82-525: Noel Pearson (born 25 June 1965) is an Australian lawyer and founder of the Cape York Partnership, an organisation promoting the economic and social development of Cape York . He is also the Founder of Good to Great Schools Australia an organisation dedicated to lifting education outcomes for all Australian students. Pearson came to prominence as an advocate for Indigenous Australians' rights to land –
164-513: A "domestic agreement" would be preferable to a treaty between sovereign states. On 12 February 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. Pearson argued in August 2008 that welfare benefits should not be granted to indigenous Australians under the age of 21. On 14 November 2007, it
246-418: A 20- or 30-year plan was necessary for Palm Island. On 11 May 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. On 24 May, Pearson published White guilt, victimhood and the quest for a radical centre , a lengthy account of his understanding of
328-772: 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. In 1993, he was one of six Indigenous Australians who jointly presented the Boyer Lectures "Voices of the Land" for the International Year for the World's Indigenous People . Following the Mabo decision of the High Court of Australia Pearson played
410-460: A complex mosaic of intact tropical rainforests, tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannahs, shrublands, heath lands , wetlands, wild rivers and mangrove swamps. The savannah woodlands consist typically of a tall dense grass layer and varying densities of trees, predominantly eucalypt of which the most common is Darwin stringybark ( Eucalyptus tetrodonta ). These various habitats are home to about 3300 species of flowering plants and almost
492-520: A confidential legal settlement, The Guardian Australia issued an apology to Noel Pearson over a story they published in January 2017, which made defamatory claims. The newspaper said it "accepts that the comments regarding Mr Noel Pearson in that article were false, [...] unreservedly retracts the statements made in the article regarding Mr Noel Pearson and apologises for the harm and distress caused to him". Cape York Peninsula Cape York Peninsula
574-839: A disproportionately high biodiversity including flora of Gondwanan and New Guinean origin, the rainforests are of high conservation significance. The largest contiguous rainforest area on the peninsula occurs in the McIllwraith Range- Iron Range area. The Gondwanan flora of this area includes Araucariaceae and Podocarpaceae conifers and Arthrochilus , Corybas , and Calochilus orchids. In all, this rainforest contains at least 1000 different plants, including 100 rare or threatened species, and 16% of Australia's orchid species. On poor, dry soils tropical heathlands can be found. Northeast Cape York Peninsula supports Australia's largest areas of this highly diverse ecosystem. The extensive wetlands on Cape York Peninsula are "among
656-726: A key part in negotiations over the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) as a member of the Indigenous negotiating team. On 12 August 2000, Pearson delivered the Ben Chifley Memorial Lecture The light on the hill , with an important statement of his transformed views on Indigenous policy. In 2004, he became the Director of the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership . On 15 December 2006, Pearson publicly criticised
738-489: A large percentage (~60%) are Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders . The administrative and commercial centre for much of Cape York Peninsula is Cooktown , located in its far southeastern corner while the peninsula's largest settlement is the mining town Weipa on the Gulf of Carpentaria. The remainder is extremely sparsely populated, with about half the population living in very small settlements and cattle ranches. Along
820-405: A low-lying land link. Another link existed between Arnhem Land and New Guinea, at times enclosing an enormous freshwater lake (Lake Carpentaria) in the centre of what is now the Gulf of Carpentaria. Australia and New Guinea remained connected in this way until the shallow Torres Strait was last flooded around 8,000 years ago. Today the peninsula has a population of only about 18,000, of which
902-578: 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. Yunupingu subsequently reversed his position on the intervention, saying that it has failed and is "It is now three years old but it hasn't made Aboriginal people any richer or healthier or happier. It
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#1732869833212984-520: A move. In April 2009, Pearson went on temporary leave from Director of the Cape York Institute he had established in 2004 (though claimed at the time he was stepping down altogether). Pearson objected to legislation introduced by the Queensland government declaring certain rivers on indigenous land to be "wild rivers." He stated that he felt this legislation, which would make economic development of
