PM Transcripts

PRIMIE MIMISTER 113/ 92
JOINT STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON
P J KEATING MP, AND THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND
TRADE SENATOR THE lION GARETHT EVANS
GRANT FOR YOTHU YINDI'S UNITED NATIONS CONCERT
A $ 30,000 grant from the cultural relations program of the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade will enable Aboriginal rock group, Yothu Yindi, to help launch the
United Nations International Year of the World's Indigenous People ( YWIP) at a
concert in New York in December.
Yothu Yindi will be on a North American tour at the time and the grant covers the
extra cost of enabling them to stay on for the UN appearance in New York on
December. We believe this is a practical means of showing the Government's support for
Aboriginal rights and recognition and appreciation of Aboriginal culture.
It will also expose a representative world-wide audience to the uniqueness of Yothu
Yindi which incorporates traditional Aboriginal values in a modem musical idiom.
Yothu Yindi will perform their hit single " Treaty" as well as other songs from their
1992 album " Tribal Voice" which has won many awards including the Human Rights
Commission Award for Songwriting and the Australasian Performing Rights
Association's Award for " Song of the Year".
The Prime Minister has written to all Ministcrs in regard to the IYWIP, asking them to
identify ways in which their portfolios can mark the year and provide specific funding
for IYWIP activities. He has also written to all Premiers, Chief Ministers and the
Australian Local Government Association, inviting them to join with the
Commonwealth in celebrating the year, and seeking their co-operation in making the
year another one of real achievement on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues.
NOTE FOR EDITORS: There will be a photo opportunity when the Prime Minister,
Mr Keating, meets members of Yothu Yindi at Kirribilli House today ( Sunday,
October) at 3: 15 pm.
CANBERRA October 1992