EXCLUSIVE | Indigenous leader silenced over welfare comments

We've got a 2GB Breakfast exclusive for you right now and it comes from an Indigenous leader who says he's being silenced.Roy RC is speaking out after being told to take down a post that he made on social media.He'd been invited to speak at a company near Orange for NAIDOC week, it was a mine.And following the visit, he put up a post on social media where he said in a video, they say the biggest killer of Aboriginal people is alcohol, gambling and drugs.Well, I beg to differ.From my experience, it's absolute poverty and welfare dependency.

That's the scourge on our community.And at the end of the video, Roy mentioned the company that he'd just been speaking at.Shortly after putting up the video, Roy copped a call from senior officials at the mine and they said, please take the video down.Roy RC, a Wiradjuri elder and former chair of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council is on the line right now.

Oh Ben, good morning to you and all your listeners, thanks for having me on your program.

No problem, how was NAIDOC week?

May, it was 50 years of Deadly.It was a sensational week, and not everybody celebrates at Ben.But that's okay.We live in a democracy, right?So, yeah, I was a bit taken back when I went out and actually spoke to this company that reached out to my company because I own and operate 100 % Aboriginal owned and and company limited by guarantee.I pay company tax.

It's a small business.I'm struggling at times, and at times it's good, but You know, just like a lot of other business owners, we try to do the right thing.

I'm going to share with my listeners right now these words that you put up on social media that were so controversial you were asked to take the video down.You said in the video, and I quote directly, they say the biggest killer of Aboriginal people is alcohol, gambling and drugs.I beg to differ.From my perspective,it's absolute poverty and welfare dependency that's the scourge on our community.

Yeah, then spot on.They are my words, and I come through that scourge of welfare dependence in absolute poverty.So I know what it's like to live in a place where there's no hope, there's no opportunity, and I had to break that cycle.Thank God I had a guide in my life who was my uncle that told me, you know, you've got to get off your backside, have a go, work hard, and things can happen for you.So I did, and I try to share that story because The scourge on our community isn't drugs, alcohol, and gambling.It's the lack of opportunity to realize the importance of economic empowerment.

And that's why I went out and spoke on NAIDOC Day to this company that said, come out and share your story.You know, experience, strength, and hope.And I did that, and I loved it.I spoke to two groups, the morning group at 6 o 'clock and then the afternoon group at the other morning group at 10 o 'clock, and the feedback was just unreal.I just couldn't believe the feedback that we got, because they can see the message in the story.You can go down this path of welfare dependency and absolute poverty, or you can get off your backside, have a go, be a leader for your family and community, and then go out and enjoy the fruits of what this country can really deliver on.

So corporates and companies play a very important role, but we have these self -appointed people, Ben, in our community that want to sit back.They're no different to the, you know, that other movement in this country where they just think that they can extort companies and corporates because of who they are in community and not really get off the backsides to have a go, you know?They're just looking for the easy, softer ways.

What was your reaction, Roy, when you copped a phone call saying, can you take the video down?

Oh, I couldn't believe it.I couldn't, well, at first I couldn't believe it, but then I knew where it was coming from.And again, Murray Watt, the minister, the Commonwealth minister for this legislation, the protection of culture and heritage, needs to reform this legislation because that legislation gives people like this individual in orange an opportunity to extort corporates and companies through stop work orders and sections 10 under the legislation.So I realized why they rang.So the issue wasn't the post, it's the process.And so when you've got self -appointed people or self -appointed claimants, that think they're above the law and they don't have to answer to anybody, then they intimidate corporates and companies.

So, Newmont, I don't blame Newmont for taking that course of action.However, I think Newmont really need to bite the bullet and say, well, we're not going to be bullied by you people.You know, there's processes.And we're going to work forward or move forward that includes, you know, engaging with First Nations people because it's really, really important.

Well, Roy, we're always going to cheer on anyone who offers some straight talk.And all you said is they say the biggest killer of Aboriginal people is alcohol, gambling and drugs.I beg to differ.From my experience, it's absolute poverty and welfare dependency.And I've heard others describe that as sit down money.money to sit down.

We don't need that.We need people to stand up and get off their bums and work hard, which you've always done, Roy.Good to talk to you, and thanks so much for your time.

Oh, Ben, look, thanks for having me on your program.I know you're really, really busy doing a great job, and I'll keep pushing this mantra of that, you know,drugs and gaming isn't the problem.The problem is the scourge of welfare dependency and absolute poverty on our communities.

Good on you mate.Roy RC, the Wiradjuri elder and former chair of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council.