1066-531: A multitude of Australian Aboriginal sign languages . Some of these languages are being acquired by children or are spoken by all generations in remote communities. Most Wik languages are being quickly absorbed by Wik-Mungkan , which seems to be the only aboriginal language on the peninsula that is developing very quickly, as it is the second language of the Wikalkan , Wik-Ngathana , and Wikngenchera . Djagaraga (also known as Yadhaigana, Dyagaraga and Yagulleone)
1148-686: A native title claim that was lodged seven years prior. The landmark ruling was delivered by Justice Debra Mortimer of the Federal Court of Australia , sitting at the Supreme Court of Queensland in Cairns . In December 2022 the Federal Court recognised the native title claims for the Kaurareg , Kulkulgal , Kemer Kemer Meriam , Ankamuthi , and Gudang / Yadhaykenu peoples. Cape York Peninsula supports
1230-461: A position he maintains. Since the end of the 1990s his focus has encompassed a range of additional issues: he has strongly argued that Indigenous policy needs to change direction, notably in relation to welfare , substance abuse , child protection , education 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
1312-710: A rescue party to the other two who had been unable to continue. The tip of the peninsula (Cape York) was finally reached by Europeans in 1864 when the brothers Francis Lascelles (Frank) and Alexander William Jardine , along with eight companions, drove a mob of cattle from Rockhampton to the new settlement of Somerset (on Cape York) where the Jardines' father was commander. En route they lost most of their horses, many of their stores and fought pitched battles with Aboriginal people, finally arriving in March 1865. The first known contact between European and Aboriginal people occurred on
1394-597: A result, from its geological history, "the flora and fauna of Cape York Peninsula are a complex mixture of Gondwanan relics, Australian isolationists and Asian or New Guinean invaders" (p. 41). Birds of the peninsula include buff-breasted buttonquail ( Turnix olivii ), golden-shouldered parrot ( Psephotus chrysopterygius ), lovely fairywren ( Malurus amabilis ), white-streaked honeyeater ( Trichodere cockerelli ), and yellow-spotted honeyeater ( Meliphaga notata ) while some such as pied oystercatcher are found in other parts of Australia but have important populations on
1476-463: Is a peninsula located in Far North Queensland , Australia. It is the largest wilderness in northern Australia. The land is mostly flat and about half of the area is used for grazing cattle . The relatively undisturbed eucalyptus -wooded savannahs , tropical rainforests and other types of habitat are now recognised and preserved for their global environmental significance. Although much of
1558-524: Is an Australian Aboriginal language from the tip of Cape York. The language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council . Traditionally the language was spoken on Eastern Cape York particularly in the localities of Albany Island and Mount Adolphus Island . Linngithigh (also known as Winda Winda and Linginiti) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by
1640-662: Is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Western Cape York in the Weipa area taking in Albatross Bay and Mission River . The language region includes areas within the local government boundaries of Weipa Town Council and Cook Shire . Uradhi (also known as Anggamudi, Ankamuti, Atampaya, Bawtjathi, and Lotiga) is an Australian Aboriginal language of the Western Cape York Peninsula. The traditional language region includes north of Mapoon and Duyfken Point and east of
1722-613: Is an Australian Aboriginal language. Its traditional language region is in Western Cape York within the local government areas of Aboriginal Shire of Kowanyama and Shire of Cook , in the catchments of the Coleman River and Mitchell River . Following the removal of Aboriginal people from their traditional lands, it is also spoken in Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama . Kuuku Ya'u (also known as Gugu Yau, Yao, Ya'o, Koko Ya'o and Koka-yao)
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#17328698332121804-507: Is an Australian Aboriginal language. The traditional language area of Kuuku Ya'u includes landscape within the local government boundaries of the Cook Shire : Eastern Cape York, Uu'ungun south to Claudie River and hinterland. Kuuk Thaayorre (also known as Koko-Daiyuri, Kuku Yak, Thayorre, and used as a generic name for several related languages/dialects) is an Australian Aboriginal Language spoken on Western Cape York Peninsula, particularly in
1886-469: Is apparent today (classified in USDA soil taxonomy as orthents ). It is because of this extraordinary soil poverty that the region is so thinly settled: the soils are so unworkable and unresponsive to fertilisers that attempts to grow commercial crops have usually failed. The climate on Cape York Peninsula is tropical savanna in the south, with a heavy monsoon season from November to April, during which time
