Author: Dean Foley/Australian Correspondent

Dean Foley/Australian Correspondent. The Northern Land Council has expressed profound shock that 13 Yolŋu clans announced at Garma they were breaking away to form their own Dilak Land Council, admitting it “wasn’t briefed” and found the news “a surprise” — a reaction Larrakia man Uncle Ted Fejo called “the most on-brand thing a big organisation could possibly do.” “They’re stunned the mob want to leave. STUNNED,” said Uncle Ted, 64. “Mate, that IS the reason the mob want to leave. A body so far from the ground it didn’t hear thirteen whole clans deciding to walk… and its main complaint…

Dean Foley/Australia The Australian Federal Police this week confirmed the existence of a legal “threshold” for hate speech that sits at an altitude previously reserved for migratory birds and the occasional lost weather balloon, after determining that Senator Pauline Hanson’s comments about Muslim Australians didn’t clear it. “We measured it…” an AFP spokesperson did not say while gesturing vaguely upward. “It’s up there somewhere. You’d need a ladder. Possibly a rocket.” Mob across the country nodded in grim recognition. “Oh, we know that threshold,” said Cousin Deano, unpacking the esky at a Redfern barbecue. “It’s the exact same height four…

A long-running Ngāi Tahu savings program designed to build intergenerational wealth has reached a major milestone, with the iwi-backed scheme now reporting more than $200 million in member savings and tens of thousands of participants. Whai Rawa, now in its 20th year, has more than 38,000 members, according to figures outlined in a new profile of the initiative. The program encourages regular saving by matching contributions – with particularly strong incentives for children enrolled early in life. Under the scheme, adults can receive a dollar-for-dollar match on their savings up to a capped amount each year. For children, the incentives…

A prominent Northern Territory builder and a married couple connected to an Indigenous-owned construction company have denied allegations they were involved in a scheme to defraud the Commonwealth of up to $71 million in Department of Defence contracts. The matter returned to court this week, with reporting indicating the accused remain on bail under strict conditions as the case progresses through the Darwin Local Court. A preliminary examination mention is scheduled for 28 April, with the defendants excused from attending and current bail conditions to remain in place. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) previously alleged the case involves “a conspiracy to influence the awarding…

Story by Dean Foley/Australian Correspondent. Questions are being asked after claims an explosive device was handled following a Perth Invasion Day rally, with debate focusing on how institutions respond when the story doesn’t fit a neat script. Officials urged calm, noting there are “processes” in place. The public asked what the process is. The public was told the process is “being processed”. A spokesperson said policing priorities are set by risk assessments. “We assess risk carefully” they said. “First we assess whether the incident will become a headline. Then we assess whether that headline will inconvenience us.” Community members said…

Story by Dean Foley/Australian Correspondent A landmark High Court case is testing how Aboriginal cultural rights interact with water licences, after Traditional Owners challenged a huge groundwater allocation in the Northern Territory. Outside court, community members spoke about responsibility to protect water systems and sacred places. Inside court, the system demonstrated its own sacred practice: turning living obligations into numbered paragraphs. A spokesperson said the matter is “complex” and must be balanced carefully. “We support cultural values,” they said, “as long as those values can be expressed in a measurable format between 0 and 5, preferably with examples.” The case…