Indigenous woman announces State election candidacy
Aunty Colleen Fuller, an indigenous woman of the Darkinoong and Yuin tribes, has announced she will be running as a independent indigenous woman candidate at the upcoming state election in March next year.
She said her concerns included what she is calling "the second stolen generation", the right to peaceful protest, protection of sacred sites and the environment, and social housing.
Earlier this month, she held a protest to draw attention to the issues.
"We have the highest rate of indigenous children being taken away from their families in NSW here on the Central Coast," Aunty Colleen said.
She said this happened more frequently with indigenous families "but non-indigenous families are suffering too".
"This most stop now.
"It is a total disgrace," she said.
"It makes reconciliation plain hypocrisy.
"We call on the State government to start returning kids now and to provide support."
Aunty Colleen also called on Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch to "stand up in parliament and ask questions about when children will be returned to their families".
She and her supporters held a small protest in front of Ms Tesch's Woy Woy electorate office to highlight the issue.
She said her own grandson was "snatched by the government" from his family, and "we have not seen him for three years".
"No one tells us anything."
She said the protest was "to shine a light on this disgrace"."
Aunty Colleen also said she wanted a citizens' right to protest, without police harassment or politicians demonizing them and "no fines for peaceful protesting".
"The Liberal government is just dreadful when it comes to protecting democracy."
She called on Central Coast Parliamentary Secretary Mr Adam Crouch to stand up in parliament and defend the rights of protesters on the Central Coast and everywhere.
Aunty Colleen said her third major concern was saving the Kariong Ridgeway which was "full of sacred sites and important bushland that all the community can enjoy".
"All over the State, the rights of traditional custodians are being undermined by government legislation, leaving our land vulnerable to unwanted development.
"Kariong is a perfect example.
"It must be protected.
"It is long time since Labor or Liberal have done anything to protect the environment on the Central Coast," she said.
Aunty Colleen said a massive injection of funding was needed for social housing on the Central Coast.
"It is well known that rental accommodation is now at crisis point on the Central Coast and indeed all over the State.
"Aboriginal housing has disappeared completely, but all low income people are really suffering.
"There is a 20-year wait for Department of Housing on the Central Coast.
"Unbelievable."
Aunty Colleen said she wanted all races to unite and to appreciate and protect indigenous culture, while fighting for the rights of all.
She said she was supported by the Indigenous Party of Australia which was unable to field candidates but was supporting indigenous women at the upcoming state election.
Aunty Colleen said she could be contacted by email at colleen.fuller@outlook.com.
SOURCE:
Media release, 1 Jul 2022
Colleen Fuller, Indigenous Party of Australia