Report - Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights

The funding for <strong>the</strong> service maintenance was recently transferred to Yilli Rreung Housing. But <strong>the</strong>
maintenance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> actual houses is still <strong>the</strong> responsibility <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Australian Defence Force. But
<strong>the</strong>y have made no efforts and <strong>the</strong> houses are now in an extreme state <strong>of</strong> disrepair. Nei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>
government nor <strong>the</strong> Australian Defence Force have responded to our requests for <strong>the</strong> housing to be
improved.
The community members reformed <strong>the</strong> Kumbujil Association in 2004. They have initiated a project to
resource independent consultants to work with residents to develop a sustainable well designed
community housing model. They are seeking funding for o<strong>the</strong>r projects on rubbish collection, care <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> dog population, public telephones and street lights, and for a community development worker to
work with <strong>the</strong> community on <strong>the</strong>se and o<strong>the</strong>r initiatives.
The Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory Government and <strong>the</strong> Australian Defence Force are planning to develop <strong>the</strong> area
for new inner city residences, which will require <strong>the</strong> One Mile Dam Community to be moved. Nei<strong>the</strong>r
<strong>the</strong> Government, nor <strong>the</strong> Australian Defence Force has consulted <strong>the</strong> One Mile Dam Community about
<strong>the</strong>se plans.
Violator – Darwin City Council, police, Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Territory Government, Housing Commission.
Duty Holder – Federal Government.
Victims – Longgrass people (women, children, old and disabled people), extended family that supports
longgrass people.
Impacts –
– People living in such extreme poverty are sometimes not in a position to claim <strong>the</strong>ir rights. Longgrass
people always experience some form <strong>of</strong> retribution/ fur<strong>the</strong>r harassment from authorities for
speaking up for <strong>the</strong>ir rights;
– Ill health - <strong>of</strong>ten hospital is a last resort for longgrass people;
– Continually forced to live in inhuman conditions is a form <strong>of</strong> violence;
– Impact <strong>of</strong> violence by community members and police - women, children, old people and disabled
are more vulnerable;
– Material costs – costs to <strong>the</strong> Australian health system (mostly longgrass people enter <strong>the</strong> system
through <strong>the</strong> accident and emergency/intensive care unit because <strong>the</strong>y go to hospital as a last resort);
cost <strong>of</strong> policing; court costs for processing fines; Darwin City Council, police and Lands Department
costs for eviction processes; loss <strong>of</strong> property destroyed by police; cost <strong>of</strong> failed tenancies to public
housing Commission, and costs <strong>of</strong> high surveillance and management <strong>of</strong> indigenous housing
tenants; cost to local charities for food and clothing provision;
– Non-material costs – degrading people’s well being and ability to function as a family member
or member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> community.
Actions/Interventions –
– Legal challenges and action i.e. so far 3 anti-discrimination complaints have been made to Human
Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in <strong>the</strong> last 10 years. The result <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most recent
complaint was a forced eviction at Yarrawonga (July 2004). In 2002-2003 a complaint on <strong>the</strong> Darwin
200 WOMEN’S RIGHTS TO ADEQUATE HOUSEING AND LAND