FIVE years ago fed-up Wilcannia locals brought the Indigenous – Aboriginal Party of Australia (IAPA) into the world in an effort to make real changes in their communities. This election, candidates and members prioritising environmental issues.
Following what the IAPA describes as over-extraction and chemical pollution of the Darling-Baaka, and the shutting down of Gab McIntosh’s (OAM) Wilcannia satellite Eagle Arts Vocational College campus, Uncle Owen Whyman alongside other community members formed the IAPA.
One of the members is Bob Wilson, the party’s candidate for Parkes, who due to family reasons was unable to be interviewed.
Mr Wilson’s core campaign values and hopes for Parkes are the same as the IAPA holds for the country, with particular knowledge surrounding employment after years working for the Commonwealth Employment Service.
The IAPA is mostly concerned about the degradation of rivers in the Parkes electorate – especially the Darling-Baaka – with the party’s first priority to reverse this.
For IAPA executive member, Kamilaroi man Lawrence Brooke, his party’s job is to be a voice for the people.
“Our party values mainly water and environmental issues,” Mr Brooke said.
“We’re just trying to stand up for the water, make sure that our water’s looked after because it’s our blood from mother earth.”
Mr Brooke was raised in Wilcannia and now lives in Newcastle and works as a self-employed builder.
“We want to make sure our kids have good schooling, housing and are not getting incarcerated for minor things that normal kids may get away with,” he said.
“And address Aboriginal health and violence in any relationship, be it male or female.”
Other key issues for the party are the lack of quality and regular services such as transport, health, and telecommunications – with most of the electorate having patchy reception at best.
Mr Brooke said that the ongoing debate over Welcome to Country needs to take a back-seat and make room for more pressing issues.
“We’re a minority – 3 per cent of the population – and all of sudden Welcome to Country, that’s the biggest issue in the political genre at the moment,” he said.
“I just don’t understand that, I think that they should be looking at other issues like cost of living.
“If it works, it works; we’ve been doing that for years; if you’re welcome to our country, that’s the way we do it.”
In a statement, the IAPA said it cannot see how Parkes has benefitted from being a well-recognised safe seat for the Nationals.
“We believe Parkes is taken for granted by Federal and State governments and that is why the quality of services are so low,” the statement said.
“Bob Wilson and the IAPA would love to represent Parkes but any change of member would be beneficial to stop the electorate being taken for granted.
“Because of its ‘safe seat’ status, government services all over Parkes are a disgrace.
“Completely unserviceable telecommunications, transport and postal services.”
Mr Brooke said that having more liaison officers would also help Indigenous communities in Parkes electorate.
“We need more liaison officers, because the more they see and the more they educate the police, the better it’s going to be,” he said.
“I always say I’d love to be a white Australian for just one day; so I can try and get my head around why they can’t look at how beautiful this country is, how beautiful our race is.”
