Supporting the Djab Wurrung Embassy (#DjabWurrungTrees, #NoTreesNoTreaty)
This document is for those in solidarity with the Djab Wurrung people who are protecting their sacred cultural sites against the Victorian Government’s highway extension plan. At least 250 trees that have been deemed sacred or culturally significant are under threat to build a highway that will save drivers THREE MINUTES of travel time. Below are the key actions needed at this time and background information drawn from the Djab Wurrung Protection Embassy. At the end of this document are email templates to send to relevant ministers, calling guides to provide to involved groups such as Vic Roads and Major Road Projects Victoria, details of the project managers, and the security and construction companies involved in the project.
🚨 LATEST UPDATES as of Dec 3, 2020 🚨
COURT CASE DECISION: The state has decided that there is a strong case to answer in relation to the proposed road alignment upgrade that is currently set to destroy sacred Djab Wurrung trees. They are not allowed to destroy any more trees in the area surrounding the trees.
Things you can do to support:
- Travel to camp and bring needed supplies! See following page
- Solidarity actions: actions are welcomed by mob at camp. This Government has committed acts of cultural genocide. Make them hear it!
- Flood relevant ministers with complaints
- Donate: Djab Wurrung Protectors Fund (for assisting those who have been arrested/issued fines).
- Upcoming events:
Table of Contents
Resources for those traveling to camp 3
COVID Fines and Legal Resources 4
Contact government and relevant figures 6
Donating funds to the Embassy 8
Resources for those traveling to camp:
Click here for Facebook group for organising lifts: lots of action in this group with current updates and carpooling *pls note no guarantee this is a secure page*
What to bring:
If you are heading to camp, ensure that you have your own gear to be self sufficient and aren’t relying on people there supplying things for you.
Click here for the Supplies Google Doc
Click here for a live document tracking items needed
Notes on solidarity from the Djab Wurrung Embassy:
- Solidarity 101: It's about supporting Traditional Owners, the Embassy, the Country, the Culture, the trees. Don't make it about you.
- Solidarity 102: Don't be complacent out of guilt or fear, you have permission to self organise in the cities.
- Self organise, talk to your friends, use word of mouth through trusted channels to get yourself to an MPs office and make yourself heard.
- Be Covid safe and be respectful. Take pictures, post them, tweet them and send support from wherever you are.
- People on the ground are overwhelmed, facilities are stretched, people are exhausted. Cops have control of camp. Priority for support is from people who have been to camp and know the drill. If you do go, be self sufficient with food, water, supplies, and be safe!
COVID Fines and Legal Resources
Risks:
- People with a Melbourne address: at the time of fine issues you may be directed to return to Melbourne. If you’re found not following this direction you may face arrest.
- Link to Melbourne COVID checkpoints
- Letter of Residence and Occupation documentation for COVID-19 checkpoints, supplied by Zallanach Djab Mara, Senior Tribal Member of the Djab Wurrung Embassy.
COVID fines can be disputed and support requested from Solidarity and Defence Fund
Legal Representation & Numbers:
Police Accountability Project: 0402 201 617
Rob Stareys Office: 0410 949 984
After hours: 0407 410 821
If you are arrested: 0407 410 810
(Stary Norton Halphen)
Melbourne Activist Legals Support: http://www.facebook.com/melbactivistlegal/photos/a.224180211103698/1534898376698535/?type=3&theater
Remember:
Contact government and relevant figures - and keep contacting them!
