fbpx

Global Freedom Movement

city of perth

Australia’s Shame: The City of Perth’s War on the Homeless

By

Due to unforeseen circumstances tonight’s show is postponed. We apologise for the inconvenience. 

An Unfolding Emergency: War on the Homeless

As you may know, homelessness rates continue to skyrocket in Australia and the world over. Indeed, many every day Australians are suffering from mortgage stress and high rents, making housing affordability and lack of ‘stock’ for public housing a big issue.

Government departments have until now opted to ‘fix’ the issue of the homeless of Perth with heartless and inhumane solutions, such as the sprinkler system installed at the King Street Arts Centre (Perth) to drench and deter homeless people from sleeping on the brick paving in the middle of Winter. Violence and sexual predation are genuine dangers for the homeless, as they are forced to move from squat to park to alleyway.

war on the homeless city of perthMatargarup at Heirisson Island in Perth has provided a safe space and sheltering scores for the homeless of Perth, yet the City of Perth and their police escort have now raided Matargarup a total of eleven times. Each raid has stranded families, toddlers, babies, the elderly without any shelter or essentials, and without the safe space that they have come to know. Matargarup is a registered sacred site (#3589) with the Aboriginal Heritage Inquiry System. The type of site is listed as: Mythological, Camp, Hunting Place, Meeting Place, Plant Resource. The raids are unlawful.

The City of Perth is adding to the issue of homelessness, not seeking to solve the problem. It is clear our fellow humans are in dire need of assistance, and a solution is well overdue.

Listen live at 9 pm Sydney time to get updated by Perth community stalwarts Gerry Georgatos and Jennifer Kaeshagen as they seek to bring compassion and wisdom back into the sphere of politics.

Listen live here: www.globalfreedmmovement.org/media

City of Perth Media Statement Lies About Perth’s Homeless

By

This article was first published on The Stringer and is republished with permission.

City of Perth Media Statement Lies About Perth's Homeless | Global Freedom Movement

City of Perth versus the homeless – Kirsty Oehlers takes on council

by Gerry Georgatos

matargarup gerry georgatos

The homeless of Matagarup (Heirisson) have been scattered throughout Perth’s alleyways, squats, traps and under bridges. Some of the families have been taken in for the time being by supporters. However, the City of Perth has been pushing the line that there were not many ‘genuinely’ homeless people in the former island precinct safe space of Heirisson. This sickly reductionist line is a disgrace.

Photo: Teagan Richardson, homeless
Photo: Teagan Richardson, homeless

Teagan is one of the homeless moved on by the City of Perth executive and their rangers while escorted by a show of force of police muscle. The police said that they were only there to keep the peace. But no peace had been broken until the City of Perth showed up. The Western Australian Police do not have to be part of the City of Perth’s raids; they do not have to do what they do despite their private protestations by some of them that they are disturbed by the City of Perth’s conduct. Teagan remains homeless but now more vulnerable than at any time while sheltering at Matagarup. She has to deal with the various violence and sexual predation on the streets – moving from alleyway, squat, trap, bridge.

Teagan said that the City of Perth rangers took everything – the belongings of the homeless; tents, swags, blankets. After the Heirisson raid on March 5, Teagan and other homeless individuals slept under a nearby bridge. The next morning the City of Perth escorted by another police show of force – paramilitary style – ordered the homeless to leave the undercover shelter of the bridge.

In an unbelievable media release the City of Perth is selling Perth residents the line that the City of Perth has engaged services to assist the homeless. Teagan and others have a different story to tell.

12063527_608224769327996_340574972874181336_n
Photo: Tanya Cairns

Those who have been assisting the homeless are ordinary citizens, good souls – Jennifer Kaeshagen and Kirsty Oehlers of the First Nations Homelessness Project; Tanya Cairns of the homelessness charity HAND; and many right-minded Perth residents who have been there for the homeless day in day out, night after night for the last year. Australian Labor Party Senator, Sue Lines has been there for them – the only politician to scrub up. She turned up during the major raid on Tuesday.

Local citizen Clare Vinten salvaged everything she could on behalf of the homeless and stored their possessions at her home. The Nyungah family of Herbert Bropho for the time being has taken in one of the island’s long-term homeless families – a family of seven – five young children. Herbert understands the impacts and culminations of chronic homelessness. He lost two sisters and a brother to the streets. Nyungah man Clinton Pryor turned up daily to the homeless camp, walking down from his place of work in the heart of the city. Clinton had the rockiest of starts to life – taken from his mum when he was seven years old – watching her from the window of a small plane he had been bundled into, his mother running and screaming down the red earth tarmac of the community he would never see again. At eleven years of age he would lose his mother forever and his father passed away when he 16. All of a sudden, orphaned, he was lost and homeless – two years on the streets. He vowed to never forget those whom he met on the streets and he hasn’t. At this time his home is filled with homeless people sheltering after the raids on Heirisson.

