"From Little Things, Big Things Grow."

The Indigenous-Aboriginal Party Of Australia
Newsletter - February, 2022.
"From Little Things, Big Things Grow."

Dear Members and Supporters,

Welcome to the February newsletter from the Indigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia. We sends our best wishes to First Peoples all over the country struggling with the continuing COVID pandemic, both in cities and remote communities, and we send our condolences to those who have lost the ones they love. The birthplace of our party, Wilcannia, knew that struggle all too well, and triumphed in the end through a strong community effort from the mob.

Last year Uncle Owen Whyman led the effort to make sure everyone was looked after while they isolated. Later he thanked everyone who had been vaccinated for helping to protect themselves and their families and those who also cared for the sick in all the other ways.

Four other members of your seven person Party Executive started ’Deliver-roo‘, to deliver wangga (wild meat) to the locked down families. There is irony as well as humour in the title because Sydney based health officials had told isolated families that they should use “Uber Eats” if they couldn‘t get out to buy food.

Derek Hardman, CEO of the Barkindji Native Title Group got on to Warlpa Thompson, chairman of the Mutawintji Board of Management, and Leroy Johnson, board member and full time manager of Mutawinji National Park, who conducted permitted cultural hunts on the Park and delivered the meat to another IAPA Executive member, ’Wilcannia River Radio 103.1 FM‘ operator, Brendon Adams who distributed it around Wilcannia. That is just a little about some of our hands on, can do, executive.

Meanwhile all over Australia let us hope and ask that the Government response to COVID in our communities is respectful and collaborative, both in magnitude and manner.

As the 46th Parliament of the Australian Federation comes to a close there have been some wins for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island People with the freeing from commercial copyright of the Aboriginal flag and the start of work on a structure to enable a First Nations Voice to Parliament. But it is a drop in the ocean and change is not coming quickly enough. That is why Indigenous political candidates, not beholden to non-Indigenous political parties, Government, or established non-Indigenous institutions, are essential.

Indigenous health workers and communities conduct the best pilot schemes in the world which smash the Gap in Indigenous health outcomes. Our Party aims to add the political will to have those schemes continue and be rolled out all over the country. This is a huge part of why Kunja and Barangun woman, Jenny-lee Carr has put her name forward to represent the Party in Queensland.

Indigenous Rangers, Traditional Custodians, and communities know how to care for Country but we want to help change the political structure so they can get on with doing it, unimpeded and with proper resources.

And so it continues in all policy areas. We aim to have honest, authentic, uncompromised voices in parliament, or on the verge of parliament, changing the priorities of this country to ones which value Indigenous lives and make a fairer society for all Australians.

Frequently asked questions:

How can I get hold of an 'Indigenous Party of Australia' T-shirt?

Answer: We are delighted to announce a new easy way for supporters to buy Party merchandise. We now have a link on our website. Go to ’Merchandise‘ in the top bar and follow the instructions. Our special T-shirts and other nifty merch now come in a range of colours and shapes. OR you can go to Redbubble.com and order through that site. They are reasonably priced and we make about $13 per T-shirt for the Party, while you look great and make a statement in every way.

What is the best way to support the Party for the upcoming federal election?

Answer: Spread the word on Facebook and other social media. Post a picture of Amelia's lovely sign: ’Vote 1 The Senate, Indigenous Party of Australia‘. See the image at the end of this newsletter. We also have another less elaborate design that could be emailed to friends, relatives, customers and workmates. Are you a journalist or know someone who is? We are getting press releases out in NSW and Queensland and the NT but there is a lot else going on. Please send an email to indigenouspartyofaustralia@gmail.com if you know any news media that would accept our press releases. Local papers or local newsletters are useful as well. No publication is too small for us. Talk about the party at any opportunity; at smoko, the club, the pub, church, a barbecue, bookclub, play-group or the market. Keep spreading the word until they beg you to stop!

I‘m not sure if I‘m enrolled to vote or want to be. What should I do to help the Party?

Answer: Firstly you can go to https://check.aec.gov.au to check if you are enrolled.
Please do make sure you, and everyone you know, are enrolled to vote. It can take up to 3 weeks for the Electoral Commission to process new enrolments (but usually only a few days on line) so please do not leave it to the last minute. For most people it can be a simple online process BUT if you are concerned about giving your residential address to the Electoral Commission (AEC), OR you do not have a Driver Licence or Passport, OR Internet access is a problem, please contact the Party. There are easy ways around all those problems.

