Tent Embassy calls for AHC investigation

Tent Embassy calls for AHC investigation
Image: Blockade for The Block, Sunday July 7. Photo: Kate Ausburn

Kyol Blakeney, an Indigenous Officer at the University of Sydney, met with Redfern Tent Embassy elders earlier this week to discuss launching an official investigation into the Aboriginal Housing Company’s (AHC) allocation of funds over the last ten years.

This proposal follows last Sunday’s sit-in (June 7th) at the Redfern Tent Embassy to protest the beginning of construction of the AHC’s Pemulwuy Project. The protestors oppose the use of AHC funds to construct unaffordable student housing in The Block.

The protest succeeded in delaying construction and the proposal for an official inquiry aims to close the project down altogether.

Mr Blakeney and the Tent Embassy are proposing an investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption into the use of AHC funds leading up to the Pemulwuy Project planning. They are also proposing the Sydney University Welfare Officers lodge a freedom of information request on behalf of the Redfern Tent Embassy.

“We feel that this is the quickest way to achieve transparency through law,” Mr Blakeney said.

“The reasoning for the commercial student housing development going up is to make profit for the AHC, but if they’ve had ten years of sponsorship and other income, then where has it gone and why haven’t any houses been built?”

Mr Blakeney said the proposal is still in its development stages.

A major issue surrounding the Pemulwuy Project controversy is whether or not Sydney University still has investment in The Block, according to Mr Blakeney.

When asked about last week’s protest, City of Sydney Councillor Irene Doutney expressed concerns about the operation of the AHC.

“The vision from the early 70s and the AHC’s setup is very different from the corporate model now. It’s totally disconnected from the original residents of The Block,” she said.

Sunday night’s sit-in at The Block has continued throughout the week, and the Tent Embassy plans to maintain the protest until the development is called off entirely.

“There are a lot of people who are in and out every day, and the elders of the Tent Embassy are always there,” Mr Blakeney said.

The protest has also arranged to increase their presence if construction begins.

“If the bulldozers roll in tomorrow morning, everyone will get a call and they’ll show up.”

“The contract with the construction company, DeiCorp, runs out in a few months so they have until then to forcibly remove the Tent Embassy from the block.”

City Hub was told DeiCorp is unable to comment as its spokesperson is currently on annual leave.

Michael Mundine, CEO of the Aboriginal Housing Company, told City Hub the protests would not stop the construction from going ahead, and confirmed the AHC has no plans to cancel the project.

“These protests will not stop us. Nothing will stop us,” Mr Mundine said.

“The construction will go ahead regardless.”

Mr Blakeney said he and the Tent Embassy had reached a consensus on the plan to launch an investigation and they are now beginning to plan the practical steps they will be taking to this end.

 

You May Also Like

Comments are closed.