“The weather is turning and I know what it’s like to be on the streets in the worst of the cold, the rough weather,” said Clinton.

Clinton has spent much of his own money feeding the Matagarup homeless – from what little savings he has.

Teagan said, “Massive thank you to Perth people supporting the homeless and for the blankets and jumpers, for the food.” Teagan said that ordinary citizens have brought food as night unfolds. One person brought a change of clothes for them.

“We appreciate all the help,” said Teagan.

Meanwhile, the City of Perth issued the media release arguing its case to evict the homeless campers. The City of Perth claimed that “the City continues to work with agencies such as The Salvation Army, Department of Housing, United Care West and Ruah to assist the genuinely homeless.” Are they suggesting that the majority of those who sheltered at the island camp were not homeless? They answered this in their media release, “Three-four family groups only meet relevant agencies’ criteria for being designated as homeless, and are being case-managed by these agencies.” It is like I am reading George Orwell’s ‘1984’.

Some offers of transitional accommodation were made to a few homeless individuals at sites sponsored by large charity based organisations. This is not permanent accommodation and sadly a significant proportion of welfare payments are subsumed as rent for this interim accommodation. The only person to secure genuine housing for any of the homeless that were on Heirisson Island is Jennifer Kaeshagen of the First Nations Homelessness Project – a non-funded 100 per cent volunteer effort.

Kirsty Oehlers is a social worker who also volunteers with the First Nations Homelessness Project. Kirsty has done more for the island’s homeless in psychosocial and practical support than all the agencies combined that the City of Perth has claimed to have engaged.

Kirsty said that the City of Perth’s media release is riddled with errors.

“I am involved with this community of people as a social work advocate for the First Nations Homelessness Project with Jennifer Kaeshagen. I work closely with the people on the island, providing psychosocial care and support.”

“I can verify that at the time of the raid there were numbers of homeless in much greater numbers than what (the City of Perth) quoted. Our count was in excess of 100 people – all homeless,” said Kirsty.

“In the days since the people were removed from Matagarup, I have met with and assisted numerous individual and couples who were not factored into the citation of (City of Perth’s) three to four families.”

12494768_609443705872769_9059146149493470588_n

“The number of people I have worked with since their removal is more than twenty. These people are now living on the streets and only this afternoon, I visited a group of nine sleeping under a bridge. All of these people had been previously cared for as part of the Matagarup community.”

The City of Perth stated in its media release, “More than 80 per cent of tents removed from Heirisson Island yesterday were vacant.”

Kirsty said, “It is not possible that 80 per cent of tents were unoccupied. There was woman new to the island who arrived the night before who was homeless and in need of a tent. We have no idea where she is now. There were no vacant tents on the day the City of Perth removed everything.”

“Any tents left behind belonged to people who left the island in fright and desperation not to lose their belongings.”

Kirsty questioned the level of engagement between the City of Perth and the homelessness sector. “It is interesting to note that (the City of Perth) says it works closely with agencies.”

“Yet, none were present on the day of the removal of the camp when people were distressed, homeless and traumatised.”

Kirsty filed all of the above as questions to the City of Perth. The silence echoes.

Three months ago, I met with the City of Perth at their invitation – the meeting was convened by the then City of Perth CEO, Gary Stevenson who has since been sacked by the Council following a suite of allegations of improper conduct against various councillors. The Corruption and Crimes Commission examined the allegations and thus far has made some damning findings. The meeting with the then CEO was also attended by two other City of Perth executives, one of them who minuted the meeting. The executives were present at Heirisson on March 5 coordinating the raid. The meeting was also attended by Nyungah Elder Bella Bropho, Nyungah social justice activist Clinton Pryor, Jennifer Kaeshagen and two others. I had only just returned from a desert town where in the course of my predominant work – suicide prevention – I had been assisting suicide trauma affected families. In the five days leading to Christmas Day, three young people were buried. The youngest was a 15 year-old girl. I attended their funerals, three graves in a row. I have worked alongside the homeless for more than two decades. I know what they face on the streets – the sexual predation and the violence. I understand the abyss they stare into. I understand the traumas, the multiple traumas, the constancy of these traumas, the degeneration for many of them into the worst traumas, aggressive complex traumas.

I broke down during that meeting, cried aloud while in my mind’s eye seeing those three graves I left behind only days before and reflecting on the many souls on the streets I have met. I pleaded with Gary and his colleagues that in the event of a potential raid on the Matagarup homeless that I and Bella Bropho should be given prior notice so as to care coordinate various interim transition and transport in particular for the children and the most vulnerable. Gary gave me his word. Gary recognised the number of the homeless on the island had grown significantly and he spoke to this. He and his two colleagues shook my hand. That Gary was sacked by the City of Perth does not entitle the City of Perth to void their CEO’s promise. His colleagues, one of whom was present at that meeting, coordinated the raid.

