For a voice IN parliament -
For a voice IN parliament -
About us
Uncle Owen Whyman, a Barkindji / Malyangapa man from Wilcannia, has started the first political party in Australia that really cares about Indigenous people: the Indigenous - Aboriginal Party of Australia (IAPA).
This is a grassroots party providing all Australians an alternative to the main Parties.
While other political parties appear to be sympathetic to Indigenous concerns, not much changes. Indigenous incarceration rates are still appalling, the highest in the world for an invaded peoples and children are still being taken from their families at an alarming rate, creating a second wave of the stolen generation.
We want to see Indigenous control of Indigenous school education, particularly for school refusers and serious funding of Indigenous lead programs to reduce youth suicide.
The Baaka and other rivers are being detroyed and their sacred water defiled. Culture is ignored as sacred sites are desecrated.
The Indigenous Party of Australia will attempt to cover all the things that matter to Indigenous people. "We know getting our people into all the parliaments of Australia is a crucial step in solving all these problems." says Uncle Owen.
We need every Indigenous and non-Indigenous person who care about these issues, and want effective Indigenous voices in politics, to join our party.
Laylah Al Saimary, youth spokesperson for the IAPA says, “I am really concerned about young people. So many do not like schools as they often have no connection to their local Indigenous community. They already think politics has nothing to do with them so we want them to know that somewhere in this wide brown land is a political party that actually cares about them, really and truly: the Indigenous - Aboriginal Party of Australia".
“You can ask me more questions by emailing our volunteers at the indigenouspartyofaustralia@gmail.com or by ringing me,
Uncle Owen on: 0499 342 340
“Please sign up today. It’s free."
Community - Connection - Country -
Community - Connection - Country -
Uncle Owen Whyman
NO. 1 NSW Senate Candidate and Convenor of the IAPA.
Introducing
Uncle Owen Whyman: First Senate candidate for NSW
Uncle Owen Whyman, a proud Barkandji/Malyangapa man from Wilcannia, is the Convenor of the Indigenous - Aboriginal Party of Australia.
An outspoken and active community leader for many years, it was the degradation of his ‘mother’, the sacred Baaka (Darling River) that spurred Uncle Owen into political action. Baaka means ‘river’ and Barkindji means ‘people of the river’.
“We are river people, I am a river man. When our river is in trouble, we all are in trouble.”
The Baaka ran completely dry in 2019 / 2020, a devastating experience for ‘river people’. Between December 2018 and January 2019 there were 3 mass fish deaths in the Lower Darling, including Murray Cod, at least 25 years old.
Many fish died due to a combination of drought, over-extraction causing algal blooms, and a sudden temperature drop that caused mixing of low oxygen water. Locals also suspect pesticide residue from cotton growing contributed.
These large fish death events covered a 40 km stretch of the Darling River, downstream of Menindee Lakes, New South Wales.
While rainfall has filled the Baaka since, it doesn’t stay up long due to chronic over-extraction, mostly for cotton and almond growing. There have also been several fish kills in the years since, but the photos are less spectacular now that the oldest biggest fish have been killed.
Uncle Owen and his people had tried everything they could think of to protect the river, including blockading the Barrier Highway at the Wilcannia Bridge' a protest which led to many arrests and heartbreak. I political party aiming for real political power, not a plaintive pleading voice, seemed the only recourse available.
As a cultural leader and respected elder in his community, Uncle Owen has a held a plethora of leadership positions, including working for Western NSW Aboriginal Legal service and president for the Paroo National Park. Whyman was also youth mentor for a local school for disadvantaged kids that has since been shut down due to bureaucratic obstinance.
Always eager to share Aboriginal culture and Traditional ways, Owen founded the dance group Barkindji Baaka Dance and Cultural Group where he continues 18 years of teaching traditional dance and digeridoo while mentoring the young people of Wilcannia and surrounds.
Holding a Diploma in Primary Healthcare, Whyman currently serves as Deputy Chair of the Mutawintji Board of Management and Land Council and is President of the Wilcannia AECE.
Having experienced first hand many of the challenges, tragedies, and everyday struggles faced by his people, Uncle Owen is exceptionally qualified to speak to these concerns and believes the tide of understanding, regarding Indigenous issues in Australia, despite the regular backlashes, is turning, and intends for the Indigenous Party to propel these new attitudes into meaningful change.
2022 Federal Election
Lawrence Brooke
2nd Senate Candidate NSW
Indigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia
Introducing
Lawrence Brooke: Second Senate candidate for NSW
Lawrence, a proud Kamilaroi man, is a builder, running his own business, located in Newcastle, NSW.
Lawrence is a strong supporter of alternate education for Indigenous kids.
This election, Lawrence says one of the main issues for regional Australia is better management of our water resources. We need to save the Baaka ( Darling River) and all other water supplies in Australia.