We’re not your people, Alice Springs leaders tell Jacinta Price
The land council representing the Aboriginal people of Alice Springs and surrounding communities has attacked opposition Indigenous affairs spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.
The land council representing the Aboriginal people of Alice Springs and surrounding communities has attacked opposition Indigenous affairs spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price over her comments on crime and her stance on the voice, saying “she needs to stop pretending we are her people”.
Yuendumu man Warren Williams, deputy chair of the council of 90 elected Aboriginal women and men from central Australia, was highly critical of the Alice Springs senator in a statement issued by the Central Land Council on Thursday. It followed what it described as her “continued attacks on land councils and other peak Aboriginal organisations”.
In March, Senator Price and Greens-turned-independent senator Lidia Thorpe called for an inquiry into land councils.
“We are tired of her playing politics with grassroots organisations our old people built to advocate for our rights and interests,” Mr Williams said. “Her people are the non-Aboriginal conservatives and the Canberra elite to which she wants to belong.
“She should tell us what her grievances with the CLC are, and if she can really and truly listen to us she is welcome to attend our next council meeting.”
Mr Williams said the council was well aware of the scale of the challenges faced by Indigenous families in central Australia and welcomed anyone who was willing to work with it. “We have many good men and women who are trying hard to make our communities better places, who are desperate to be heard, and Senator Price’s divisive approach isn’t helping,” Mr Williams said.
He said by generalising about Aboriginal people without any evidence and authority, Senator Price was hurting Indigenous people.
“We are not abusers. We love our children,” Mr Williams said. “We’d like to know where she got her information from. It is mandatory to report such evidence to the authorities. We can do without self-appointed lone crusaders who are unable to bring people of goodwill together.”
In the council’s statement, Lajamanu community leader Valerie Patterson said Senator Price was misrepresenting the support for the voice in remote communities.
“I will vote Yes because I believe that having the right to be heard by the parliament and the government will open a door for our children,” Ms Patterson said.
“Senator Price should support us, not tell lies about us.”
“The voice comes from the people,” Mr Williams said. “It’s a big opportunity for us.
“There’s a lot of people who think the same thing. We want to go ahead with it. We will probably never have that chance again.”
Mr Williams said Senator Price needed to educate herself about the views of the locals. “We’ve never seen her on communities. She needs to get down to the grassroots and find out the truth, not just speak with the few people who will talk to her.”
A spokeswoman for Senator Price said she would not comment.
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