Just 15 minutes from Perth International Airport, a drama is unfolding which encapsulates the state of contemporary politics in Australia with regard to the Aboriginal People.

Robert Bropho and supporters take to the streets.

Clinging to the last vestiges of colonial power and invoking archaic laws and statutes, the State Government of Western Australia has aquired a most sacred and significant Aboriginal site on the Swan River in Perth, for use as a women's prison.

Community protest and legal challenge have effectively stalled and slowed the process for two years since May 1998, and the Ministry of Justice were ordered by Federal Minister Hill to cease all work on the 29th June 2000. Although Minister Hill has an undertaking from the State Government that no site works will be undertaken until he reaches a decision, this is cold comfort to the community.

If the proposal for this prison is allowed to become reality it will be the first time in human history the Swan Valley Nyungah people will be prevented from walking freely at this place, the centre of their Spiritual Landscape and home to the Deity of the Rainbow Serpent Dreaming, a religious system which emerged world wide 7 to 9000 years ago and still observed and practised in the Perth region.

The powerful symbolism of this act has been consistently ignored by both the State Government and the state press. Despite a two year battle between the People and their adversarial State Government representatives, and with an appeal to the Federal minister pending, the story has barely been mentioned in our national newspapers.

The adjacent Swan Valley Nyungah Community would be pleased to receive and inform you about this gravely important issue in Western Australia, where the Rainbow Serpent Dreaming of the Aboriginal people of Perth is under threat of desecration by a prison.

NEXT: RAINBOW SERPENT DREAMING

Contacts
Swan Valley Nyungah Community (08) 9377 3550
Pyrton Action Group (08) 9279 6781