(TEMPLATES AND GUIDES AT END OF DOCUMENT)
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH: “Stop Work on Djab Wurrung Country Now” campaign
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/stop_work_now
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
The following people are obligated to listen to your concerns - this is their job:
Victorian Premier: Daniel Andrews
Phone: (03) 9651 5000
daniel.andrews@parliament.vic.gov.au
Victorian Planning Minister: Richard Wynne
Phone: (03) 8683 0964 / (03) 9415 8901
richard.wynne@parliament.vic.gov.au
Victorian Transport Minister: Jacinta Allan
Phone: 03 8392 6100
jacinta.allan@parliament.vic.gov.au
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs: Gabrielle Williams
Phone: (03) 9793 2000
gabrielle.williams@parliament.vic.gov.au
Sussan Ley - Federal Minister for Environment (rejected the Heritage appeal)
Phone: 1300 303 203 / +61 2 6272 3933
Contact form: https://minister.awe.gov.au/ley/contact/contact-form
minister.ley@environment.gov.au
Vic Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change: Lily D'Ambrosio
Phone: (03) 9637 9504 / (03) 9422 5171
lily.dambrosio@parliament.vic.gov.au
Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Minister for Public Transport, Member for Niddrie, Ben Carroll MP
Phone: (03) 9095 4301
reception.carroll@minister.vic.gov.au
Mark Eccleston: Vic Roads Projects Division
Phone: 03 9209 0147
** David Thomas is the Acting Manager of state-wide heritage operations in Aboriginal Victoria. He called someone back after they phoned Gabrielle Williams’ office and gave some information below:
“He explained the process of consultation with the Recognised Aboriginal Party - Eastern Marr and the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council who have both signed off on this plan and therefore giving Major Roads Victoria this supposed mandate. If we put some pressure on them and ask them to reconsider or to properly consider the wishes of the Djap Wurrung, this approach could have some merit. If those groups even slightly rescind their permission, it’ll make the case for saving the trees a lot stronger if the govt’s official consultation process approval was taken back and make give Aboriginal Victoria some power in advocating for the trees.”
Eastern Maar
EMAC GENERAL ENQUIRIES:
EMAC HERITAGE MANAGEMENT ENQUIRIES
Craig Edwards
0475 310 509
craig.edwards@easternmaar.com.au
Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council
03 7004 7198
Submit feedback directly to Vic Roads here
https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/contact-us/feedback-and-enquiries
Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA)
Phone: 1300 372 842
Email: contact@epa.vic.gov.au
PROJECT CONTRACTORS
Major Projects Victoria (the entity enforcing the eviction)
Project direct line: 1300 779 642
Email: contact@roadprojects.vic.gov.au
Write to: The Project Director - VicRoads Western Highway Project, PO Box 148, Wendouree, Vic 3355
CPB Contractors
Melbourne office: (03) 9228 7700
Level 6, 567 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
https://www.cpbcon.com.au/en/contact-us
(see here for a link that evidences they are working on the project)
Seymour Whyte Group
Victoria office: (03) 9988 1460
Suite 3.04 / Level 3, 11 Queens Road, Melbourne VIC 3004
https://www.seymourwhyte.com.au/irm/content/locations.aspx…
(see here for a link that evidences they are working on the project)
Premier Fencing
(03) 5368 1138
0438 681 138
0429 681 139
https://www.truelocal.com.au/busin…/premier-fencing-1/ballan
SECURITY COMPANY (updated October 29)
CorSec: security guards still on country even after work agreed to stop. CorSec was hired by Major Roads Projects - call to demand why they are still on sacred Djab Wurrung land and complicit in cultural genocide
24/7 CALL CENTER: 13 000 CORSEC or (13 000 26773 )
03 9363 2233
25 Eucumbene drive Ravenhall VIC 3023
Further Vic Roads contacts:
Steve Pattinson (LEAD project manager at VIC roads)
steve.pattinson@roadprojects.vic.gov.au
(update: Steve is on leave until 11 December and email contact regarding the Western Highway should go to contact@roadprojects.vic.gov.au)
Grant Deebie (project manager at VicRoads):
Phone 1300 779 642 and request Grant Deebie
Major Road Projects Victoria
1800 105 105 (press option 5 for major road works enquiries)
VIC Roads
13 11 71 and 13 11 70
https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/contact-us/feedback-and-enquiries
Sign and share the Change.org petition to Daniel Andrews
Post and share your actions on social media, use #DjabWurrungTrees hashtag
Donating funds to the Embassy
Djab Wurrung Embassy GoFundMe campaign
- Donations will be used to cover accommodation, travel costs, food and maintenance.
