The Role of Allocative Power and Its Diminution in the Constitution and Violation of Wiradjuri Personhood

Author(s):  
Gaynor Macdonald

This paper explores the role of allocative power in constituting Wiradjuri personhood, in turn enabling practices they refer to as caring and sharing. New South Wales is one of Australia’s most developed states, and Wiradjuri people have undergone immense change since colonization began in the 1820s. What changed, why and how, has only recently become a focus for anthropology, partly in response to recent social stress. Enduring unemployment, reliance on social service benefits, and centralized control of their modest resource base has undermined Wiradjuri ways, introducing unanticipated contradictions. Experienced by some as opportunities, for many it became more difficult to address their experienced world and to sustain a known social order. Concerns voiced by Wiradjuri people often targeted other community members rather than changes they had little control over. A key to understanding both the concerns and why these were personalized lies in the way the allocative power essential to the expression of caring and sharing had been challenged by state programs ostensibly designed to achieve social justice and development. To explore the impact of changes introduced from the 1970s, I integrate an historical with a social analysis, drawing on my observations of Wiradjuri interactions over more than 30 years.

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 421 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Bruce ◽  
J. A. Kirkegaard ◽  
J. E. Pratley ◽  
G. N. Howe

Field experiments were conducted in southern New South Wales to determine the effect of surface-retained wheat stubble on the emergence, growth and yield of canola. The 5 experiments included treatments to investigate the impact of stubble load, stubble cultivar and level of decomposition as well as the impact of different environments on the crop response. Overall, 5 t/ha of surface-retained wheat stubble reduced the rate of emergence, plant establishment (mean reduction 33%), vegetative biomass (–56%) and yield (–23%), although the impact varied with site and season. Laboratory experiments assessing the phytoxicity of stubble revealed the possible role of allelopathy in the growth response at 1 site; however, there was no correlation between laboratory phytotoxicity of different stubble cultivars and their impact on canola growth at any other site. Wheat stubble comprising thinner stems (lower straw linear density) had a greater impact on emergence at 2 of the sites, indicating a possible role of reduced light penetration in the growth response. Colder temperatures on the surface of the stubble also reduced emergence and growth, and caused seedling death at the coldest sites. The experiments confirm the widely observed phenomenon of poor canola growth in surface-retained wheat stubble, and suggest several possible mechanisms for the effect, although further studies are required to determine their relative importance in different environments.


1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
TS Andrews ◽  
RDB Whalley ◽  
CE Jones

Inputs and losses from Giant Parramatta grass [GPG, Sporobolus indicus (L.) R. Br. var. major (Buse) Baaijens] soil seed banks were quantified on the North Coast of New South Wales. Monthly potential seed production and actual seed fall was estimated at Valla during 1991-92. Total potential production was >668 000 seeds/m2 for the season, while seed fall was >146000 seeds/m2. Seed fall >10000 seeds/m2.month was recorded from January until May, with further seed falls recorded in June and July. The impact of seed production on seed banks was assessed by estimating seed banks in the seed production quadrats before and after seed fall. Seed banks in 4 of the 6 sites decreased in year 2, although seed numbers at 1 damp site increased markedly. Defoliation from mid-December until February, April or June prevented seed production, reducing seed banks by 34% over 7 months. Seed banks in undefoliated plots increased by 3300 seeds/m2, although seed fall was estimated at >114 000 seeds/m2. Emergence of GPG seedlings from artificially established and naturally occurring, persistent seed banks was recorded for 3 years from bare and vegetated treatment plots. Sown seeds showed high levels of innate dormancy and only 4% of seeds emerged when sown immediately after collection. Longer storage of seeds after collection resulted in more seedlings emerging. Estimates of persistent seed banks ranged from 1650 to about 21260 seeds/m2. Most seedlings emerged in spring or autumn and this was correlated with rainfall but not with ambient temperatures. Rates of seed bank decline in both bare and vegetated treatment plots was estimated by fitting exponential decay curves to seed bank estimates. Assuming no further seed inputs, it was estimated that it would take about 3 and 5 years, respectively, for seed banks to decline to 150 seeds/m2 in bare and vegetated treatments.


1995 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael O'Donnell

Decentralizing industrial relations within New South Wales is a central recom mendation of the Niland Green Paper (1989). Decentralism also represents the cornerstone of the New South Wales government's industrial relations reform agenda enshrined in the New South Wales Industrial Relations Act 1991. To date there has been little analysis of the impact o f this legislative change on industrial relations in the New South Wales public sector. This paper provides a case study that examines the degree to which responsibility for bargaining has been devolved within the Parks and Gardens of the New South Wales Ministry for the Environ ment. It argues that, in contrast to the rhetoric of the New South Wales Act, the central agency presiding over the introduction of enterprise bargaining in the public sector, the Public Employment and Industrial Relations Authority; has been reluctant to delegate responsibility to parties in the workplace.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352199862
Author(s):  
Tara Dimopoulos-Bick ◽  
Louisa Walsh ◽  
Kim Sutherland

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect health care systems globally, and there is widespread concern about the indirect impacts of COVID-19. Indirect impacts are caused by missed or delayed health care—not as a direct consequence of COVID-19 infections. This study gathered experiences of, and perspectives on, the indirect impacts of COVID-19 for health consumers, patients, their families and carers, and the broader community in New South Wales, Australia. A series of semi-structured virtual group discussions were conducted with 33 health consumers and community members between August 24 and August 31, 2020. Data were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach. The analysis identified 3 main themes: poor health outcomes for individuals; problems with how health care is designed and delivered; and increasing health inequality. This case study provides insight into the indirect impacts of COVID-19. Health systems can draw on the insights learned as a source of experiential evidence to help identify, monitor and respond to the indirect impacts of COVID-19.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-80
Author(s):  
Daniel Kwai Apat ◽  
Wellington Digwa

This paper examines mental health policies in relation to African communities residing in New South Wales, Australia and the attitudes of African communities toward mental disorders and mental health services. Current mental health policy frameworks have shown an inadequate inclusion of African communities. This may negatively affect the design of mental health interventions and how African communities engage with mental health services. The available mental health literature on African communities showed disjointed and uncoordinated data which focuses on specific community-groups within African communities. Insufficient mental health or suicide data, combined with African community members’ perception toward mental disorders and mental health services, makes it very difficult to progress engagement and interventions. There is a need for proper and sizable data on mental health related to people of African descent in NSW and Australia wide, if positive outcomes are to be realised.


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