1968-558: Is bordered by water on three sides (north, east and west). There is no clear demarcation to the south, although the official boundary in the Cape York Peninsula Heritage Act 2007 of Queensland runs along at about 16°S latitude. At the peninsula's widest point, it is 430 km (270 mi) from the Bloomfield River in the southeast, across to the west coast just south of the aboriginal community of Kowanyama . It
2050-591: Is currently poised to protect 13 of Cape York Peninsula's wild rivers under the Wild Rivers Act 2005. The peninsula is formed from the northern part of the Great Dividing Range, folded during the Carboniferous period some 300 million years ago, when Australia collided with what is now parts of South America and New Zealand. The range has experienced significant erosion since. Around 40 million years ago,
2132-497: Is high, ranging from over 2,000 mm (79 in) in the Iron Range and north of Weipa to about 700 mm (28 in) at the southern border. Almost all this rain falls between November and April, and only on the eastern slopes of the Iron Range is the median rainfall between June and September above 5 mm (0.2 in). Between January and March, however, the median monthly rainfall ranges from about 170 mm (7 in) in
2214-465: Is really and truly dragging people down to create more misery… Let's start again." Speaking in response to the Aurukun rape case involving a 10-year-old girl, Pearson said on 12 December 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. He did not, however, support calls to extend
2296-525: Is some 660 km (410 mi) from the southern border of Cook Shire, to the tip of Cape York. At the tip of the peninsula lies Cape York, the northernmost point on the Australian mainland. It was named by Lieutenant James Cook on 21 August 1770 in honour of Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany , a brother of King George III of the United Kingdom , who had died three years earlier: The point of
2378-579: The Duyfken was the first European to land in Australia, reaching the Cape York Peninsula. In February 1606, Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon landed near the site of what is now Weipa , on the western shore of Cape York Peninsula. This was the first recorded landing of a European in Australia, and it also marked the first reported contact between European and Aboriginal Australian people. Edmund Kennedy
2460-540: The "national emergency response" . The response involved a series of interventions including, among other things, the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act, compulsory management of Aboriginal people's income, the deployment of police and health workers, abolition of the permit system, compulsory acquisition of Aboriginal land and a ban on alcohol. Pearson indicated qualified support for these measures, but has received some criticism for doing so. On 18 July,
2542-592: The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet . The former department's role was to develop social policies and support affected Australian society and the living standards of Australian families. The Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination was a part of FaHCSIA. In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 3 December 2007, the functions of the department were broadly classified into
Noel Pearson - Misplaced Pages Continue
2624-818: The Indigenous voice to government . Pearson was born in Cooktown, Queensland and grew up at Hope Vale, Queensland , a Lutheran Mission in the Cape York Peninsula . He is the son of Glen Pearson, from the Bagaarrmugu, and Ivy Pearson, from the Guggu Yalanji . His brother is Gerhardt Pearson. After attending primary school in Hope Vale, Pearson became a boarder at St Peters Lutheran College in Brisbane . Pearson graduated from
2706-753: The Indo-Australian tectonic plate began to split apart from the ancient supercontinent Gondwana . As it collided with the Pacific Plate on its northward journey, the high mountain ranges of central New Guinea emerged around 5 million years ago. In the lee of this collision zone, the ancient rock formations of what is now Cape York Peninsula remained largely undisturbed. Throughout the Pleistocene epoch Australia and New Guinea were alternately land-linked and separated by water. During periods of glaciation and resulting low sea levels, Cape York Peninsula provided
2788-572: The McIlwraith Range on the eastern side around Coen . The backbone of Cape York Peninsula is the peninsula ridge, part of Australia's Great Dividing Range . This mountain range is made up of ancient (1.5 billion-year-old) Precambrian and Palaeozoic rocks. To the east and west of the peninsula ridge lie the Carpentaria and Laura Basins, respectively, themselves made up of ancient Mesozoic sediments. There are several outstanding landforms on
