Noel Pearson (Australian lawyer)

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Noel Pearson (born June 25, 1965, Cooktown) is an influential Indigenous Australian lawyer, land rights activist and Director of the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership, an organisation promoting the economic and social development of Cape York.

In the early part of his career Pearson was an advocate for land rights, but at the end of the 1990s he substantially shifted focus. Pearson has since then strongly argued that Indigenous policy needs to change direction, notably in relation to welfare, substance abuse, child protection, and economic development. Pearson criticises approaches to these problems which, while claiming to be "progressive," in his opinion merely keep Indigenous people dependent on welfare and out of the "real economy." He outlined this position in 2000 in his speech, The light on the hill.

Contents

[edit] Life and work

[edit] Early life

Pearson grew up at Hope Vale, a Lutheran Mission in the Cape York Peninsula. He is the son of Glen Pearson, from the Bagaarrmugu clan, and Ivy Pearson, from the Guggu Yalanji peoples.[1] His brother is Gerhardt Pearson. After attending primary school in Hope Vale, Pearson became a boarder at St Peters Lutheran College in Brisbane.[2] Pearson completed a history and a law degree at the University of Sydney. His history thesis focused on the Hope Vale Lutheran Mission, and was published by the History Department in "Maps Dreams History."

[edit] 1990s

In 1990 Pearson co-founded the Cape York Land Council, where he was Executive Director until he resigned in 1996. Pearson's first official appointment was to a Queensland government taskforce which was formed to develop land rights legislation. He was also a legal advisor for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. In 1993 Pearson acted as representative to the traditional owners in the first land claim to the Flinders Island and Cape Melville National Parks, a claim which was successful, although the owners have yet to receive title. He continues to advise a number of Indigenous organisations in Cape York.

Following the Mabo decision of the High Court of Australia Pearson played a key part in negotiations over the Native Title Act 1993 as a member of the Indigenous negotiating team.[3]

[edit] 2000s

On August 12, 2000, Pearson delivered the Ben Chifley Memorial Lecture, with the title, The light on the hill. It contained an important statement of his transformed views on Indigenous policy.

In 2004 Pearson became the Director of the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership.

On December 15, 2006, Pearson publicly criticised the Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions, Leanne Clare, in relation to her decision not to press charges against the police officer involved in the 2004 Palm Island death in custody of Palm Island resident Mulrunji.[4] On January 26, 2007, Pearson welcomed the decision to prosecute the officer, after the inquiry by Sir Laurence Street found there was sufficient evidence to press charges. Pearson also argued, however, that a 20- or 30-year plan was necessary for Palm Island.[5]

On May 11, 2007, Pearson and Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough launched a new welfare scheme for Pearson's home town of Hope Vale. The scheme offers funds for home improvements, and low interest loans for home ownership.[6][7] On May 24, Pearson published White guilt, victimhood and the quest for a radical centre, a lengthy account of his understanding of the challenges of policy formulation and enactment.

On June 19, 2007, Pearson launched a report by the Cape York Institute, From Hand Out to Hand Up, on welfare reform. The report was welcomed by Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough.[8][9] On June 20, Pearson argued for the necessity of intervention in relation to Aboriginal child sexual abuse.[10] On June 21, in response to a report entitled "Little Children are Sacred", Australian Prime Minister John Howard declared that problems of child abuse in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities had reached a crisis point, and he initiated the "national emergency response". The response involved a series of interventions including, among other things, the insertion of police and health workers, welfare reform, and a ban on alcohol.[11] Pearson indicated qualified support for these measures[12][13][14][15], but has received some criticism for doing so.[16][17] On July 18, the Indigenous Affairs Minister announced that the federal government would fund the welfare reform trials in Cape York recommended in From Hand Out to Hand Up.[18]

It was reported on September 20, 2007 that on August 12 Pearson had brokered a secret meeting between Mal Brough and Northern Territory Indigenous leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu. At the meeting Yunupingu changed his position in relation to the Northern Territory emergency response: rather than opposing the measures, Yunupingu decided the intervention was instead an opportunity for the Indigenous community. Yunupingu also signed a memorandum of understanding regarding a 99-year lease to be held over his community of Gunyangara (Ski Beach) in Arnhem Land. He also agreed to set up a council of elders in the Northern Territory to advise the government on the course of the intervention.[19][20][21][22][23]

On November 14, 2007, it was reported that Pearson had accused the Queensland government of Anna Bligh, and the federal Labor opposition led by Kevin Rudd, of "selling out Aborigines," saying that a plan to prevent development of the Cape York region was a bid to gain Greens preferences. Pearson argued that at the very moment when welfare reform was being attempted in Cape York, economic opportunities for the Aboriginal population would be "shot down" by such a move.[24]

On November 24, 2007, the day of the Australian federal election, Pearson strongly attacked the opposition leader Kevin Rudd for reneging, two days before the election, on his commitment to seek constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians.[25][26][27][28] Rudd had initially pledged bipartisan support for John Howard's proposal, made on the first day of the election campaign, to pursue a referendum recognising Indigenous Australians, but it was reported on November 23 that Rudd had stated that, should he win the election, he was "unlikely to pursue Mr Howard's plan for a reconciliation preamble."[29] The day after Rudd won the election, Labor Senator Penny Wong defended their policy of concentrating on practical rather than symbolic measures, aimed at narrowing the gap between Indigenous and other Australians.[30]

