Noel Pearson

Noel Pearson (born June 25, 1965 in Cooktown, Australia) is an Indigenous Australian lawyer, land rights activist and Director of the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership, an organisation promoting the economic and social development of Cape York. Pearson has for several years strongly argued that Indigenous policy needs to change direction, notably in relation to welfare, substance abuse, child protection, and economic development.

Life and work

Pearson grew up at Hope Vale, a Lutheran Mission in the Cape York Peninsula. He is the son of Glen Pearson, from the Bagaarrmugu clan, and Ivy Pearson, from the Guggu Yalanji dsfpeoples. His article "Walking in two worlds" provides further information about his family and community.

After attending primary school in Hope Vale, Pearson became a boarder at St Peters Lutheran College in Brisbane. Pearson completed a history and a law degree at the University of Sydney. His history thesis focused on the Hope Vale Lutheran Mission, and was published by the History Department in "Maps Dreams History."

In 1990 he co-founded the Cape York Land Council, where he was Executive Director until he resigned in 1996. He was legal advisor for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. He now continues to advise a number of Indigenous organisations in Cape York.

Following the Mabo decision of the High Court of Australia Noel Pearson played a key part in negotiations over the Native Title Act 1993 as a member of the Indigenous negotiating team.

He has advocated for self-determination for Indigenous people and criticised approaches that keep Indigenous people dependent on welfare and disempowered in the name of "progressive" policies, a position outlined in his "Light on the hill" speech in 2000.

In 2004 he became the Director of the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership.

On December 15, 2006, Pearson publicly criticised the Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions, Leanne Clare, in relation to her decision not to press charges against the police officer involved in the 2004 Palm Island death in custody of Palm Island resident Mulrunji. On January 26, 2007, Pearson welcomed the decision to prosecute the officer, after the inquiry by Laurence Street found there was sufficient evidence to press charges. Pearson also argued, however, that a 20- or 30-year plan was necessary for Palm Island.

On May 11, 2007, Pearson and Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough launched a new welfare scheme for Pearson's home town of Hope Vale. The scheme offers funds for home improvements, and low interest loans for home ownership.

On June 19, 2007, Pearson launched a report by the Cape York Institute, From Hand Out to Hand Up, on welfare reform. The report was welcomed by Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough. On June 20, Pearson argued for the necessity of intervention in relation to Aboriginal child sexual abuse. On June 21, Prime Minister John Howard announced a series of Federal government measures designed to address child abuse in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities, including welfare reform and a ban on alcohol. Pearson indicated qualified support for these measures, but has received some criticism for doing so. On July 18, the Indigenous Affairs Minister announced that the federal government would fund the welfare reform trials in Cape York recommended in From Hand Out to Hand Up.

Articles and addresses

2007

• Leftist policies pave kids' road to hell July 21, 2007.
• Action only way forward July 7, 2007.
• We must all help to stop abuse June 28, 2007 (edited version of remarks on Lateline, ABC, June 26, 2007).
• Politics aside, an end to the tears is our priority June 23, 2007.
• A structure for empowerment June 16, 2007.
• The ideal equilibrium June 9, 2007.
• Mabo legacy is still misunderstood June 2, 2007.
• Where there's life there's Hope May 26, 2007.
• White guilt, victimhood and the quest for a radical centre May 24, 2007.
• Hand up preferable by far to a handout May 19, 2007.
• Reciprocity resurrected May 12, 2007.
• When hope is lost we must imagine a future May 5, 2007.
• Choice is not enough April 28, 2007.
• Give us help to help ourselves March 17, 2007.
• Native tongues imperilled March 10, 2007.
• Vale hope in outback hellhole February 17, 2007.
• Stuck on the welfare pedestal February 10, 2007.
• Boom and dust lifestyle February 3, 2007.
• Behind the eight ball January 20, 2007.
• Grist to the legal machine January 6, 2007.

2006

• Failure to act also criminal December 30, 2006.
• Travesty on Palm Island December 23, 2006.
• Join the real world December 16, 2006.
• Labor's ideas mature December 9, 2006.
• Queenslander offers way ahead for ALP December 2, 2006.
• Skewed world view November 25, 2006.
• Uses of layered identities November 18, 2006.
• The right side of the law November 11, 2006.
• Menace of a material world view November 4, 2006.
• Walking in two worlds October 28, 2006.
• A peculiar path that leads astray October 21, 2006.
• Properties of integration October 14, 2006.
• Lessons from Palm Island October 7, 2006.
• Road to responsibility September 30, 2006.
• A mighty moral victory September 23, 2006.
• Don't listen to those who despise us June 26, 2006.
• Big government hurts Aboriginal population June 25, 2006.
• On wild rivers and the Cape York Heads of Agreement June 17, 2006.
• Visions of brighter future can liberate camp dwellers May 7, 2006.
• Arthur Mills oration—On social norms May 7, 2006.

2005

• The Cape York agenda December 5, 2005.
• In search of a sustainable future November 15, 2005.
• Peace and prosperity for Indigenous Australians October 28, 2005.
• Working toward peace and prosperity October 26, 2005.
• People, nations and peace—Mabo oration June 3, 2005.
• National reconciliation planning workshop May 30, 2005.
• Working for a better life May 17, 2005.
• Reconciliation on a building block April 19, 2005.

2004

• The dangers of mutual obligation December 15, 2004.
• No danger of another stolen generation November 15, 2004.
• Reading inquiry welcome November 12, 2004.
• Judith Wright memorial lecture September 5, 2004.
• We need real reform for Indigenous public schooling August 25, 2004.
• Poverty and public policy agenda August 12, 2004.
• Two stories of Indigenous affairs July 27, 2004.
• 2004 Australian Medical Association oration May 28, 2004.

2003

• Sir Ninian Stephen annual lecture March 17, 2003.

2001

• Dr Charles Perkins memorial oration October 25, 2001.
• What Cape York communities can do to help themselves June 15, 2001.

2000

• How the Commonwealth Government can help stop Aboriginal welfare dependency December 15, 2000.
• The light on the hill August 12, 2000.

Collections of articles

• Articles compiled by Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership (2000 to present).
• Articles compiled by Cape York Partnerships (2001 to 2004).

Profiles and interviews

• The Cape Experiment transcript of Four Corners episode, ABC, July 16, 2007. Downloads of the program and of an address by Pearson to the Hope Vale community available here.
• Noel Pearson discusses the issues faced by Indigenous communities Lateline, ABC, June 26, 2007.
• Pearson explains plan to overhaul Aboriginal welfare The 7.30 Report, ABC, June 19, 2007.
• Pearson's revolution The Age, October 28, 2006.
• The new deal Sydney Morning Herald, October 28, 2006 (short version of above).
• Action needed to stop ongoing Aboriginal crisis: Pearson The 7.30 Report, ABC, June 22, 2006.
• Pearson calls for end to passive welfare The 7.30 Report, ABC, November 14, 2005.
• The Cape crusade Australian Story, ABC, November 11, 2002 (extended transcript available here).
• Noel Pearson Background Briefing, ABC, October 29, 2000.

Short biographies

• Noel Pearson Cape York Partnerships.
• Noel Pearson Brisbane Institute.