2870-653: The Minister for Indigenous Australians . The Group is co-chaired by Wyatt, Marcia Langton and Tom Calma . On 27 October 2022, Pearson gave the first of his Boyer Lectures , Who we were and who we can be: 'Recognition' In these lectures Pearson explores the proposal to amend the Australian Constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia through an Indigenous Voice to Parliament . In August 2024, Pearson joined
2952-502: 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 . On 26 January 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
3034-726: The University of Sydney with degrees in history and law. His history thesis focused on the Hope Vale Lutheran Mission, and was published by the History Department in "Maps Dreams History". In 1990 Pearson co-founded the Cape York Land Council, and resigned in 1996. In 1993 Pearson acted as representative to the traditional owners in the first land claim to the Flinders Island and Cape Melville National Park ,
3116-507: The dry season , those rivers are reduced to a series of waterholes and sandy beds. Yet, with the arrival of torrential rains in the wet season , they swell to mighty waterways, spreading across extensive floodplains and coastal wetlands and giving life to a vast array of freshwater and wetland species. On the Eastern slopes, the shorter, faster-flowing Jacky Jacky Creek, Olive, Pascoe, Lockhart, Stewart, Jeannie and Endeavour Rivers flow towards
3198-512: The "real economy". He outlined this position in 2000 in his speech, The light on the hill . In the first decade of the 2000s, Pearson began outlining an alternative to traditional left-wing politics that he called radical centrism . One part of his selected writings is entitled "The Quest for a Radical Centre". In November 2019, it was announced that Pearson would be one of 20 members of the Senior Advisory Group set up to help co-design
3280-475: The Aboriginal population. Pearson argued that Howard needed to promise a referendum on recognition of the indigenous population, and also that Howard was in a unique position to affect the course of indigenous relations, but only if Howard "bared his soul" to the Australian electorate. Howard accepted Pearson's advice, and on 11 October announced plans for a referendum, but was nevertheless comprehensively defeated at
3362-918: The Coral Sea, providing important freshwater and nutrients to the healthiest section of the Great Barrier Reef . On their way, those wild, undisturbed rivers are lined with dense rainforests, sand dunes or mangroves. The floodplains of the Laura Basin, which are protected in the Rinyirru and Jack River National Parks, are crossed by the Morehead, Hann, North Kennedy, Laura, Jack and Normanby Rivers. The Peninsula's river catchments are noted for their exceptional hydrological integrity. With little disturbance on both water flows and vegetation cover throughout entire catchments, Cape York Peninsula has been identified as one of
Noel Pearson - Misplaced Pages Continue
3444-544: The Directorship and only took temporary leave. In 2009 Pearson published a collection of his writings under the title Up from the Mission: Selected Writings as well as a Quarterly Essay titled Radical Hope: Education and equality in Australia . In April 2023, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Julian Leeser questioned who would be able to participate in an Indigenous Voice to Parliament should
3526-527: 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 . Pearson's position on the intervention found both support and opposition from other Indigenous leaders and members of the Australian community. On 30 November 2007, leading Indigenous academic Marcia Langton argued for the necessity of
3608-608: The Linngithigh people. The Linngithigh language region includes landscape within the local government boundaries of the Cook Shire Council : Western Cape York, Winda Winda Creek, Mission River , and Archer River . Luthigh (also known as Lotiga, Tepiti and Uradhi, see also Uradhi related languages) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Luthigh people. The traditional language area for Luthigh includes landscape within
3690-704: The Main, which forms one side of the Passage before mentioned, and which is the Northern Promontory of this Country, I have named York Cape, in honour of his late Royal Highness, the Duke of York. The tropical landscapes are among the most stable in the world. Long undisturbed by tectonic activity, the peninsula is an extremely eroded, almost level low plain dominated by meandering rivers and vast floodplains , with some very low hills rising to 800 m (2,600 ft) elevation in
3772-415: The Northern Territory emergency intervention to Queensland. Pearson argued on 15 December 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. Prime Minister Rudd ruled out extending the intervention to Queensland in the near future, but stated that he