On November 30, 2007, leading Indigenous academic Marcia Langton argued for the necessity of the emergency response in the Northern Territory. Langton supported Pearson's suggestions to shut down alcohol outlets and establish children's commissions and shelters in each community.[31] On December 7, on the other hand, Philip Martin, who worked on the Welfare Reform Project in Aurukun for Pearson's Cape York Partnerships between November 2006 and May 2007, argued that Pearson's welfare reform approach cannot work unless other problems, such as inadequate policing and housing, are also addressed.[32]

Speaking in response to the Aurukun rape case involving a 10-year old girl, Pearson said on December 12, 2007 that the case was "the tip of a tragic iceberg," and that there should be no hesitation in taking Aboriginal children out of dysfunctional and dangerous family circumstances.[33][34][35] He did not, however, support calls to extend the Northern Territory emergency intervention to Queensland.[36] Pearson argued on December 15 that the sexual abuse of Aboriginal children may be lessened by establishing a "Families Responsibilities Commission" charged with making decisions about whether welfare recipients are fulfilling their obligations.[37] Prime Minister Rudd ruled out extending the intervention to Queensland in the near future[38], but stated that he was in discussion with the Queensland government about Pearson's proposal for a "Families Responsibilities Commission."[39]

On February 12, 2008, the eve of the parliamentary apology to the Stolen Generations, Pearson explained his own complex and conflicted views on the question of an apology.[40]

In April 2008, after attending Kevin Rudd's Australia 2020 Summit, Pearson argued that any proposed constitutional reform aimed at recognising indigenous Australians must be in a form acceptable to a wide range of the Australian population. He therefore indicated his belief that a "domestic agreement" would be preferable to a treaty between sovereign states.[41][42]

[edit] Articles and addresses

[edit] 2008

[edit] 2007

[edit] 2006

[edit] 2005

[edit] 2004

[edit] 2003

[edit] 2002

[edit] 2001

[edit] 2000

[edit] 1987

[edit] Collections of articles

[edit] Profiles and interviews

[edit] Short biographies

[edit] References

  1. ^ Pearson, Walking in two worlds, provides further information about his family and community.
  2. ^ Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership.
  3. ^ Gary Foley, The road to native title: The Aboriginal rights movement and the Australian Labor Party, 1973–1996.
  4. ^ DPP labelled incompetent after Palm Is charges decision.
  5. ^ Pearson calls for 20-year strategy.
  6. ^ Govt launches radical Indigenous welfare plan.
  7. ^ Hope for Pearson's great expectations.
  8. ^ Brough backs indigenous welfare overhaul.
  9. ^ Pearson defends Aboriginal welfare plan.
  10. ^ Patricia Karvelas, Pearson's challenge: spend a week watching indigenous abuses.
  11. ^ Patricia Karvelas, Crusade to save Aboriginal kids from abuse.
  12. ^ Pearson fears for Indigenous parents' freedom.
  13. ^ Noel Pearson discusses the issues faced by indigenous communities.
  14. ^ Pearson, Politics aside, an end to the tears is our priority.
  15. ^ Tony Koch & Dennis Shanahan, Get parents who shield abusers: Pearson.
  16. ^ PM accused of black land grab.
  17. ^ An interview with Gary Foley: history will judge Howard's reforms.
  18. ^ $48m pledge to Cape York welfare.
  19. ^ Top leader now backs Territory intervention.
  20. ^ Indigenous leader signs 99-year land lease to Govt.
  21. ^ Paternal feelings help thrash out pact for nation.
  22. ^ Galarrwuy Yunupingu, The challenge begins.
  23. ^ Whose coup? Canberra and clan both celebrate a deal.
  24. ^ Tony Koch, Labor accused of selling Cape down the river.
  25. ^ Padraic Murphy, Rudd betrayed us, says Pearson.
  26. ^ Paul Kelly, Pearson's dread of Rudd in power.
  27. ^ Pearson, Noel Pearson's statement on Kevin Rudd.
  28. ^ Pearson, Reconciliation U-turn shows leader's true colours.
  29. ^ Paul Kelly & Dennis Shanahan, Rudd to turn back boatpeople.
  30. ^ Labor stands by 'practical' Indigenous policy.
  31. ^ Marcia Langton, It's time to stop playing politics with vulnerable lives.
  32. ^ Philip Martin, Welfare is not the key.
  33. ^ Pearson calls for end to passive welfare.
  34. ^ Padraic Murphy & Tony Koch, Family's warnings ignored.
  35. ^ Take the children: Pearson.
  36. ^ Pearson seeks inquiry into 'cover-up'.
  37. ^ Pearson, Blame game ends here.
  38. ^ Rudd rules out extending NT program.
  39. ^ Dennis Shanahan, Indigenous 'challenges' on COAG agenda.
  40. ^ Pearson, When words aren't enough.
  41. ^ Natasha Robinson & Patricia Karvelas, Forget a treaty, say Pearson, Yunupingu.
  42. ^ Pearson, No progress without wide support.