A promise was broken, trust betrayed. The victims are the homeless.

In my view the nine councillors of the compassionless City of Perth should be sacked. They have long failed the children, the vulnerable and the families of Matagarup. There is not a single councillor who has stood up for the homeless.

Teagan does not know where she will sleep tonight.

“It’s getting harder to find dry spots.”

City of Perth: Stop Terrorising The Homeless – Sign The Petition here!

city of perth homeless matargarup

About the Author

Gerry Georgatos is a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, and a multi-award winning investigative journalist. His predominant work is in suicide prevention research and in unveiling racism and in articulating the ways forward. Some of his stories on homelessness in First Nations communities have led to many people housed and to restorative cultural projects. His social justice campaigns include his ongoing work with the homeless, asylum seekers, people in prison and post-release, his anti-drugs campaigns, fighting racism and discrimination, and his freedom of speech campaigns.

Georgatos is considered by some as a ‘polarising’ and ‘controversial’ writer and social justice campaigner. He is an expert in his fields, particularly in the understanding of racism and in suicide prevention – and involves himself at the coalface in addition to interfacing with Governments. His advocacy style can at times be confrontational. He works with a sense of urgency. He travels widely. He has a ‘relentless crash through style’ and is resilient when it comes to hatchet jobs on him or when he is persecuted or ostracised. “You let this stuff slide,” he said. His diverse lived experiences, his compassion for others, his various expertise make him a valued contributing journalist and writer for The Stringer.

City Of Perth: Stop Terrorising The Homeless At Matargarup

By

City of Perth - Please Stop Terrorising The Homeless | Global Freedom Movement

Around midday today (April 5th) Channel 9 news reported that City of Perth rangers with police accompaniment had “swooped in” and were raiding Matargarup homeless refuge and stealing the belongings of the poor for the eleventh time! They call it “de-camping” in their Orwellian newspeak.

Police swoop on protestor camp on Heirisson Island.

Their bland one-liner fails to capture the raging travesty and national source of shame this conduct has become, for this is no less than the 11th time City of Perth has directed their rangers and police lackeys to invade the camp and, presumably, once more confiscate/thieve meager belongings from the vulnerable people who reside at Matargarup homeless camp. Yes, Perth rangers and police are routinely tasked with bullying and thieving from the homeless (hardly surprising if you’ve been observing the steady deterioration of Australia into a fully fledged police state where police are merely glorified tax collectors and crowd control for the frustrated and disenfranchised).

Also worthy of note, to a lesser extent, is that the belongings which were previously unlawfully confiscated/stolen in the nine or ten previous raids are not allowed to be held for more than a week – yet another rule the City of Perth has violated in its ongoing war against the homeless and impoverished. Tents and other essentials have still not been returned. City of Perth (a corporate entity and legal fiction) still shows no signs of righting that wrong and acting in honour. What a surprise. An update emanating from 9 News at around 1:30 pm stated:

Personal belongings are being seized from the protestor camp on Heirisson Island, including a large bag filled with toys belonging to the children camping on the island.

One homeless family began yelling at rangers after a four-year-old boy’s toy was taken away in the decamping exercise. Perth Now

Stealing children’s toys. How very grand of you, City of Perth. We want to know where the buck stops, and frankly we are tired of waiting for the Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi and the Executive Management Team of City of Perth to do the right thing and be accountable for these morally repugnant activities. It appears that NO ONE involved at ANY level believes themselves to be the slightest bit responsible for this travesty of justice and continued criminal campaign against the vulnerable at Matargarup (better known as Heirrisson Island). Remember what happened to ousted CEO Gary Stevenson? Those of us who held out a glimmer of hope that his sudden removal signalled a meaningful change in the orientation of City of Perth’s moral compass have been bitterly disappointed. The attacks on the homeless continue though Stevenson is gone; replaced by Martin Mileham. It is high time to turn the glare of public critique and scrutiny upon those purportedly steering the ship.

The Executive Management Team consists of:

  • Martin Mileham, CEO
  • Robert Mianich, Director of Corporate Services
  • Paul Crosetta, Director of Construction and Maintenance
  • Rebecca Moore, Director of Community and Commercial Services
  • Gary Dunne, Acting Director of Economic Development and Activation
  • Robert Farley, Acting Director of Planning and Development (Got to love the term “development”, eh? One presumes they intend to “develop” all First Nations peoples right off their homelands – those few that are left, that is.)

And let’s not forget Lord Mayor of Perth Lisa Scaffidi, the subject of a “damning” CCC report that found she had engaged in “serious misconduct.” She currently awaits the outcome of a separate government inquiry.