3854-894: The Voice whilst remaining in the Liberal Party , later condemned Pearson's comments, saying: "I was very disappointed in Noel's claims. He made those remarks during Passover. In fact the time he was making those remarks, I was taking my son to the synagogue . That’s not the sort of debate we should be conducting. I think it's important that those people who are advocating Yes, do understand the concerns and queries of people who doubt. And that's certainly how I will conducting myself in this referendum campaign." Pearson's comments were condemned by other Sky News reporters such as Andrew Bolt , as well as by former Victorian Liberal Party President Michael Kroger . However, former Labor Senator Stephen Conroy denied
3936-631: The adventurous, but rewarding, drive to the tip of Cape York, the northernmost point of mainland Australia. Some of the world's most extensive and ancient Aboriginal rock painting galleries surround the town of Laura, some of which are available for public viewing. There is also a new interpretive centre from which information on the rock art and local culture is available and tours can be arranged. Over 30 Aboriginal languages are spoken on Cape York Peninsula, including Linngithigh , Umpila , Wik Mungkan , Wik-Me'nh , Wik-Ngathan , Kugu Nganhcara , Guugu Yalandji , Guugu Yimithirr , Kuuk Thaayorre and
4018-399: The area around Pormpuraaw ( Edward River ). The Thaayorre language region includes the landscape within Pormpuraaw Community Council and the Cook Shire Council . Kugu Yi'anh is a language of Cape York. The traditional language area of Kugu Yi'anh includes areas within Cape York. Kugu Nganhcara (also known as Wik, Wiknantjara, Wik Nganychara, Wik Ngencherr) is a traditional language of
4100-419: The area which includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Cook Shire . Kugu Muminh (also known as Kuku-Muminh) is one of the traditional languages which includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Cook Shire . Kunjen (also known as Koko Wanggara, Ngundjan and Olkola) is a language of Western Cape York. The Kunjen language region includes the landscape within
4182-403: The board of mining company Fortescue . On 20 June 2007, Pearson argued for the necessity of intervention in relation to Aboriginal child sexual abuse. On 21 June, 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
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#17328698332124264-452: The challenges of policy formulation and enactment. On 14 June 2007, Pearson launched a report by the Cape York Institute on welfare reform. The report was welcomed by Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough. On 17 September 2007, with Prime Minister Howard facing probable electoral defeat, Noel Pearson sent him a 6,000-word letter, arguing that Howard's best chance at re-election was to make a dramatic gesture in relation to reconciliation with
4346-492: The coast strip to the north of Port Musgrave (Angkamuthi country) incorporating the mouth of the Ducie River , the lower reaches of the Dulhunty River and the upper reaches of the Skardon River in the north. Following the displacement of Indigenous people by British settlement, it was also spoken in the Northern Peninsula Area Region including the communities of New Mapoon , Injinoo and Cowal Creek . Yir Yiront (also known as Yiront, Jirjoront, Yir-yiront, and Kokomindjan)
4428-431: The comparison to Nazism , but still acknowledged that the timing and word choices were poor. He has also allegedly used abusive language to describe some of his political opponents, such as "arse coverer", "maggot", "bucket of shit", and "fucking white cunt". Pearson denies these allegations. In August 2012 Pearson revealed that he had undergone four months of chemotherapy for lymphatic cancer . In May 2017, as part of
4510-404: The election. In November 2014, Pearson received effusive praise for his eulogy for former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam , which was hailed in the Australian media as "one of the best political speeches of our time". In November 2019, it was announced that Pearson would be one of 20 members of the Senior Advisory Group to help co-design the Indigenous voice to government set up by Ken Wyatt ,
4592-510: 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. On 7 December, 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. It
4674-414: The entire area of Cape York Peninsula (99.6%) still retains its native vegetation and is little fragmented. Although abundant and fully functioning on the peninsula, tropical savannahs are now rare and highly degraded in other parts of the world. Cape York Peninsula also contains one of the highest rates of endemism in Australia, with more than 260 endemic plant species found so far. Therefore, parts of
