SwanValley Nyungar Community evicted from their land again.

Today the women and children of the SVNC returned to their camp in frustration at the lack of action and continued and deliberate delays by the State government over the future of their homes. The community believed that the eviction notice had now expired and that they could rightfully return to their homes.

However without warning or advice to the community themselves, the State government yesterday issued a new notice. The details of this new notice are unknown to the SVNC. Sadly the women and children were denied access to their homes by the police who blocked the entrance and again padlocked them out.

The State government based their first decision to evict this community on the grounds of protecting women and children from sexual abuse. The Sue Gordon inquiry into sexual abuse of indigenous children in WA made no recommendation to evict the SVNC, yet the State Labor government evicted this community anyway, citing the Gordon report.

The community have suffered greatly in the intervening years as the State labor government ignored the hardship, distress and ultimately the death of at least 2 family members from the camp.

It is ironic and hypocritical of the state government to have sent women and children onto the streets in the name of protecting them from sexual abuse. The government’s disregard for their welfare since evicting them from their homes is unacceptable and must be addressed immediately.

Clearly the WA government have plans for this land that some consider to be, a vast track of prime river front real- estate, as the camp is connected to the controversial Pyrton site and the Class A Success Hill Reserve, both of which are currently under consideration for redevelopment and both considered sacred indigenous sites to the Nyungar people.

It is a travesty of justice for the dreadful issue of child sexual abuse to be used as an excuse to steal back control of legally recognised indigenous lands. Mr Howard has now followed this disgraceful trick in the Northern Territory with vast and profound negative impacts for the future of Native title in this country. On the Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum to allow the Aboriginal vote, it is a sad reminder that our urban indigenous communities still struggle for justice.