Back to Matargarup and the continued City of Perth ranger and police raids: If this isn’t state-sponsored terrorism then what is? This is systematic, cyclical, legally sanctioned psychological violence and physical theft and deprivation against defenceless homeless people exercising basic human rights and minding their own business. I call that terrorism. Forget ISIS and Muslim extremists, our biggest concern should be the government and legal apparatuses that influence every nook and cranny of daily living – and use taxpayer money to brutalise the homeless (and plenty of taxpayers while they’re at it!).

So far, the only true support from those in positions of influence on this issue (apart from the courageous folks at The Stringer) has been from Senator Sue Lines, who lent her support to the people of Matargarup after learning about a raid last week which saw homeless family fined $500; a fine which could see them facing jail time if they don’t pay. “The policy of having people who cannot pay fines serve gaol time is not only costly to the taxpayer, it also ruins lives, families and communities,” Sue states.

On the 29th of March 2016 a homeless family of 7 (2 adults, 5 children) were issued with a $500 parking infringement by the City of Perth for a broken down caravan. The vehicle is their home, their only asset, and they don’t have the ability to fix it.

Sue organised a GoFundMe campaign to support the family – which has garnered support from the community. To donate, please visit this link. Sue has also written to Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi to ask her to rescind the fine.

senator sue lines homeless at matargarup global freedom movement

Yahoo News reports that “media outlets covering the latest development were fined by parking inspectors but the tickets were later waived.” We’re not seeing double standards, are we?

Below, elder Herbert Bropho (with whom we spoke at length with here) assisting an otherwise helpless and homeless man in the city in February to offer him safety and camaraderie at Matargarup. Bropho, Clinton Pryor and others spent an entire night on the streets of Perth assisting homeless in this way, whilst others walked by.

This lady we came across her in Northbridge with a kids sleeping in a alleyway sleep in a tent next to Robertson park. We sat back for a bit before we approach her and watch people how they act after drinking at the night clubs in Northbridge going pass her tent. People where talking photo of her and laughing at her. She was telling people just leave her alone let her and her family sleep. So us guys had a none. So we walk toward her tent with her kids. They where telling us to go away. Once we got close to her tent we had a talk with her about us on heirisson island. She then came out of her tent then talk with us. We told her that her and her family can come to the island and camp. I was glad and happy we came across of a family last night. So we know we help a family out to try get them to come on the island. [sic]

Clinton Pryor

Clinton Pryor's photo with Herbert Bropho and homeless man homeless at matargarup

Homeless and suicide prevention researcher Gerry Georgatos told PerthNow  the City of Perth have gone about the process the wrong way.

Mr Georgatos said 140 people have been living on the island in recent months. He said families have faced trauma today and these people will be sleeping on the city streets tonight.

Lisa Scaffidi, City of Perth management team, and Councillors, why is this STILL happening?

We find it utterly disgusting that these police officers use their time and resources to terrorize the HOMELESS – and if not at your command, then whose? Where does the buck stop? We want to know.

The Australian public wants to know why the City of Perth​ continues to attack the weak and vulnerable and act in blatant contradiction to the will of the general public – across the nation – which has been so supportive of the homeless camp and community-building it fosters, repeatedly donating mattresses, food, and more, only to have it stolen by the State.

#AustralianShame
#CityofPerthEmbarrassment
#MatargarupStrong
#LetThemStay

 

Feel free to email City of Perth with your concerns

If you are not satisfied with the way the City of Perth has reasonably undertaken to provide a service or attempted to resolve an issue, you are entitled to make a formal complaint. Please complete THIS FORM and provide clear and complete details so that the matter can be fully investigated.

You may also contact the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillors directly below.

Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi lord.mayor@cityofperth.wa.gov.au
Deputy Lord Mayor James Limnios james.limnios@cityofperth.wa.gov.au
Janet Davidson, OAM JP (Councillor) janet.davidson@cityofperth.wa.gov.au
Jim Adamos (Councillor) jim.adamos@cityofperth.wa.gov.au
Lily Chen (Councillor) lily.chen@cityofperth.wa.gov.au
Jemma Green (Councillor) jemma.green@cityofperth.wa.gov.au
Judy McEvoy (Councillor) judy.mcevoy@cityofperth.wa.gov.au
Reece Harley (Councillor) reece.harley@cityofperth.wa.gov.au
Keith Yong (Councillor) keith.Yong@cityofperth.wa.gov.au

homeless at matargarup

A Small Victory for Human Conscience: City of Perth CEO Gary Stevenson Sacked by Unanimous Vote

By

city of perth ceo gary stevenson sacked

A Small Victory

Yesterday there was a small victory of sorts for the people of Perth, Australia, and in particular, the Nyoongar and other (ab)original people who had fared so poorly during the watch of now-ex City of Perth CEO Gary Stevenson (and prior, let’s be realistic). In short, he was fired. On January 26th, the occasion will be marked with massive fireworks displays and… oh, wait that’s for “Australia Day.” Well, we can pretend, can’t we?

