Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy have been camping on The Block for 450 days now, refusing to move until the land owners (Aboriginal Housing Company) prioritised Indigenous housing on the land.
Now, they claim victory.
Earlier in the week, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the AHC, effectively evicting the protestors from their campsite so commercial construction could begin. But today, the announcement came that Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion has organised the building of 62 new affordable homes specifically for Indigenous people.
According to the embassy, the Federal government has helped the AHC to secure $65 million in bank finance, and committed to a $5 million grant so it can proceed with the Pemulwuy Project.
Wiradjuri elder and leader of RATE, Jenny Munro, said to Fairfax Media that their year of struggle was worth it:
“I’m old school. My teachers taught me the principles of our resistance – we never ceded our land to anyone. The embassy has demonstrated that for our people, resistance is the only way to go. For all the communities around the country facing closure – don’t talk sovereignty, assert your sovereignty. Put up an embassy and demand the funding for your basic rights. We will fight with you every step of the way.”
While tension and concerns of transparency still remain – AHC still refuse to allow Munro or any other RATE members to join their board – this still fulfils one of the main demands of the Tent Embassy: affordable Indigenous housing. An incredible victory.
via ABC
Images: Cole Bennetts via Getty
Images: Cole Bennetts via Getty
