Month: August 2024

A project to grow sustainable manufacturing of Australian technology in India, workshops connecting Australian energy transition researchers and start-ups with India, and an artistic duo who will turn Melbourne’s Federation Square into a living canvas are among the recipients of this year’s Maitri Research and Cultural Partnerships Grants.

The Maitri (meaning friendship in Sanskrit) grants are administered by the Centre for Australia-India Relations to deepen links with India and allow for closer collaboration between our two countries.

The five Maitri Research Grants will explore opportunities between Australia and India in agribusiness, critical technology, energy transition and advanced manufacturing. This will provide a pathway for commercialisation of Australian research and technical capabilities with India and explore new avenues for industrial collaboration between our countries.

The Maitri Cultural Partnerships support connections between Australian cultural organisations and India’s creative sector. This round will fund fourteen collaborations between Australia and India, including three First Nations collaboration projects. 

For the full list of Maitri Research Grant recipients please see:  https://www.australiaindiacentre.org.au/our-programs/maitri-research-grants

The full list of Maitri Cultural Partnership recipients is available at:  https://www.australiaindiacentre.org.au/our-programs/maitri-cultural-partnerships

Imagery is available at: https://multimedia.dfat.gov.au/fotoweb/albums/Zpdoe-doalJ9Uqv0/

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“I congratulate the recipients of this year’s Maitri grants and look forward to seeing how their work helps foster deeper links between Australia and India.

“Whether it’s shared research, commercial innovation, cultural exchanges – or just laughing together – we are proud to support these initiatives, because we understand that human connections and people to people links have always been at the heart of the Australia-India relationship.”

Tim Thomas, CEO, Centre for Australia-India Relations:

“The Maitri Cultural Partnerships support innovative collaboration between small and large cultural organisations in Australia with India’s thriving creative sectors.

“The Maitri Research Grants will assist Australian businesses to harness the opportunities created by India’s economic transformation and build on its track record in innovation.

“They are focused on sectors of the economy that are indispensable for Australia’s future growth.”

The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) has today published its final report into Operation Tambre , concerning the conduct of Constable Daniel Keneally (former Premier Christina Keneally’s son) in fabricating evidence with intent to mislead a judicial tribunal.

The report details the failures of the preliminary police internal investigation and former Constable Keneally’s deliberate dishonesty in producing statements that lead to the arrest and imprisonment of Luke Moore, an advocate against police strip searches.

Greens MP and spokesperson for justice Sue Higginson said, “This report paints a damning and callous picture of Constable Keneally, who knew he was lying in his statements and that Luke Moore would face court and jail time, based on those lies,”

“Keneally’s lies led to the wrongful arrest of a consistent advocate against police misconduct and overreach. It is a gross injustice that Moore was falsely sent to prison while Keneally, convicted and his appeal quashed, will avoid jail,”

“The internal police investigation was a failure. Keneally resigned, but only after his failed appeal, and only after the LECC recommended his resignation. Police are routinely found unwilling to hold themselves to account until the courts or the watchdog drag them kicking and screaming,”

“This will no doubt result in yet another successful and extremely costly civil case against the NSW police force, who spent more public money on losing in court last year than the entire operating budget of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission,”

“The flashing neon question now is how many more LECC reports into failed internal investigations does Premier Minns need before he changes this broken system of police investigating police?”

“The LECC does excellent work, but it is reactive, has limited resources and powers and is routinely obstructed by police, who would sooner drag the LECC through the courts than comply with their requests in investigations. A police force we can trust requires a watchdog with proactive powers and teeth.” Ms Higginson said.

The Australian Greens have accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of sending in the trojan horse of economic development, the week before the landmark High Court challenge of the Yunupingu case which is spearheaded by Attorney General Mark Dreyfus.

At the same time all but abandoning the Uluru Statement, following his speech at Garma Festival today.

The theme of Garma is ‘fire, strength, renewal’ which post-referendum should be a stark reminder to Labor that like the NAIDOC theme this year “Keep the fires burning” – Blak, loud and proud the strength and renewal is about the strength of our leaders like the late Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu, who first talked about Makarrata at Garma after former Prime Minister Tony Abbott walked back his commitments raised at Garma. 

