Constitutional recognition for Arnhem Land

An Indigenous leader has asked Mr Rudd to recognise the rights of the people of Arnhem Land and has also called for full control of the land and waters.

One group of elders presented him with a petition setting out complaints about the Northern Territory intervention and calling for it to be covered by the Racial Discrimination Act.

Another leader, the former Australian of the year, Galarrwuy Yunupingu, has presented Mr Rudd with a metre-long petition asking for constitutional recognition for the clans of Arnhem Land.

It also says they should have full economic independence to use the land and waters of the area.

It says the rights are self-evident and fundamental.

Mr Rudd has given no guarantees about the document but says he will seek consultation on it.

Little improvement in Indigenous housing: ABS

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released a social trends report that shows there was little improvement in housing conditions in remote Indigenous communities between 2001 and 2006.

The social trends report into housing and services in remote Aboriginal communities across Australia has compared 2001 and 2006 census data.

Over the five-year period there was an increase in the number of community-owned houses in remote communities needing repair or replacement.

The statistics also show that about a third of Indigenous households in remote communities are still overcrowded and need one or more extra bedrooms to accommodate the people living there.

In 2006 there were 3,400 people in remote communities who had no permanent address and were living in temporary accommodation such as sheds or humpies.

The report does identify measurable improvements in water and electricity supplies and sewerage disposal services.

More than 50 per cent of the Indigenous people included in the study lived in the Northern Territory.

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