It looks like we’ll need to re-vamp our #tinyviolin campaign for Gary now that he won’t be able to order and/or participate in any further reprehensible raids on the homeless refuge at Matargarup. The running tally is now somewhere around nine disgusting raids and state-sanctioned organised thefts of the belongings of the homeless and downtrodden (including 122 tents, food, and donated mattresses). See this article for more detail on that.

Lisa Scaffidi, Lord Mayor of Perth, addressed the media outside Council House yesterday, following a closed-doors meeting held by all nine councillors during which it was determined to sack the city’s CEO Gary Stevenson.

Opening Statement by Ms Scaffidi: The City of Perth Council today has unanimously voted on the termination of Mr Gary Stevenson…It was a council meeting held at 9.30 this morning, attended by all nine councillors and the decision was unanimously endorsed.1

Gary Stevenson’s sacking has been fiercely welcomed by original elders such as Herbert Bropho and others such as social workers who have been involved in supporting the cause of the original people of the lands of WA, particularly those based at Matargarup (better known as Heirrison Island), the target of at least nine sickening raids on the homeless.

In May 2015, GFM penned an open letter to Stevenson imploring him to stop the madness and do what was right:

If this missive makes you uncomfortable is it because the truth cuts a little close to the bone? What about considering the flip side of the situation: you are in a position to initiate some truly vital and monumentally important positive sociopolitical change. This is a tremendous opportunity to overcome entrenched prejudices, preconceptions, and limited worldviews and do something for the people who need it most. (We believe that somewhere deep down, you know and want to do what is right.)

We are good people driven by conscience. We do not get paid for this work. Understand that it makes us truly SICK to see the way that the original mobs of these lands have been displaced, dispossessed, genocided (a.k.a. “gentrified”), and smeared over the last two centuries. You seem to fail to see the big picture, so we are here to remind you that as CEO of the City of Perth (a.k.a. a public servant), your “small picture” responsibility is to SERVE those in need, not to break up their community, their refugee camp (which is also a vital birthing site), or shunt them off to a back alley somewhere. The land belongs to the first peoples, and their lore/law surpasses all others. Nothing – no amount of paperwork – will ever change that, and the presence of that community with its solidarity and camaraderie is SAVING LIVES.2

bella bropho city of perth ceo gary stevenson sacked global freedom movement matargarup refugee camp

Ultimately, however, the message fell on deaf ears, and the site at Matargarup was raided another five times or so, all apparently under Stevenson’s command. Every time the public donated basic survival supplies, the City of Perth and its police swooped in to take it away. Gary Stevenson received numerous angry phone calls and texts as a result of GFM’s letter, which was even quoted in The Perth Voice, but instead of waking up to himself and the harm he and the police were inflicting, and changing tack, Stevenson complained to us personally through emails, phone calls AND texts about his interrupted sleep and suffering “significant distress.” Sometimes even spelling things out and drawing a diagram just isn’t enough, eh? HIS distress?! Are you kidding me?

We can’t help but wonder if Gary is significantly MORE distressed now that his six-figure CEO salary is gone. Regardless, we have a care package containing not one, but several tiny violins on their way to Gary as we type. Get some good uninterrupted shuteye in the meantime, Gary.

gerry georgatos and jennifer kaeshaegen city of perth ceo gary stevenson sacked global freedom movement matargarup refugee camp

Kudos and gratitude must flow primarily to the amazing team of Gerry Georgatos and Jennifer Kaeshaegen (who run independent news site The Stringer) for their superhuman efforts fighting for the rights and dignity of the original people of Western Australia, and for instigating the move to create homeless friendly precincts. Their visible grassroots efforts to counteract the harm caused by the terrorist tactics of Perth City and the police force have doubtless played the largest role of all in bringing about the good news (and illustrating where the REAL problems emanate from). However, this is a long way from over and the people of Oz need to get behind the vulnerable and voiceless, not least of all by making some serious noise for the cause of homeless friendly precincts and keeping an eye on Matargarup (“Heirrison Island”). Herbert and Bella Bropho must also be congratulated on their steadfast solidarity in the face of utter despair, and we thank them for providing a safe space for the homeless community to unite.

Will the City of Perth show some conscience in its “new direction” now, or will we simply witness the replacing of one muppet with another and the continued destruction of the human spirit under the Corporatocracy? But hang on, what about the donations…?

Dude, Where’s My Stuff?!

Jen Kaeshaegen reports (on Facebook):

This is community stalwart Diane Niyati having been escorted by the City of Perth into a storage facility in Pier Street, where she had been advised by the CoP that (as according to the Perth Magistrates Court directives) she would be able to inspect the items she donated to the people at the Matagarup First Nations Refugee Camp, Heirisson Island, and which were seized by the City of Perth during one of the nine police-assisted raids on the people throughout last year.