- For assisting those who have been arrested/issued fines (First Nations people prioritised).
Background information
October 26, 2020
'Devastated': Anger after 'culturally significant' tree cut down at highway site | ||
October 26, 2020
Victoria Police removing protesters from Western Highway upgrade site | ||
August 25, 2019
'Like losing my son': Why trees threatened by Western Hwy are so sacred | ||
Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy - #NoTreesNoTreaty “The trees have a high social and spiritual significance for Djab Wurrung people. Some of the trees are 700-800 years old. They are rare examples that have been modified through cultural practices of our ancestors hundreds of years ago. For countless generations, our ancestors have had deep relationships with these trees, which play a critical role in looking after our people and country. Their health and safety is directly related to the wellbeing of our people and country. Their safety and protection is for the wellbeing of all people.” | ||
Statement by Andrews Government
For reference - a press release issued by Premier Andrews in February in which he declares that the freeway extension plans will be adjusted:
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/changes-to-western-highway-duplication/
Key group to follow and support:
Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy
“The Embassy is protecting against the planned destruction of sacred trees that lie among the planned highway upgrade, which sit among a highly sensitive and significant landscape.”
CLICK THROUGH TO THEIR WEBSITE AND SIGN UP TO THEIR MAILING LIST
Templates and guides
Below are templates for emailing and calling. Feel free to use these, although it is always good to modify it with consideration of who it's for. You might also mention another related issue in order to prevent an auto-generated response on the part of the politician and their team. Suggestions are indicated below.
Phone Call Talking Points (Sep 11 - works commenced)
> We ask you to cease the unauthorised work on sacred Djab Wurrung country immediately
> You have no consent from Traditional Owners and no jurisdiction to be here doing this work
> You are committing cultural genocide by continuing to participate in this work
> If you do not cease work on this project, we will be boycotting your company
Note: They will try to handball you around to other contacts, you are speaking to them for a reason, keep them on the line.
Email template to MAJOR ROAD PROJECTS VICTORIA/ VIC ROADS
contact@roadprojects.vic.gov.au (worth ccing steve.pattinson@roadprojects.vic.gov.au)
Dear ___,
I'm writing in regards to the removal and destruction of sacred trees on Djab Wurrung land as part of the Western Freeway Extension, urging you to cease works immediately. In particular, to cease the removal of trees and an unjustifiable police presence. The press statements from VicRoads regarding the consultation with Traditional Owners are false, and misleading, and the world is watching as you knowingly desecrate this sacred site. The recent destruction of the directions tree is abhorrent, particularly because it was done at a time when there were numerous barriers to accessing the site for Traditional Owners and supporters. What you are knowingly doing today is comparable to Rio Tinto’s destruction of the sacred Juukan Gorge caves.
The destruction of these sacred sites, which is inevitable under the current plans for the Western Freeway extension currently being undertaken by VicRoads, is an abrogation, fundamentally, of honouring and respecting current Victorian Treaty negotiations. If treaty is to be in any way meaningful it has to mean that non-Indigenous society understand and give way to Aboriginal law. This is Aboriginal law in practice, and VicRoads and the Victorian State Government is literally bulldozing over the top of it.
As a company that cites an Acknowledgement of Country in your email responses and purports to be “just and inclusive for all Victorians”, I am confused as to how VicRoads thinks these current works are appropriate given the cultural and environmental consequences. Further, I ask how the government can justify a Vic Roads and Victorian police presence at the site of trees that are no longer under threat, according to the Victorian Government's previous statements.