Voting in the Senate is confusing. Won‘t I waste my vote with a small party?

Answer: No!! You can help to grow a small party AND help decide which of the big ones gets to govern in the meantime. If you‘re unsure try this practice voting tool from the AEC: https://www.aec.gov.au/Voting/How_to_vote/practice/practice-senate.htm

How many candidates will the stand for the Party?

Answer: It costs $2000 per candidate to stand at the Federal Election in the Senate. That is just what the Federal Government charges. Then we have to pay travel expenses, for flyers, for signs and the like. It all adds up. Though we have had some success with fundraising, it is unlikely that we will be able to stand more than eight (8) candidates in total. Most of those candidates will be in N.S.W and Queensland. "From little things, big things grow."

Will there be a Party launch for the Federal election?

Answer: You betcha! The Queensland Party Launch will be in Murri heartland at Inala, Brisbane on Friday 25 February from 11:30 am to 1:30pm. All welcome. SBS/NITV will be there. See you at Inala Hall (New Hall) Corner of Corsair Avenue and Wirraway Parade, Inala. Qld. 4077.

Uncle Owen Whyman, Lionel Henaway, Party Executive Member - Jaharlyn Mitchell, Gabrielle McIntosh, Brett Duroux, Steven Coghill, Jenny-lee Carr, Deborah Georgetown and more will all be there. It‘s a great opportunity to meet so many of the Party stalwarts all in one room! The NSW launch will be held closer to May.

Are there any women candidates?

Yes, look out for an announcement soon. We are expecting to be running two women in Queensland at least, with outstanding health professional, Jenny-lee Carr close to nomination. Our Party is about promoting all sorts of Indigenous people from different walks of life who are seldom heard from. Don‘t be shy to put yourself forward as a candidate or to volunteer with the party.

You are registered in good time for the Federal Election - Well done! How is registration for the NSW State election next year going? How can I help?

Answer: If you live in NSW, even if you are already a Federal member of our Party, please go to our website: www.indigenouspartyofaustralia.com and download a ’Declaration of Party Membership‘ from the ’Electoral Commission of NSW‘.

NSW Declaration of Membership forms have to be signed in ink. We are currently rejigging our administrative arrangements so please scan or photograph the form or put in an envelope ready to send. Soon we will announce another very secure email and P.O. Box ready to receive these forms.

How can I support the Party financially?

We‘re not about creating a big financial empire and there is much you can do that costs absolutely nothing such as spreading the word, joining the party for free, enrolling to vote in good time and making a correct vote which won‘t be declared ’informal‘. If we can attract 4% of the vote we will be eligible for electoral Commission funding just like all the big parties.

However, even a grass roots party run by volunteers has expenses, not least petrol costs for candidates to get around and make the person to person bonds which are so important to the mob and others who value connection over point-scoring.

Direct bank transfers are the best way for the Party:
Westpac BSB 032-527 Acct 290 944
But if you prefer, Paypal on the website and via crowd-funding operator, Chuffed. ’Help Launch The Indigenous Party of Australia‘ are available.

Don‘t forget, if you are lucky enough to pay tax, whichever donation method you choose, all donations are fully tax deductible because we are a registered political party.

Other issues:

There will be a smaller regional launch for the Party in Moree in N.S.W., probably around Monday 28 Feb. Please email us for more information.

Everyone is excited and bursting with ideas for our new party, but currently we are just too busy to take on unsolicited advice on policy or procedure. However, if you know a way to promote the party, and you are prepared to do the work, please let us know. Once you are contributing constructively to the Party your opinions will be very valued.

The Indigenous Party is a highly inclusive party. Strength through Unity among all types of First Nations People, and supporters of good will, is a fundamental principal of the Party. Candidates need to be Indigenous but members and volunteers are welcome from any part of our community.

All the best from,

Uncle Owen, Lionel Henaway and the terrific office volunteers.

Videos and Photos below:

(1) Wilcannia Mob singing 'Down River'.
(2) Laylah Al Saimary, a young Barkindji woman from Mildura who is the Youth Coordinator in Victoria for the Party sings her own Rap.
(3) NITV program on 'Blackfella Deliveroo Service'
(Photos are labelled below)