The very concept of Makarrata is about ‘coming together after a struggle’, with this struggle is viewed as the struggle for the truth and justice for Gumatj and First Nations people. 

Despite Labor previously committing to implement the Statement in full – including both Truth and Treaty – Albanese today tried to talk about everything but Truth and Treaty in a desperate attempt to pull the wool over people’s eyes and ignore and divert the focus and the need for the renewal of Garma’s previous calls of Truth and Treaty.

In the PM’s speech, he failed to say that shifting power to national entities like the Coalition of Peaks or the National Cultural Heritage Alliance will remove the rights for Traditional Owners to solely negotiate and to protect their lands and waters, ready for the next Government raid on critical minerals under the guise of a Renewable Energy revolution.

Australian Greens First Nations spokesperson, Senator Dorinda Cox, said Albanese’s grab bag of announcements today were nothing more than a ‘trojan horse’ to conceal the fact that Labor has walked away from its pre-election commitment to First Nations Justice in the way of Makarrata and is hiding the fact that they are in the High Court next week contesting the late leaders landmark case for just terms compensation believed to be worth $700 million.

The Greens currently have a bill for a Truth and Justice Commission before Parliament, and have urged the new Minister for Indigenous Affairs Malarndirri McCarthy to negotiate with them to get it passed.

Australian Greens First Nations spokesperson, Senator Dorinda Cox:

“It’s clear the Prime Minister is walking away from Truth and Treaty. Despite Labor previously committing to implement the Uluru Statement in full, today Anthony Albanese treated it like the elephant in the room saying let’s leave it to the states and territories.

“Seems he needs a lesson in his own constitutional powers, or is he doing this because of the power of Blak leaders and activists in this country like the late Dr Yunupingu who have left a legacy of fighting for country and culture.

“If Labor abandons its commitment it will be an utter failure for First Nations Justice in this country, it can not continue to sit in our sacred ceremonial places with our leaders and stare down the tip of the spear, without knowing and understanding the consequences of truth, it will come back to haunt you.

“Labor needs to abandon the appeal on the Yunupingu case and publicly support the Greens Bill for a Federal Truth and Justice Commission aka Makarrata.

“The dire reporting again on the Closing the Gap targets need us to be focused on the resilience and strength of our First People, the survival of our culture and our connection to our country must never be diminished or removed under western systems. 

“Standing on the shoulders of our cultural giants is about continuing the fight they left for us and survival requires us to navigate the service systems, and the legal battles to protect our legacies of sovereignty to be truly recognised.

“The Greens are ready to work with the new Minister to get our bill for a real Truth and Justice Commission passed and we will continue to stand with Gumatj and all clans and nations around Australia who are entitled to just terms compensation for mining and the destruction of our traditional lands and waters.”

Today’s landmark signing of a Partnership Commitment by the Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments and the Yothu Yindi Foundation is a momentous step towards the Yolngu people’s long held vision for a world class tertiary institution in northeast Arnhem Land.

The Garma Institute Partnership Commitment confirms up to $20 million from the Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA) towards construction of a Yolngu-owned and run tertiary and vocational education facility to provide on-Country learning for Yolngu people from early childhood education to university.

The Partnership was fittingly signed at the 2024 Garma Festival – a year on from the announcement by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of $6.4 million for Stage 1 of the project, which involved consultation and development of a proposal.

This latest investment of $20 million will fund Stage 2 of the project, with the Northern Territory Government investing a further $1.05m (exc GST) and providing in-kind supports, enabling a partnership of infrastructure planning and co-investment.

The Garma Institute Partnership Commitment supports Closing the Gap Priority Reform 1: Formal partnerships and shared decision making, and commits all three parties to working collaboratively towards the successful establishment of the Garma Institute.

The Yothu Yindi Foundation already offers a Yolngu-centred curriculum for school students through the bilingual Dhupuma Barker School at Gunyangara, driving strong school attendance rates and improved education outcomes.