Upon inspection, Diane finds that not one of the items which the Perth Magistrates Court directed to be returned to her, are here in this storage unit.

And Diane finds that items in this storage unit “smell like horse piss”. The smell was so bad, that after Diane and one of the CoP workers and myself went through the items in the unit, we all had to go to a bathroom to wash up – the CoP worker very much leading the way there. [emphasis added]

gary stevenson matargarup bropho city of perth ceo gary stevenson sacked global freedom movement matargarup refugee camp

So, not only were the donated items unlawfully removed from the Matargarup homeless refuge, SOMEONE has taken the liberty of removing them from the City of Perth storage facility as well! WHERE ARE THESE ITEMS NOW?

Oh, City of Perth Councillors you have SO much work to do to right these wrongs, remove the egg from your faces, end the injustice, and restore the rights and dignity of the homeless at Matargarup. Please make haste.

If there are any further raids we will know Stevenson’s dismissal was a meaningless PR maneuver and we will be here to continue shaming you to the world until you get it right.

Background on Matargarup

If you haven’t been following the narrative on Matargarup, we have interviewed Gerry Georgatos and Jennifer Kaeshaegen on a number of occasions to share their perspective on what is happening and what needs to be done. You can find these important interviews in our archive here, here, and here.

New Year’s Resolution

I will leave Gerry Georgatos with the final word for now:

Jennifer Kaeshagen is to be admired for her relentlessness in finding homes and in achieving it without resources but on the back of her goodwill. In my book Jennifer should have the resources at her disposal that the Department of Housing and some of these large charities have, imagine what she could do! She would probably find houses for thousands…

If I had a wish list for the New Year, it would include that the City of Perth please do not raid for a tenth time the island and remove the tents from the poorest, from the most vulnerable, from the homeless. Just leave them alone. Leave them there for the likes of Jennifer Kaeshagen to find them homes, and Tanya Cairns to assist, to provide care. Also it would be the right thing to do if the City of Perth shire returned the 122 tents and all the truck loads of other donated belongings they dispossessed from the homeless. Compassion should always rule. The City of Perth shire has been instructed to return a goods, linen and so forth, to one of the donors – Diane Niyati who yesterday won her claim against the City of Perth shire in the Small Claims Tribunal. It was right-mindedness prevailing on this occasion though I am saddened that if the rest of the tents are to be returned the expectation remains that the homeless would have to rock up to the Small Claims Tribunal. That’s not going to happen. The City of Perth shire could do the right thing here.

Hopefully, 2016 will find us all coming together more, the homeless treated with dignity and that Jennifer is left alone to do her thing and which she does ever so well.3

gerry georgatos baby matargarup city of perth ceo gary stevenson sacked global freedom movement matargarup refugee camp

References:

  1. https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/city-of-perth-council-sacks-chief-executive-gary-stevenson/news-story/6e007d9bfdf38552b4ad9f636235aa10
  2. http://globalfreedommovement.org/open-letter-on-matargarup-to-the-general-public-and-gary-stevenson-ceo-of-the-city-of-perth/
  3. https://thestringer.com.au/leave-the-homeless-alone-and-well-help-them-homeless-baby-four-sisters-mum-housed-11450#.VqA_WlJ8uDp

 

Open letter on Matargarup to Gary Stevenson, CEO of the City of Perth

By

Open letter on Matargarup to the general public and Gary Stevenson CEO of the City of Perth | Global Freedom Movement

Disclaimer: reading of this article may be dangerous to anyone suffering allergies to sarcasm, satire, or overpaid bureaucrats.

Open letter on Matargarup to the general public and Gary Stevenson CEO of the City of Perth legal fiction

As some of you may be aware, GFM recently shared a meme about events at Matargarup homeless refugee camp that garnered widespread attention via several hundred shares on social media, reaching thousands of people.

It featured an image of Gary Stevenson yelling at Swan Valley Noongar Elder Herbert Bropho during a verbal confrontation that occurred during the most recent (fourth!) police raid of the Heirisson Island homeless refugee site. This fourth heartless raid included the open THEFT of tents, generators, lights, personal belongings, bedding, even food, by police (you know those people who are supposed to PREVENT crime?). (You can understand why Herbert was upset, especially knowing how he and his sister Bella were forced from their homes by the WA government twelve years ago, and how they and their people continue even now to be victimised by the City of Perth. See GFM Media episode 36.) The meme also included Gary’s contact details, which are publicly listed as he is acting in his public capacity as CEO, and (theoretically) a “public servant.” (Admittedly, Gary seems unclear of the meaning of this latter term…)

GFM 36: Land Grab In The Outback: Australia Unites Against Genocide of First Peoples with Gerry Georgatos and Elders | Global Freedom Movement

Unfortunately, our meme has led to Mr Stevenson receiving many phone calls from irate members of the public expressing their displeasure with the unlawful, predatory and criminal practices of the Perth police, rangers, and others acting under his direction. Just last night he had to “en[d]ure the relentless abusive and threatening calls caused by [our] reckless posting.”

