On Saturday the 13th of February, the CFMEU and Alyawarr people got to work on the new house, now in the advanced stages of construction. CFMEU Construction National Secretary Dave Noonan said that the union was more than willing to do what they can to lend a hand to communities in need. "Our members are proud to pitch in and do what they can to help," Mr Noonan said. "The community asked for assistance from the union to help tackle some of their housing needs, so that's what we're doing."
Alyawarr community spokesperson Richard Downs said while his community was thrilled with the unions' help, the project highlighted the monumental failure and waste of the Northern Territory Intervention. "The Federal Government has spent more than $1 billion in the Intervention and yet it has failed to build one single house in our community," Mr Downs said.
Mr Downs said that if the Government were serious about improving the standard of living for Indigenous Australians it would offer more practical assistance. "It's not a Government Intervention we want or need but practical assistance like housing, training and job opportunities," Mr Downs said. "If the Government is serious about tackling disadvantage among our communities then we want to be part of the process and treated respectfully. "We want to be treated like partners not like a problem to be managed by the Government."
The CFMEU has also provided speakers for various rallies against the Intervention and in NSW the YRAW truck is a regular as the stage and PA for STICS events. As the CFMEU campaigned against Apartheid in South Africa long before it was a mainstream issue we will continue to support our Indigenous sisters and brothers in their stand against these racist laws.
