I hope the ABC doesn't mind but I am posting it directly so that there is no misunderstanding or misconstruction:Macklin backs out of UN envoy visit
Posted
Professor Anaya is in Australia on a 10-day visit. (ABC TV)
Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin has cancelled a visit to a remote Northern Territory community with the United Nations rapporteur on indigenous rights.
Professor James Anaya is holding discussions about the rights of Indigenous people across Australia as part of a 10-day visit.
Today he is expected to meet with representatives from the Northern Land Council and the Laynhapuy Homelands Association in Yirrkala.
Ms Macklin was expected to join the visit this afternoon and take Professor Anaya to Groote Eylandt, in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
It is one of the only places where construction has begun on the controversial Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program.
A spokeswoman says Ms Macklin has pulled out of the visit for personal reasons.
Professor Anaya will present a report to the UN Human Rights Council on the situation with Indigenous people in Australia next week.
Can I say something on this?
ReplyDeleteIt is a damned disgrace that Jenny Macklin, a Minister of the Crown, is seemingly feigning illness to avoid doing an inspection tour of HER project, with a senior and respected a UN Representative.
It is like a little kid inventing excuses for not having done her homework.
Come to think of it - that's an apt metaphor.
.
Did she arrange for a deputy to replace her?
Will she meet Prof Anaya after his visit - e.g., in Canberra, in a few days time, after she has recovered from her "personal reasons?"
.
This Minister is not up to the job.
She ought be replaced.
Cheers
Denis
Well, Denis, I didn't want to speculate on the reason for Jenny Macklin's absence. I know there will be quite a number of Networkers who would be breathing out because there was some concern expressed privately about possible monopolization of Professor Unaya by Macklin, particularly on the Groote leg of the trip. And if, for all practical purposes, Macklin was to be a continuous presence in Professor Anaya's company, there has been concern about how that might help or hinder Aboriginal people who might want to express their views freely to Professor Anaya. I note that the press item made no mention of any deputisation i.e. Warren Snowdon, the Junior Minister in the FaHCSIA portfolio and an NT MLA has not been mentioned as stepping into the breach caused by Macklin's absence. Of course, if a Minister is to be replaced in the portfolio whether this might lead to the sudden cancellation of immediate engagements is again conjecture. The Minister has a long track record and the PM would not, in my view, intervene readily. However, the lack of visible activity in the SIHIP program has put the NT govt on a knife-edge and brought the failed policy into national view. Neither of these are comfortable situations for a Prime Minister who might want to keep open an early election option. There is quite a lot of concern at what is happening in regard to public policy on matters affecting Aboriginal people and it crosses all party lines.
ReplyDeleteI accept your "reservations" about not speculating on her reasons for the "no show".
ReplyDeleteI must admit, I never occurred to me that she might have been seen as "hogging" the attentions of Prof. Anaya.
Glad you took up my point about no deputisation of another person. Snowdon would be the logical "stand-in".
I say dump her - the sooner the better.
She is not doing the job right.
Denis