We deeply regret the inconvenience caused to Gary through the disruption of his peaceful night’s sleep, and realise in hindsight that taking a stand for the beleaguered, homeless, and/or poverty-stricken refugees who’ve now been raided and thieved from by agents acting for the City of Perth (CEO Gary Stevenson) for the FOURTH time is unconscionable and has caused a grievous inconvenience to at LEAST one member of the white collar world on a paltry SIX FIGURE salary (and VERY generous TRP/total rewards package). We never intended for our actions to cause any harm at all, and we never do. Period. We operate purely out of compassion, love, and the need for truth to be shared. We never intended for our actions to result in inconvenient phone calls or lost sleep. We apologise unequivocally.

(Please donate generously to the Gary Stevenson Tiny Violin CEO Sleep Enhancement Campaign #tinyviolin)

As a measure of goodwill, we took down the meme from the GFM page, which Gary felt was “defamatory” and ad hominem (because, you know, stealing from the homeless and confiscating personal property to erase evidence of criminal conduct is a trifling impersonal matter compared to a Facebook meme, if you think about it), and hope this goes some way to repairing our treasured relationship with the paper-based legal fiction City of Perth, which finds the plight of the living men and women on Heirisson Island to be such an inconvenience. (Why can’t those annoying originals who’ve been on the land for hundreds of thousands of years just stop “camping” here already!?)

matargarup police raid refugee camp global freedom movement gary stevenson ceo city of perth

We also trust that the police who stole the tents and other personal items are putting them to good use, and also resting peacefully at night, comfortable in the knowledge that a bunch of tents, bedding, generators, and other meager belongings won’t be misused by greedy members of the homeless refugee community (at least until they are replaced AGAIN by misguided members of the public who compassionately donate these basics to the camp). I definitely feel safer knowing the police won’t back down from these vicious homeless terrorists (a.k.a. “terroriginals”).

On behalf of the human rights activists who filmed and/or photographed WA police while they broke the law (in multiple ways) and stole vital supplies from the homeless refugee camp, we apologise for the inconvenience caused to the police officers who felt compelled to unlawfully remove items such as cameras and mobile phones without consent. We regret the inconvenience caused to at least one officer who sadly “had” to go into J….’s phone to delete a photograph of an officer shoving one of the female original elders in the back. This is an elderly woman who had the gall to use her walking frame to stand up straight. (We at GFM do not condone unlicensed travel by walking frame.) Reportedly the officer who deleted the incriminating image is now battling to recover from repetitive strain injury from furiously pushing the phone buttons in an effort to shield the public from images of the elderly lady’s “assault” on the defenceless officer who at the time was only younger, bigger, stronger, and armed with a gun, taser, and whatever else they issue these pillars of the community with to “protect” the public these days.

Gerry Georgatos wrote of the fourth raid in the last eight weeks on The Stringer:

The conduct of the Council in their handling of the Matargarup homeless precinct appears a throwback to the 1940s. On Thursday scores of police in militia formation marched into Matargarup escorting scores of City of Perth workers led by their CEO, Gary Stephenson who was wearing a hard hat directing the show. It was sad sight.

Police were unusually aggressive in their responses – six move on notices (I was one of them) and three arrests – two Aboriginal Elders – Yamatji Elder Julie Dwyer and Nyungah Elder Bella Bropho.

The police issued me with a move on notice for speaking up (loudly).1

Next time Stevenson’s lackeys raid the homeless camp we may just have to arrange to livestream all of the unlawful acts committed by the legal fictions (crown agents) of the City of Perth and the WA police. This way, there is no need to sprain any digits or strain any eyes in sorting through iPhones and cameras to delete incriminating evidence, as it will all be instantaneously uploaded to the internet for the world to see and witness Australia’s ongoing shame. Too easy!

Matargarup, GFM

To Gary: we have insider information and multiple eyewitness accounts that prove most (but not 100%) of your claims and your narrative in your email to us to be false and/or (deliberately?) misleading. We are not here to condemn you, demonise you, or incite violence towards you or anybody else. The violence is overwhelmingly emanating from policies issuing forth from state and local government – the continuation of a dark bicentennial legacy. You as CEO of City of Perth local government legal fiction are responsible for the criminal acts by your agents, underlings, lackeys, functionaries, and minions operating under your orders whether you like it or not. A few angry phone calls is a small price to pay considering the harm done by the City of Perth to the destitute people at Matargarup. Perhaps they will help you connect to the reality of the anguish and suffering you and your agents are generating beyond the confines of your comfortable well-paid lives. I’m sorry, is this “defamatory,” ad hominem, or causing “significant distress”? Is this article costing you sleep? (We’ll get that tiny violin out to you as soon as the funding is in!)