This latest investment will see those students given a pathway to continue their higher education at the Garma Institute.

The Institute is to be community and homelands-led using an adult education model created in consultation with Traditional Owners (Waŋu Wataŋu) and clan (bäpurru) leaders and other strong community leaders.

The Institute will draw from Yolngu culture and Rom (law), and operate as a regional accredited education, training and employment hub that combines a strength-based approach derived from both Yolŋu and Balanda learning and knowledge.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“True to its name, the Garma Institute Partnership is a great example of the impact we can make working in genuine partnership and alongside communities.

“Today, I am proud to announce that – through a new partnership agreement with the Northern Territory Government and the Yothu Yindi foundation – we will be investing $20 million from the Aboriginal Benefits Account to build The Garma Institute.

“A new tertiary and vocational education centre, owned and run by the Yolngu people.

“And a new pathway to higher education, right here on country.”

Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy:

“Connection to culture through on-country learning ensures the best outcomes possible for Yolngu students – keeping young people engaged in school creates a pathway to further education and the endless possibilities for reaching their full potential.”

“I commend the Yothu Yindi Foundation for their dedication to this ground-breaking initiative and their vision for future generations of Yolngu students who can access world-class education on-Country, learning Yolŋu and Balanda knowledge close to home.

“Communities across Arnhem Land and other areas of the Northern Territory have always understood the power of strong partnerships to deliver better outcomes.” 

Chief Minister Eva Lawler:

“My team and I are focussed on providing opportunity for every Territorian no matter where they live.

“The Governments $1 million will go towards assisting the establishments of the Garma Institute, providing more opportunities along the Gove Peninsula.”

Yothu Yindi Foundation CEO Denise Bowden:

“This Partnership Commitment recognises that the Garma Institute will be a game-changer for the region, a state-of-the-art education facility that will preserve and protect Yolngu knowledge, languages, and traditions, capturing and showcasing 60,000 years of unique cultural DNA.

“Offering a suite of tertiary, VET, and bridging courses tailored to the needs of the local community, it will advance education outcomes and create employment opportunities at a critical time for the region.

“It will allow Yolngu to complete the studies of their choice, without having to leave their community and culture behind.

“The Garma Institute has been the vision of Yolngu elders and community leaders for more than two decades, and we’re delighted that the Commonwealth and Northern Territory governments are helping to make it a reality.”

Australia is pressing Israel to reform its coordination with humanitarian organisations to protect civilians and aid workers, following Special Adviser Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin’s report on the deaths of Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues.

ACM Binskin confirmed the Israeli Defence Forces’ strikes on their vehicles were the result of serious failures to follow IDF procedures, mistaken identification and errors in decision-making.

This is consistent with the IDF’s own assessment that this “incident should not have occurred” and was a “grave mistake”.

Gaza remains the deadliest place on earth to be an aid worker.

The UN reports that more than 250 aid workers have been killed since the conflict in Gaza began. In recent weeks, at least three UN vehicles have come under attack.

This is why the Australian Government is implementing all of ACM Binskin’s recommendations, including the recommendation for further calls on Israel to improve coordination and deconfliction with humanitarian organisations working on the ground.

We are working with the UN and the international community to press Israel to reform its coordination with humanitarian organisations, to ensure the tragic deaths of Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues are not in vain and not repeated.

The Australian Government will persist until proper protections for aid workers are in place. The best protection for aid workers – and civilians – is a ceasefire.

Israel’s process to determine accountability for the World Central Kitchen strikes is not over. The Military Advocate General of Israel is still to decide on further action. Our expectation remains that there be transparency about the Military Advocate General’s process and decision. I have written to my Israeli counterpart to this end.

We will continue to press for full accountability, including any appropriate criminal charges.

Ms Frankcom dedicated her life to the service of others. She was an Australian we can all be proud of. I again extend my deepest sympathies to her family, loved ones and colleagues, as I do to those of the other victims.

The Australian Government thanks ACM Binskin for his work. An unclassified edition of his report is available on the DFAT website.