NIRS NEWS STORIES 6am-9am 16 JANUARY 2014
Story 1
Paakintji man Coen Tate and his friend Michael Doyle have begun a trek from Sydney that is over 6 thousand kilometres to raise money and awareness for the closing the gap campaign.
Tait and Doyle are currently in Condobolin and they hope to reach Uluru by March 20th and be back in Sydney by the end of June.
Mr Tait says people are unaware of issues facing indigenous people.
GRAB
Story 2
The author of an open letter to the Indigenous Advisory Council says transparency and lack of strategic direction are key issues.
CEO of Awabakal Newcastle Aboriginal Corporation Don MacAskill says he forwarded and tweeted the letter to Tony Abbott and Warren Mundine and is hopeful it will receive a good response.
Mr MacAskill says not only the Aboriginal community has been critical of the Abbott government and Australians deserve to know more.
GRAB
Story 3
A PhD researcher into premature deaths and suicide says the Indigenous Advisory Council has just three months left to keep a promise on bringing down suicide rates.
Gerry Georgatos says Council Chair Warren Mundine acknowledged the crisis in October last year and gave a six-month time limit for action on the issue.
Mr. Georgatos says the Federal Government body must put a strategy in place.
GRAB
And a disclaimer – Gerry Georgatos is also a correspondent for the National Indigenous Radio Service.
For crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Story 4
Queensland authorities say they are surprised by a recent article in The Courier Mail newspaper implying Torres Strait residents are responding to illegal international fishing vessels with force.
John Davis from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority says they have employed more vessels and air surveillance to combat illegal trepang harvesting.
According to Mr Davis, local authorities say residents have widely reacted non-violently, and is urging people to report illegal activity.
GRAB
[Website]
To report illegal fishing call CrimFish on 1800 274 634 or visit http://www.afma.gov.au
Story 5
A Dean of Indigenous Education says he’s concerned the Federal Government may not be receiving enough advice on education from a First Nations perspective.
Education Minister Christopher Pyne has expressed his desire to place more focus on Western elements of Australian history in the school curriculum.
He has appointed a two-man panel to lead a review.
But Professor Lester-Irabinna Rigney from the University of Adelaide says the Minister isn’t currently being given sound advice on Indigenous education.
GRAB
Story 6
To Queensland,
Where the State President of Katter’s Australia Party has announced his opposition, to the anti-association laws that target members of bikie gangs.
Shaun Paulger says he and the KAP believe in a saw and law-abiding society but he does not condone Drakonian laws that can be abused by members of the police force.
Mr Paulger says the anti-bikie and anti-association laws are going too far and does not rule out that Indigenous and other activist might be targeted, too.
GRAB
Story 7
The Northern Territory CLP government has announced a plan to unveil tourism opportunities in the Arnhem Land Peninsula of the Gove region.
It follows a 5 day visit to the area by a team from Tourism NT and the Department of Business.
The NT Minister for Tourism Matt Conlan has described Arnhem Land as “arguably the last untouched area in Australia”, stressing that any strategy to boost tourism will rely heavily on a co-operative approach from all operators in the region.
Minister Conlan says the CLP sees Arnhem Land as presenting “A new outstanding opportunity for the Northern Territory and Australia.”
Story 8
The Perth Magistrate’s Court has heard a man who was Tasered by police was aggressive towards officers before the incident.
Two officers are facing charges of assault in relation to the Tasering and the prosecution argues they had no lawful reason to use the weapon against Kevin Spratt in 2008.
The officers have pleaded not guilty.
Police witnesses have told the trial they were told to be prepared to confront a violent and aggressive prisoner.
Story 9
As most of the country swelters through extreme temperatures, it’s been revealed our heatwaves are likely to get hotter, longer and more frequent.
An interim report from the Climate Council also warns it will lead to growing challenges for the nation’s infrastructure, emergency services and healthcare.
Professor Will Steffen says Australia has always experienced heatwaves, however climate change is making it worse.
Story 10
With the dust beginning to settle on Jamal Idris’ sudden departure from the Gold Coast Titans, the former NSW origin centre has reminded fans of the importance of family to him.
Idris is not the first player to battle with homesickness and having left home at the age of 16, the ability to be closer to his family was the key factor in his decision to join Penrith.
Story 11
The development of AFL footy in Wadeye has taken another massive step forward in its 3rd season as a club.
The Wadeye Magic played their first ever home game on the weekend beating the Ranku Eagles by 14 points.
Playing in the Tiwi islands competition after 2 years in the NTFL, the club have up until now played away every week and the opportunity to play at home in Wadeye is a boon for the whole community.
Local umpire Wiliam Parmbuk.
GRAB
Kind Regards,
Michelle Tuahine | News Director
Gangulu/Ngati Kahungunu
NIRS | National Indigenous Radio Service
Lvl 2 / 2 Ambleside Street, West End QLD 4101
Phone: 07 3226 4200 | Email: michelle@nirs.org.au
Website: www.nirs.org.au | Twitter: www.twitter.com/NatIndigRadio
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NIRS-National-Indigenous-Radio-Service
Get more from your National Indigenous Radio Service here: http://www.nirs.org.au/
About the National Indigenous Radio Service
The National Indigenous Radio Service Limited (NIRS) is a national program distribution service that delivers four radio channels of content produced by First Nations broadcasters via satellite distribution and via the internet.
Operating from a central hub in Brisbane, NIRS receives programs from a majority of the 180+ First Nations broadcasting services across Australia.
Arguably, the NIRS satellite footprint is the largest for a First Nations radio network in the southern hemisphere, if not the world. Given this, NIRS and its programs are unique within the Australian media environment. Over 120 Remote Indigenous Broadcasting Services (RIBS) units, 23 Indigenous radio stations and 120 Community Broadcastes receive NIRS. To learn more about our network simply explore our new Google Map interface which show where each and every radio station is located, its website details and even includes a streaming link in some cases.
The reason why NIRS is so important to the sector is because many First Nations broadcasters haven’t the funding support to produce programs for 24/7 broadcasting or possess the funding to employ the number announcers ad producers to make enough high quality programs to support their local community audiences with the style of program that closes the gap.
So for some 15 years, NIRS has delivered its ecletic mix of broadcast programs and a national news service delivered via satellite that all major metropolitan, regional and remote communities via their Remote Indigenous Media Organisations (RIMOs) can receive and add into their regional broadcast schedules.
In this way, NIRS is dedicated to facilitating First Nations voices through broadcasting and internet radio. We achieve this by a mix of programs that provides critical commentary of the strategies directed towards our communities that seek to preserve, promote and maintain First Nations arts, culture, languages and community values. Most particularly, NIRS discusses ‘Closing the Gap’ initiatives that are aimed at achieving quality of life improvements for First Nations communities across Australia.
NIRS also encourages aspirant First Nations broadcasters and RIBS to send their own programs that can be shared and thus opening a ”window” to local community issues to a national audience.
For Broadcasters
For broadcasters who meet the licensing and equipment requirements but lack the funds or resources to provide a full 24-hour service, NIRS will enable them to fill any holes in their schedule with our continuous programming. For community broadcasters who access air time through a CBAA affiliate station, NIRS will provide the opportunity for these areas to hear national Indigenous issues, as well as enabling them to boost local airtime.
The Australia Indigenous Communication Association is also a great way of making contact with First Nations Broadcasters:
http://www.aicainc.org.au/Html/index.html