I'd also like to remind you of your duties under the Vic Charter of Human rights and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (specifically Article 32 on free, prior and informed consent). These are blatantly being ignored, undermined and disrespected under the government's current plans.
Sincerely,
Email template to Dan Andrews / Vic Gov
daniel.andrews@parliament.vic.gov.au
Dear ___,
I'm writing in regards to the removal and destruction of sacred trees on Djab Wurrung land as part of the Labor party's western freeway extension, urging you to cease both the removal of trees and use of police force.
Disturbingly, this is happening during Victorian Treaty negotiations. The destruction of these sacred sites, which is inevitable under the current plans for the Western Freeway extension, is an abrogation, fundamentally, of honouring and respecting current Victorian Treaty negotiations. If Treaty is to be in any way meaningful it has to mean that non-Indigenous society understands and respects Aboriginal law. This is Aboriginal law in practice, and the Victorian State Government is literally bulldozing over the top of it.
As a government that strives to be just and inclusive for all Victorians, I am confused as to how the government thinks these current plans are appropriate given the cultural and environmental consequences. Further, in light of the press release issued in February by Premier Andrews, and the stated amended route, I ask how the government can justify a Vic Roads and Victorian police presence at the site of trees that are no longer under threat, according to your own statement.
I'd also like to remind you of your duties under the Vic Charter of Human rights and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (specifically Article 32 on free, prior and informed consent). These are blatantly being ignored, undermined and disrespected under the government's current plans.
Finally, I ask you to consider the related issue of
(include a recent related issue here relevant to the person's portfolio or broader political responsibility. If you have the headspace, this should be worded differently among everyone and might include the recent destruction of sacred sites by RioTinto, and/or demanding a response to the ways in which politicians on both sides of the political spectrum have been complicit in normalising and enabling the spread of white nationalism. Bring up police brutality and the use of force in arresting Djab Wurrung people on Tuesday Oct 27. Ask for them to articulate what changes they are making to enact their responsibility for the safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people of colour in Melbourne and Victoria. The more specific the demand, the more attention the email should receive.)
Sincerely,
Email template to Jacinta Allan
Jacinta Allan
Minister for roads and public transport
jacinta.allan@parliament.vic.gov.au
“Dear Minister Allan,
I____ of_____ am a community member, (or) Traditional Owner strongly against/opposed to the harm, destruction and forced removal of the Djap Wurrung Sacred trees.
The current actions taking place on Djap Wurrung country are a physical threat to Traditional Custodians of the land, Elders and community members and is an act of genocide and ecocide.
If this work continues, it will have lasting devastating emotional, physical and spiritual effects on people connected to the sacred site and will affect our future generations. This is against community wishes, these sacred trees are protected by Traditional Custodians and the removal of these trees is against Djap Wurrung Traditional Law.
If you have any respect or wish to walk alongside First Peoples of Australia as a member of Parliament, you will reconsider your decision immediately.
I ask that you please call action to retract and stop any orders for workers / machinery to begin action, physical interference (attack) on our sacred sites as it poses danger to our community who are there on site, within their rights, on their country, protecting their heritage and culture.
Sincerely, ______"
Calling guide:
“I am calling to register my protest of the Labour party’s Western freeway extension and their implications for sacred Djab Wurrung sites. Premier Daniel Andrews himself stated in February that the freeway extension would only be done in consultation with Djab Wurrung community members, so I have been horrified and disturbed to learn of recent destruction of and around sacred trees, and to hear of police trying to evict the Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy. I am particularly outraged at Victorian Police’s readiness to arrest community members who are fighting against ongoing threats to their culture. These processes not only uphold and continue Australia’s history of destruction of Indigenous land and disregard for culture, but they also fly in the face of Victorian Treaty negotiations. I believe it would be very unwise for the government to ignore the collective disappointment at these events. I insist that action is taken to adjust plans for the freeway, and I will continue to register my objections until these plans are actually followed through with.”