The
State Government has formally approved the Aboriginal Housing Company’s
Pemulwuy Project on Aboriginal land in Redfern.
It’s
good to remember the battle the AHC has fought to get this far, and while the
Government should be applauded for finally approving the Master Plan, it had to
be dragged kicking and screaming to the point of approval and support of
Pemulwuy. Even Peter Debnam, the former Leader of the Opposition in NSW,
visited the AHC and supported the Project.
Former
Federal Liberal Leader, Dr Brendan Nelson, visited the AHC, was briefed, and
supported the Project. Then Alan Jones
paid a visit to Redfern, saw the plans for Pemulwuy, and talked uwp the
community’s right to decide on its own future – yes, he argued for
self-determination, sounding like an old lefty!
Last
but not least, all of the inner-city branches of the ALP strongly supported the
AHC, and with the NSW Greens, worked to organise two demonstrations from the
offices of the Redfern Waterloo Authority to the Block – with large
attendances.
A
new Labor Premier and a new Planning Minister sees Pemulwuy finally approved,
and that’s great. Now there is a Global Financial Crisis and the AHC’s task to
source funding may prove very difficult. If only the Government had decided
earlier, some might say, it could have been easier. And yet, if anyone can do
it, it’s Mickey Mundine and friends.
They
have fought a long campaign, and won. This is their victory.