trespassing sign in front <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m. Then when <strong>the</strong> members returned to collect
<strong>the</strong>ir belongings, it was all gone. They had removed tarpaulins, tent, mattresses and a bunk.
One member told <strong>the</strong> police “look, we like to stay in bush, longgrass, cause we born in bush. It’s alright
you balanda, you born in house. But us mob, we born in bush and that’s our country and that’s our
bush camp.”
Entitlements – Right to adequate housing, adequate standard <strong>of</strong> living, life, health culture, information,
freedom <strong>of</strong> movement, right to privacy and family life, freedom from torture, cruel inhuman and
degrading treatment.
Sources – CESCR, CESCR General Comment No 4, CERD, CERD, CEDAW, CAT, CRC.
Overriding principle – Racial discrimination.
Causes/obstacles/threats –
– The Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory government continues to develop land in Darwin for <strong>the</strong> increasing
population. Yet excluded from this development is land for culturally appropriate Aboriginal living
areas, or ‘town camps’. In a meeting between <strong>the</strong> Fish Camp residents and <strong>the</strong> Land Department
in 1998, <strong>the</strong> Land Department representatives indicated that <strong>the</strong>re was an unwritten policy that
<strong>the</strong>re would be no more land allocated for Aboriginal living areas in Darwin;
– We need to understand dispossession and racism against Indigenous people in Australia from
a historical context. The Australian constitution only recognized Aboriginals as Australian citizens
after a referendum in 1969. Racism against Indigenous Australians is imprinted in <strong>the</strong> psyche <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> Australian government and <strong>the</strong> Australian public. It is ever present in Indigenous people’s
daily lives. Longgrass people feel <strong>the</strong>y have no status in <strong>the</strong> community. You <strong>of</strong>ten hear longgrass
people say, ‘we are treated like animals, we are rubbish people’;
– It is recognized world wide that <strong>the</strong> physical and mental health <strong>of</strong> Indigenous Australians is in
a pr<strong>of</strong>ound state <strong>of</strong> crisis. This is a contributing factor to alcohol and substance abuse (many
longgrass people refer to alcohol as <strong>the</strong>ir pain killer and medicine) and violence against women
and children. Families experience a continual cycle <strong>of</strong> grief and funerals;
– There is a shortage and neglect <strong>of</strong> public housing in remote communities and in town, and an
epidemic <strong>of</strong> overcrowding. Shelter options for people when <strong>the</strong>y come to town are limited. The public
housing policies are culturally inappropriate -<strong>the</strong>y do not accommodate extended families and <strong>the</strong>
rules discriminate against indigenous peoples’ cultural obligations. There is an extremely high rate
<strong>of</strong> failed tenancies for Indigenous people;
– Private rental is too expensive for Indigenous people on low incomes and Indigenous people nearly
always face discrimination;
– Aboriginal hostels and church accommodation – <strong>the</strong>se are always full. Mostly people coming in
from remote communities to go to hospital stay here. Also <strong>the</strong> environment is fully controlled. You
are not allowed to cook your own meals or make your own c<strong>of</strong>fee. No extended family members
are allowed. The cost consumes most people’s incomes;
196 WOMEN’S RIGHTS TO ADEQUATE HOUSEING AND LAND