4756-487: The few places where tropical water cycles remain essentially intact. Cape York Peninsula contributes as much as a quarter of Australia's surface runoff . Indeed, with only about 2.7 percent of Australia's land area, it produces more run-off than all of Australia south of the Tropic of Capricorn . Tapping those heavy tropical rainfalls, the peninsula's rivers are also of particular importance for replenishing central Australia's Great Artesian Basin . The Queensland Government
4838-430: The first day of the election campaign, to pursue a referendum recognising Indigenous Australians, but it was reported on 23 November that Rudd had stated that, should he win the election, he was "unlikely to pursue Mr Howard's plan for a reconciliation preamble." 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
4920-405: The forest becomes almost uninhabitable, and a dry season from May to October. The temperature is warm to hot, with a cooler climate in higher areas. The mean annual temperatures range from 18 °C (64 °F) at higher elevations to 27 °C (81 °F) on the lowlands in the drier southwest. Temperatures over 40 °C (104 °F) and below 5 °C (41 °F) are rare. Annual rainfall
5002-431: The gap between Indigenous and other Australians. Pearson has called for constitutional amendments in two areas, "one symbolic and the other substantive": In April 2008, after attending the 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
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#17328698332125084-739: The largest, richest and most diverse in Australia". 19 wetlands of national significance have been identified, mostly on the large floodplains and in coastal areas. Important wetlands include the Apudthama Complex , Rinyirru systems and the estuaries of the great rivers of the western plains. Many of these wetlands come into existence only during the wet season and support rare or uncommon plant communities. The peninsula's coastal areas and river estuaries are lined with mangrove forests of kwila and other trees. Australia's largest mangrove forest can be found at Newcastle Bay. The peninsula harbours an extraordinary biodiversity , with more than 700 vertebrate land animal species of which 40 are endemic. As
5166-445: The local government boundaries of Kowanyama Community Council and Cook Shire Council . The Cape York Land Council, established in 1990 as a land council , has fought for native title rights, and has won such rights over 45% per cent of the region by around 2018. On 25 November 2021, 2,188 km (845 sq mi) of land on the eastern side of the peninsula were handed back to the Kuuku Ya'u and Uutaalnganu peoples, in
5248-508: The local government boundaries of the Cook Shire : Eastern Cape York, Ducie River , Northern Peninsula , New Mapoon , Injinoo , and Cowal Creek . Teppathiggi (also known Tepithiki and Teyepathiggi) is an Australian Aboriginal language of Western Cape York, Middle Dulcie River, Lower Batavia River, Ducie River , and Mapoon . The language region includes areas within the local government boundaries of Cook Shire Council . Thaynakwith (also known as Awngthim, Tainikuit and Winduwinda)
5330-435: The mainland are at Bamaga and Seisia . A completely sealed inland road links Cairns and the Atherton Tableland to Lakeland and Cooktown. The road north of Lakeland Downs to the tip of the peninsula is sometimes cut after heavy rains during the wet season (roughly December to May). The peninsula is a popular tourist destination in the dry season for camping, hiking, bird watching and fishing enthusiasts. Many people make
5412-421: The peninsula developmental road, there are small service centres at Lakeland , Laura and Coen . About 30 km (19 mi) offshore north of the tip of Cape York, there is a sizeable service centre on nearby Thursday Island . Aboriginal communities are at Hopevale , Pormpuraaw, Kowanyama, Aurukun, Lockhart River , Napranum, Mapoon, Injinoo , New Mapoon and Umagico . Torres Strait Islander communities on
5494-415: The peninsula have been noted for their exceptionally high wilderness quality. The flora of the peninsula includes original Gondwanan species, plants that have emerged since the breakup of Gondwana and species from Indomalaya and from across the Torres Strait in New Guinea with the most variety being found in the rainforest areas. Most of the Cape York Peninsula is drier than nearby New Guinea which limits
5576-414: The peninsula remains pristine, with a diverse repertoire of endemic flora and fauna , some of its wildlife may be threatened by industry and overgrazing as well as introduced species and weeds. The northernmost point of the peninsula is Cape York . The land has been occupied by a number of Aboriginal Australian peoples for tens of thousands of years. In 1606, Dutch sailor Willem Janszoon on board
5658-503: The peninsula. The peninsula is also home to the eastern brown snake , one of the world's most venomous snakes. Mammals include the rodent Cape York melomys , related to the extinct Bramble Cay melomys , which was found only on Bramble Cay in the Torres Strait and confirmed extinct in 2016. Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (Australia) The former Australian Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs ( FaHCSIA )
