Bringing you what’s new FOR RENT 3 AWONGA COURT - $450pw (and news) from Cape York Three-brm low-set home connecting_the_cape Aboriginal communities – compiled & edited by Christine Howes with kitchen upgrade and This week Aurukun Mayor Neville never been properly recognised by other rights of people and I think that has to be partially furnished. Pootchemunka tells us what’s going on parties who travel into our Shire without any taken into account. Covered carport and down his way... consultation or approval from the Council. We’re trying our very best for the com- Ph: 07 4069 9921 This is an important message I want to munity of Aurukun, we’re trying our very Fax: 07 4069 9721 fully fenced in quiet location. deliver. best to make this work, but $20,000 has gone The other thing I wanted to talk about was down the drain. the Alcohol Management Plan which was I guess we tried anyway. imposed on our community. I’m happy to say there are improvements NOW ONLY $390,000 neg. Now it’s affecting most of our communi- on our community from the Welfare Reform ties, especially because it’s causing people initiatives, especially with the Family 14 AWONGA COURT, - You cannot buy closer to the beach in Weipa. Standard 3 bedroom lowset home in to take the risk of travelling by boat or car to Responsibilities Commission in place and good condition, with kitchen upgrade, quality split system smuggle alcohol into our community. how they fi t in with some of the government airconditioning throughout on 1035m2 in Weipa’s best location. At the end of the day it’s the Council’s departments, police, education, etc. tNFUSFTUPUIFCFBDItNFUSFTUPUIFLJOEFSHBSUFO responsibility to rescue people who get stuck But I think there needs to be some more tNFUSFTUPUFOOJTDPVSUTBOEUPXOQPPMtNFUSFTUP along the way, maybe a hundred or more thought put into what sort of resources need TDIPPMt/POFJHICPVSTBUUIFCBDLWFSZRVJFUTUSFFU kilometres away at times, and that’s getting to be given to support the FRC. Contact Geoff Bryant at very diffi cult. At this moment we have a few problems Weipa Real Estate So I hope that the other Councils in the with understanding between the FRC, the 0408 772 592 area have joined us in passing a resolution to school and the community so we all need that review the AMPs. support to make it work. Ph: 07 4069 9921 Fax: 07 4069 9721 My Councillors and I are always working There are good people in our community Aurukun Mayor hard in Aurukun but as always there are who deserve to have a cold beer at the end of Neville Pootchemunka issues we have to deal with, both positive and their work. negative, and the same as any other shire. Here we are trying to achieve things, At the moment the Council is interested in the Government and Liquor Licensing is looking into the Aboriginal Land Act under expecting us to achieve things, but they keep Best Value which we exist and the Shire of Aurukun is moving the goal posts. MOTELS expected to enforce and abide by. It’s affecting our community, now a lot When in Cairns choose from 3 great locations... Since 1978 Aurukun and Mornington of people have moved down to Cairns and Rainbow Resort Island have been shires under these Acts, elsewhere where alcohol outlets remain in the City Sheridan Comfort Inn which talk about how people can access the community. Southside Quality Inn Shire. They are leaving families behind to chase The police can act on behalf of the after alcohol. www.rainbowinn.com.au Council, but the Acts themselves have The Government needs to recognise the CENTRAL RESERVATIONS ph: 4051 1022 [email protected] Cape York to benefi t from Federal Government’s digital investment Member for Leichhardt Jim closely monitored the progress and non-Indigenous Austral- to conclude on June 30 with N IN Turnour has welcomed an of the Review and is pleased ians.” applications closing on April LIA DIG additional $60 million for tel- the Federal Government’s Mr Turnour also highlighted 3. On March 5 the Minister for RA EN T O ecommunications in regional, initial response has resulted in a the greater access to satellite Broadband, Communications S U rural and remote by signifi cant investment that will phones the Rudd Government’s and the Digital Economy an- U S A the Rudd Government. directly benefi t communities package would offer remote nounced the enhancement of Minister for Broadband, across Cape York. residents. the Scheme and its extension

Communications and the He said, “Importantly, the “In remote areas, satellite until June 2013.

Digital Economy, Senator funding includes an expansion phones can often be the only Eligible consumers include

Stephen Conroy, announced of computer and internet access available form of mobile com- individuals, small businesses,

S E the package in response to the for remote Indigenous com- munications, but the fact is community groups, not-for- E C C U VI Regional Telecommunications munities. A further $3.7 million these are expensive,” he said. profi t organisations, Indigenous RIT Y SE R Review (RTR), chaired by will be invested in a refocussed “The Rudd Government corporations, volunteer emer- Dr Bill Glasson AO, which $30 million Indigenous Com- has acknowledged what gency services and educational examined the adequacy of munication Program.” people living and working in institutions. The cap on indi- telecommunications services in “Improving telecom- areas without terrestrial mobile vidual subsidies will remain at SECURITY regional, rural and remote parts munications in Indigenous phone coverage are facing and $1000 per handset. Customised security to your of the country. communities and backing it have increased subsidies for For more information, visit individual needs Mr Turnour, who wants up with relevant training and the purchase of satellite phone www.dbcde.gov.au/regionaltel to see real improvements in support, is another step in handsets to 85 per cent.” or contact the Office of Jim Ph: 0429 480 390 regional communications in helping to close the gap in life The Satellite Phone Sub- Turnour MP by phoning 1300 Tropical North , has outcomes between Indigenous sidy Scheme was scheduled 301 917. Dog food... Swim into Mitre 10 t4XJNNJOHQPPMTBMU check it out!  LH$ ...... $ t1SP'PPE  $ t4VQFSDPBU,FOOFM1BDL ...... $ t1PPMMJOFSSFQBJSLJU   t#POOJF"EVMU8PSLJOH%PH ...... $ t#POOJF8PSLJOH%PH ...... $ All dog food comes in 20kg bags ipa Hardw $)&$,065 e are NEW W Cape York, Qld 0631&5 STOCK COMING ALSO AVAILABLE: "$$&4403*&4 SOON! Pool chemicals and accessories! 3"/(& 1I'BYt*SBDJ$SFT 8FJQB2MEt&NBJMIBSEXBSF!TUBUUPOTDPNBV 5SBEJOHIPVSTr.PO'SJBNoQNt4BUVSEBZBNoQNt4VOEBZBNoQNt1VCMJD)PMT$MPTFE Page 6 Western Cape Bulletin 18 - 24 March, 2009