Headlines of the week
Trump shooting
On Saturday July 13, Former President Donald Trump was the target of an apparent assassination attempt, being shot in the ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Trump, who is campaigning for the 2024 election and was days away from accepting his Republican nomination, was rushed off the stage by the Secret Service.
It was confirmed by the secret service that the shooter killed a spectator, and critically injured two others.
The secret service “neutralised” the shooter, and he was killed.
Trump posted on his social media site Truth Social shortly after saying he was fine after the event.
“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realised then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!” Former President Trump said.
Biden was also prompt in releasing a statement, condemning the violent act and extending condolences to the life that was lost.
“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country,” President Biden said.
“The bottom line is that the Trump rally was a rally that he should have been able to conduct peacefully without any problem.”
While the Shooters emotive remains unclear, The young male shooter was a registered republican.
What is clear is that political debates are becoming increasingly heated, which has led Biden to call Americans to ‘turn down the temperature’.
Treaty
The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria aims to begin treaty negotiations in November with the Victorian Government.
Co-Chair of The First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, Ruben Berg, said the assembly had declared to Victoria's Treaty Authority it was ready to enter the negotiation phase with the state government in a press conference.
All parties involved in formal conversations are to be included in a negotiation database which is overseen by the authority.
Ruben Berg said that the Treaty is being taken seriously and it is being undertaken and will be carefully executed.
"The framework that we've put in place means that the assembly has to demonstrate it's ready to negotiate, the state will have to demonstrate it's ready, and traditional owner groups will also have to demonstrate that they're ready,” Mr Berg said.
"Today, the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria is proud to say that we are ready to negotiate a Treaty."
Mr Berg said the Treaty is an avenue to instigate structural reform to transfer government decision making about First Peoples back into their hands.
"We intend on delivering on the commitments we've made to our community to get better outcomes," he said.
"We also know that government needs to be held more accountable for the activities they're taking about First Peoples. That's also what Treaty will deliver.
"We also know we need to be able to provide advice directly to government about the things that affect First Peoples."
Before commencement of negotiations the assembly will provide First Nations communities with a brief outlining what the Treaty aims to achieve.
Mr Berg said the Treaty would also "deliver benefits for all Victorians" as he pleaded with Victorians to support the Treaty which now lacks bi-partisan political support.
"We encourage all Victorians as well to follow in our journey and support us on this," Mr Berg said.
The Coalition previously supported the legislation to establish the Treaty Authority but withdrew support in January because it did not believe that it was the best way forward to improve outcomes for Indigenous Victorians.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is adamant the Voice to Parliament vote was not going to change the state's resolve to deliver the Treaty.
Reference ListBrennan, D. (2024, July 17). First Peoples’ Assembly officially announces intention to enter into Treaty negotiations. National Indigenous Times. https://nit.com.au/17-07-2024/12571/first-peoples-assembly-officially-announce-intention-to-enter-into-treaty-negotiationsFitzSimons, B., & Koslowski, S. (2024, July 24). Trump assassination attempt: what we know. The Daily Aus. https://thedailyaus.com.au/stories/trump-assassination-attempt/Hevesi, B. (2024, July 17). Critical next step taken in Victoria’s Treaty process. Sky News Australia. https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/first-peoples-assembly-of-victoria-declares-it-is-officially-ready-to-negotiate-treaty/news-story/6e36d92315c876de072bbdc07dd2b26bHome - First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. (n.d.). First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. https://www.firstpeoplesvic.org/Smyth , J. C., & Colvin, J. (2024, July 14). Trump survives assassination attempt at campaign rally. The Age. https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/shots-fired-at-donald-trump-campaign-rally-20240714-p5jtgh.htm