5740-486: The peninsula: the large expanses of undisturbed dunefields at the eastern coast around Shelburne Bay and Cape Bedford-Cape Flattery, the huge piles of black granite boulders at Kalkajaka National Park and Cape Melville , and the limestone karsts around Palmerston in the peninsula's far south. The soils are remarkably infertile even compared to other areas of Australia, being almost entirely laterised and in most cases so old and weathered that very little development
5822-461: The present town of Cardwell in May 1848, and it turned out to be one of the great disasters of Australian exploration. Of the thirteen men who set out, only three survived. The others died of fever or starvation, or were speared by hostile Aboriginal people. Kennedy died of spear wounds almost within sight of his destination in December 1848. The only survivor to complete the journey was Jackey Jackey , an Aboriginal man from New South Wales . He led
5904-455: The rainforest plants of that island from migrating across to Australia. Tropical rainforests cover an area of 748,000 ha (1,850,000 acres), or 5.6 percent of the total land area of Cape York Peninsula. Rainforests depend on some level of rainfall throughout the long dry season, climatic conditions that are mostly found on the eastern slopes of the peninsula's coastal ranges. Being almost exclusively untouched, old-growth forests and supporting
5986-399: The referendum pass. Pearson responded by questioning him if Indigenous Australians should wear a specific badge on their clothes or have a specific tattoo. Sky News Australia host Peta Credlin , an opponent of the Voice, claimed that these comments were comparing Leeser to Adolf Hitler , despite the fact that Leeser is Jewish and follows Judaism . She stated that: "This [the question]
6068-556: The river areas difficult or impossible, was an attempt by the Anna Bligh government to maintain close links with the Greens for electoral purposes, and that it ran counter to the interests of the local indigenous population. He stated that he had therefore decided to resign his Directorship in order to return to the land rights issues which had formerly been his major preoccupation. It was later revealed that Pearson in fact did not step down from
6150-450: The south to over 500 mm (20 in) in the north and on the Iron Range. The Peninsula Ridge forms the drainage divide between the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Coral Sea. To the west, a series of large, winding river systems including the Mitchell , Staaten , Coleman, Holroyd, Archer, Watson, Wenlock, Ducie and Jardine catchments empty their waters into the Gulf of Carpentaria. During
6232-519: The west coast of the peninsula in 1606, but it was not settled by Europeans until the 19th century when fishing communities, then stations and later mining towns were established. European settlement led to the displacement of Aboriginal communities and the arrival of Torres Strait Islanders on the mainland. The west coast borders the Gulf of Carpentaria and the east coast borders the Coral Sea . The peninsula
6314-595: Was a department of the Australian Government located in Greenway in Canberra . It was formed in 2007 and absorbed the former Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. As a result of an Administrative Arrangements Order issued on 18 September 2013, the Department of Social Services was established and assumed most of the responsibilities of FaHCSIA; with indigenous affairs functions assumed by
6396-554: Was a clear reference to what the Nazis did to Jews – the Star of David on their clothing, and of course, later in the death camps , the tattooed numbers on arms. It was a calculated attack of carefully chosen words, a deliberate low blow directed at Leeser who is a proud man of Jewish faith." Pearson made these comments during Passover . Leeser, who resigned from the Shadow Cabinet to support
6478-553: Was in discussion with the Queensland government about Pearson's proposal for a "Families Responsibilities Commission." On 24 November 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. Rudd had initially pledged bipartisan support for John Howard's proposal, made on
6560-425: Was reported on 20 September 2007 that on 12 August 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
6642-502: 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 The 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
6724-520: Was the first European explorer to attempt an overland expedition of Cape York Peninsula. He had been second-in-command to Thomas Livingstone Mitchell in 1846 when the Barcoo River was encountered. The aim was to establish a route to the tip of the peninsula, where Sydney businessmen were attempting development of a port for trade with the East Indies . The expedition set out from Rockingham Bay near
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