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Billy Gordon accused of ignoring Aboriginal cause by Jack Wilkie-Jans 17 October 2015
E
mbattled Member for Cook, Billy Gordon, has been accused of ignoring calls by a Cape York Traditional Owner (TO) for parliament to apologise for the burning of Mapoon. The burning of Mapoon, a small coastal community north of Weipa on the Western Cape, which took place in 1963 at the behest of disgraced bureaucrat Pat Killoran under the Sir Frank Nicklin lead Queensland Government remains one of the most shameful incidents in the history of Queensland’s Aboriginal and non-Indigenous relations. Mapoon TO and Aboriginal affairs advocate, Jack Wilkie-Jans, says he contacted Mr Gordon and Cairns MP Rob Pyne at the beginning of April this year regarding his ongoing calls for an official parliamentary apology for the burning. “The people of Mapoon have been waiting for an official apology since 1963. I began my requests during the Newman term and then I thought I would have an exceptionally responsive local member in Billy seeing that he is also Indigenous and given that he knows my Mapoon family”, Mr Wilkie-Jans said, “But I was wrong. I would have thought he would take up the issue on behalf of his people but he hasn’t so much as picked up the phone to discuss the matter which is important to my people and I daresay to the people of Queensland given the horror of the state sanctioned atrocity”. Mr Wilkie-Jans believes that in
Jack Wilkie-Jans says his call to Cook MP Billy Gordon (pictured above) for an official parliamentary apology for the burning of Old Mapoon in 1963 has fallen on deaf ears. Image: Cairns Post
Former resident Susia Madua at Old Mapoon. Image: The Courier Mail
spite of the ongoing media sagas involving the Member for Cook (who has yet to ask a question of any politician in question time and who currently sits on no parliamentary committees) that the comforts of the job has lead Mr Gordon to take his electorate for granted. “Billy has refused to respond to me, not only on the issue of an apology for the people of Mapoon, but on any issue or in response to any of my emails on matters since concerning the Cape. Sadly my experience seems across the board when it comes to people requesting Billy do his job”, Mr Wilkie-Jans
said, “However, Billy aside, I would like to see some action taken in parliament to make amends for the burning and I believe it’s high time we got an apology”. An apology should not seek to make financial compensations Mr Wilkie-Jans has urged saying the government already do a great deal of work building houses and basic infrastructure in the community to this day. He insists an apology is sought purely on the values of altruism, forgiveness but also an acknowledgment of the abuse of power the State Government have inflicted.
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NOTICE OF IMAN PEOPLE NATIVE TITLE AUTHORISATION MEETING The Applicants of the Iman #2 Native Title Claim have called an authorisation meeting for the following purposes: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Approve a draft S87 or a S87A order for a Determination of Native Title over the Iman #2 native title claim. Authorise the Wardingarri Aboriginal Corporation to hold Native Title in Trust for the Iman #2 and be the Registered Prescribed Body Corporate. Authorise an ILUA with Ergon Energy over the Iman #2 claim area. Authorise the following ILUA’s with pastoralists (maps of the ILUA area will be available at the meeting): Name of ILUA Iman People/Comely and Mapala ILUA
5. 6.
Pastoralist Party Consolidated Pastoral Company Pty Limited ACN 010 080 654 Iman People/Coorada ILUA Brian John Atkins Eion Evan Atkins Iman People/Glenhaughton ILUA Avon Ross Hamilton Carol Hamilton Nathan Jay Hamilton Iman People/Glenleigh ILUA Patrick Robert Scott Joan Marjorie Cogill William Robert Cogill Kathleen Ann Harrison Iman People/Korcha ILUA Owen Arthur William Price Brigid Ann Price Arthur William Price Gail Lorraine Price Iman People/Woodine ILUA Andrew Douglas Simmons Tracey Robin Simmons Narelle Effie Simmons Authorise a further Native Title Claim over the shaded area of the Map contained in this notice and authorise Applicants to prosecute the new claim. Authorise compensation claims for native title that has been extinguished over the Iman #2 claim area and the area of the new claim.
The arrangements for the meeting are as follows: Date
31 October 2015
Time
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Venue: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Conference Centre, cnr Yeppoon Road & Bruce Highway North Rockhampton Only the descendants of the following Iman ancestors will be entitled to participate in the meeting: Mary Arwa, Jim Waterton, Ada Robinson, Maggie Palmtree, Lizzie Palmtree, Eliza Shields, Mary Ann (mother of Maggie Dunn), Fanny Waddy/Sandy, Dick Bundi/Bundai and Alice Dutton and the mother of John Serico (known as Aggie). Travel Assistance Assistance with travel will be provided only to those who register by 4.00pm on Monday 19 October 2015. Persons who registered but did not attend the previous authorization meeting of 14 September 2013 will not be eligible for assistance on this occasion. Please Contact Kylie on 0458 781 504 or 0481 151 750 to register for the meeting. Registration is from 8:00 am.
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