Indigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia
Apr. 23rd, 2022 11:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
b_auspolIndigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia
Website: https://www.indigenouspartyofaustralia.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PartyIndigenous
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Indigenous-Aboriginal/100078153177920/
The Indigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia was formed in 2020 in Wilcannia to promote Indigenous issues. They also have an absolutely gorgeous piece of art as their website logo, though it’s too complex and they have no registered logo for ballot papers.
Party Analysis
This is a party firmly focused on its issue set and as such qualifies as a one issue microparty. But because the issue is “Indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander concerns” it also covers a fairly broad amount of ground.
One thing I really like to see here is that they have a “Save the Flag” policy that then lists that this was achieved on 26 January 2022. Showing their advocacy while acknowledging that it’s no longer a live issue is something a lot of parties have difficulty balancing.
Environment and water based policies include protecting Baaka (Darling River) and all natural rivers, restoring it to full heath. Better managing water resources and decreasing cotton farming. There is also a call for traditional land management for conservation as European settlement has been so bad at it, with “a return to traditional ways of caring for country”. Honestly, quite happy to support all of these.
There is a Save our Sacred Sites policy, that wants amendments to the Aboriginal Heritage Act to allow renegotiation of consent for planning when information changes, and for protection of Aboriginal culture and significant sites. They also want local Lands Councils to work to “implement the concerns of the local Indigenous communities when it comes to the protection of our land” and suggest independent mediators, particularly Traditional Owners, to help resolve conflicts. (Though generally wouldn’t a Traditional Owner be in agreement with the community and not available to be independent? Maybe they mean from another local group).
Kids policies include Koori kids staying with their family and no removals (provide family support instead), no kids in juvenile detention due to the damage to children and families, Indigenous control of Indigenous school education (including cultural identity support, teaching in traditional language, and no NAPLAN testing).
Due to the overwhelming rate of incarceration, there is a call for no gaol except for the most serious offences, and with instead fines able to be replaced with community service. This is a very barebones policy but obviously it is to decrease incarceration rates and deaths in custody.
There’s an interesting Indigenous Business policy that 10% of government purchases must be made from Indigenous businesses, to provide additional employment opportunities and support growth of businesses. This is actually quite a neat policy idea.
The Treaty and Constitutional Recognition Now policy is exactly what it says on the tin. They would also like more Indigenous people in Parliament (so vote for us).
Better housing in regional Australia. “‘Better’ housing includes quality of basic services, materials, facilities and infrastructure; habitability; affordability; accessibility; legal security of tenure; and location and cultural adequacy”. The housing stock in many communities that are largely Indigenous is truly appalling, and more and better housing is definitely worth calling for.
Finally, there is a policy for a free Indigenous Suicide Prevention Line, run and staffed by trained Indigenous volunteers.
Is this party trying to kill me?
No. This party are in fact trying to prevent people killing them.
Is this party trying to harm me?
No. Again, this party are trying desperately to stop people from harming them.
Conclusion:
It’s actually shameful to read the simplicity of what a lot of this platform contains. A lot of this is really basic stuff. Do I think I would agree with someone representing the IAPA at all times? No, though I have basically nothing to argue with in terms of their platform here. I just don’t know how they would vote on many other issues facing parliament. But just like Jacqui Lambie stands for a very specific constituency, do I believe someone representing the IAPA would strongly advocate for their community and voters? Yes, I do, and I think that’s a constituency that’s worthy of representation.
Website: https://www.indigenouspartyofaustralia.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PartyIndigenous
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Indigenous-Aboriginal/100078153177920/
The Indigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia was formed in 2020 in Wilcannia to promote Indigenous issues. They also have an absolutely gorgeous piece of art as their website logo, though it’s too complex and they have no registered logo for ballot papers.
Party Analysis
This is a party firmly focused on its issue set and as such qualifies as a one issue microparty. But because the issue is “Indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander concerns” it also covers a fairly broad amount of ground.
One thing I really like to see here is that they have a “Save the Flag” policy that then lists that this was achieved on 26 January 2022. Showing their advocacy while acknowledging that it’s no longer a live issue is something a lot of parties have difficulty balancing.
Environment and water based policies include protecting Baaka (Darling River) and all natural rivers, restoring it to full heath. Better managing water resources and decreasing cotton farming. There is also a call for traditional land management for conservation as European settlement has been so bad at it, with “a return to traditional ways of caring for country”. Honestly, quite happy to support all of these.
There is a Save our Sacred Sites policy, that wants amendments to the Aboriginal Heritage Act to allow renegotiation of consent for planning when information changes, and for protection of Aboriginal culture and significant sites. They also want local Lands Councils to work to “implement the concerns of the local Indigenous communities when it comes to the protection of our land” and suggest independent mediators, particularly Traditional Owners, to help resolve conflicts. (Though generally wouldn’t a Traditional Owner be in agreement with the community and not available to be independent? Maybe they mean from another local group).
Kids policies include Koori kids staying with their family and no removals (provide family support instead), no kids in juvenile detention due to the damage to children and families, Indigenous control of Indigenous school education (including cultural identity support, teaching in traditional language, and no NAPLAN testing).
Due to the overwhelming rate of incarceration, there is a call for no gaol except for the most serious offences, and with instead fines able to be replaced with community service. This is a very barebones policy but obviously it is to decrease incarceration rates and deaths in custody.
There’s an interesting Indigenous Business policy that 10% of government purchases must be made from Indigenous businesses, to provide additional employment opportunities and support growth of businesses. This is actually quite a neat policy idea.
The Treaty and Constitutional Recognition Now policy is exactly what it says on the tin. They would also like more Indigenous people in Parliament (so vote for us).
Better housing in regional Australia. “‘Better’ housing includes quality of basic services, materials, facilities and infrastructure; habitability; affordability; accessibility; legal security of tenure; and location and cultural adequacy”. The housing stock in many communities that are largely Indigenous is truly appalling, and more and better housing is definitely worth calling for.
Finally, there is a policy for a free Indigenous Suicide Prevention Line, run and staffed by trained Indigenous volunteers.
Is this party trying to kill me?
No. This party are in fact trying to prevent people killing them.
Is this party trying to harm me?
No. Again, this party are trying desperately to stop people from harming them.
Conclusion:
It’s actually shameful to read the simplicity of what a lot of this platform contains. A lot of this is really basic stuff. Do I think I would agree with someone representing the IAPA at all times? No, though I have basically nothing to argue with in terms of their platform here. I just don’t know how they would vote on many other issues facing parliament. But just like Jacqui Lambie stands for a very specific constituency, do I believe someone representing the IAPA would strongly advocate for their community and voters? Yes, I do, and I think that’s a constituency that’s worthy of representation.
