"Yolngu Politician Expresses Frustration Over Rising Racism in Chamber"

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On Wednesday evening, Independent MP Yingiya Mark Guyula took a stand in the chamber of NT Parliament to call for urgent action to eradicate racism in the Northern Territory.

He began by detailing his own experiences of racism and others in the broader community.

“I have had encounters where I was treated without respect because I am an Aboriginal person,” Mr Guyula told the NT Legislative Assembly.

“Many Aboriginal people have told me their experiences of racism as well,” he said.

“I have heard stories of the security guards moving people on who are not a public nuisance but because of the colour of their skin.”

‘It appears to be increasing’

The Yolngu politician says he believes instances of systemic racism are worsening in the NT.

“Racism exists throughout the world; we are not unique in the Northern Territory, but my concern is that it appears to be increasing.”

Mr Guyula resides in his electorate of Mulka in north-east Arnhem Land but travels to Darwin frequently to attend Parliamentary sittings.

He said he no longer feels welcome in the NT capital, for fear of racial abuse.

“Darwin has been a friendly place for people for many years, but I am sad to say that it feels more unwelcome now than ever,” Mr Guyula said.

“This coincides with decades of neglect of bush communities, increased poverty and social nuisance.”

A call to action unanswered

In a motion the member for Mulka called for system-wide action aligned with the Aboriginal Justice Agreement and for an anti-racism strategy to be co-designed under the National Anti-Racism Framework.

“Both of these documents create strong pathways to address systemic racism with a view to creating a fairer community, where Aboriginal people are not disadvantaged just because we are Aboriginal, and a community where we can live according to our culture,” Mr Guyula said.

The Aboriginal Justice Agreement was signed by the Labor government in August 2021, after more than 160 consultations across three years in more than 120 communities.

The historic agreement aims to reduce high rates of Indigenous incarceration and improve the NT’s justice system which Mr Guyula says is key to addressing ongoing systemic racism.

“There is space in the NT to create an anti-racism framework of our own that works together with the Aboriginal Justice Agreement.”

“Policies over decades have neglected homeland towns and meant that many people have been forced into bigger towns where there are increasing problems.”

Members from the opposition and crossbench Justine Davis, Yingiya Mark Guyula, Chansey Peach, Kat McNamara and Manuel Brown join protesters againsts the Country Liberal Party’s plan to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10. Credit: AAP Image/(A)manda Parkinson. Source: AAP / (A)MANDA PARKINSON/AAPIMAGE

After four hours of debate late Wednesday, Mr Guyula was left disappointed after his right of reply was further delayed and amendments to his motion saw its purpose lost.

“I was surprised that the Government amendment removes any reference to the specific experiences of systemic racism that Aboriginal people face daily,” Mr Guyula told NITV News.

That amendment was put forward by the NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby.

Addressing the chamber the Attorney-General said, “I thank the Member for Mulka for his courage in calling out racism.”

“I want him to know that he does not stand alone,” Ms Boothby said.

She then proposed an amendment that was later passed that removed a specific reference to First Nations people and the Aboriginal Justice Agreement.

“I move an amendment to this motion, that this Assembly: acknowledges the harm caused by all forms of racism whether based on race, ethnicity, culture or religion across the Northern Territory,” Ms Boothby said.

Mr Guyula has since criticised the change, telling NITV it takes away from the purpose of his initial motion.

“The amended motion removes my voice and the First Nations experience that I was trying to highlight,” he said.

“It was not lost on me that the amended motion that the government put forward removed the reference to the Aboriginal Justice Agreement which is a direct pathway to address systemic racism experienced by First Nations people.”

A move to vote on the motion was later voted down which suspends Mr Guyula’s right of reply until the motion returns to Parliament on a date yet to be set.