Matargarup, GFM, gerry georgatos matargarup global freedom movementIf this missive makes you uncomfortable is it because the truth cuts a little close to the bone? What about considering the flip side of the situation: you are in a position to initiate some truly vital and monumentally important positive sociopolitical change. This is a tremendous opportunity to overcome entrenched prejudices, preconceptions, and limited worldviews and do something for the people who need it most. (We believe that somewhere deep down, you know and want to do what is right.)

We are good people driven by conscience. We do not get paid for this work. Understand that it makes us truly SICK to see the way that the original mobs of these lands have been displaced, dispossessed, genocided (a.k.a. “gentrified”), and smeared over the last two centuries. You seem to fail to see the big picture, so we are here to remind you that as CEO of the City of Perth (a.k.a. a public servant), your “small picture” responsibility is to SERVE those in need, not to break up their community, their refugee camp (which is also a vital birthing site), or shunt them off to a back alley somewhere. The land belongs to the first peoples, and their lore/law surpasses all others. Nothing – no amount of paperwork – will ever change that, and the presence of that community with its solidarity and camaraderie is SAVING LIVES.

Another quote from Gerry Georgatos’ article:

Furthermore as this camp was established on Matargarup (Heirrison Island) by the Nyungah (Noongar/Bibbulmen) people it was ‘lawful’. Historically, Matargarup was a birthing site for the Nyungah/Noongar/Bibbulmen people and all around the birthing site there was camping, hunting and fishing and a meeting place. Under Western Australia’s Aboriginal Heritage Act, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs has Matargarup registered as a First Nations’ site for camping, fishing and hunting. Native Title law is supposed to override all other laws. One High Court appeal after another has upheld this intention.

Furthermore the Local Government Act, section 3.7 states, “A  local law made under this Act is inoperative to the extent that it is inconsistent with this Act or any other written law.”

Therefore Local Government by-laws are overridden by established Native Title rights and the State’s Aboriginal Heritage register. In fairness to others, such as Mr Stevenson, who has experience as a Native Title practitioner, he may believe otherwise.

A pro bono lawyer for the homeless – Fremantle based Barrister, Stephen Walker  – said, “That the campers are legally entitled to camp on Heirisson and it is unlawful for the campers to be moved on as Native Title overrides Local Government law.”

“It is my view that their possessions should not have been removed.”

“I would suggest that the police have no legal right to be involving themselves in this matter. I will be contacting the police about this,” said Mr Walker.1

gary stevenson matargarup bropho
Photo taken at the most recent raid at Matargarup First Nations Refugee Camp, 30th April, 2015

Again, Gary, we are not here to personally judge you or incite harm or violence of ANY form, but we WILL be here to expose your distortions of truth, your and your agents’ transgressions of the law, and violations and assaults by the police against the (ab)originals, and public in general at Matargarup. You wanted the rather well-paid job of CEO and you got it. Now man up and take the public criticism on the chin. Take responsibility like you said you would in your email. You’re a father of four – what wouldn’t you do to ensure their safety and wellbeing? There are children depending on the survival of the Matargarup refugee community and you think that YOU suffered “significant distress” because of our Facebook meme and a few phone calls? My goodness.  The “damage has already been done”? REALLY? I think I hear that distant violin again…!

We and our (peaceful) allies are going nowhere. On the contrary, we are growing in number and taking a stand for truth and compassion.

Matargarup, global freedom movement radio live gfm radio gym media brendan dn murphy aimee devlinWill you take a good, long, hard look in the mirror and take a stand for what is right instead of what is expedient or cost-effective?

If you will not, please be aware that we will ensure that the world sees every injustice henceforth – in living colour and from multiple angles – and who is responsible.

In the meantime, we invite you to a live uncensored, video-recorded forum for discussions with Bella Bropho, Ben Taylor, Gerry Georgatos, Jenny Kaeshaegan, and our good selves. You have all the relevant contact details and we look forward to participating in such an important step forward with you soon.

 

Here’s to a comfortable night’s sleep indoors tonight. (At least some of us have an “indoors”, eh?)

Sincerely,

GFM

 

Please support: Concert For Matagarup – Refugees On Our Homelands

Send your tiny violins, written* complaints and constructive criticisms regarding the offences committed by the City of Perth and WA Police to:

GARY STEVENSON PSM
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

City of Perth
GPO Box C120, Perth WA 6839, Australia

Ph: 08 9461 3260 Mb: 0408 777 120
Em: gary.stevenson@cityofperth.wa.gov.au

*Under one of the local government acts, complaints in writing must be included in the annual report. Let’s fatten up that report, eh?

References:

1. https://thestringer.com.au/perth-city-council-fob-off-matargarup-homeless-say-they-cannot-help-homeless-10208#.VUW4tZMwCfm
2. Ibid.