Report on the NT Emergency Measures: An Aboriginal Perspective Olga Havnen NT Combined Aboriginal Organisations.

Report on the NT Emergency Measures: An Aboriginal Perspective

Olga HavnenNT Combined Aboriginal

Organisations

Overview

Legislation What does it do Where it will apply NT context issues impacts Concerns

Legislation

Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act, 2007

Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Payment Reform) Act 2007

Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory National Emergency Response and Other Measures) Act 2007

Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Act (Nos. 1 & 2) 2007-2008

What does it do? Suspension of RDA, territories powers Compulsory acquisition Changes to permit system Management of communities Welfare & other income support community stores Sentencing in Criminal law and bail Alcohol and pornography Ministerial powers, directions, seizure of assets

What does it do?... 725 new positions

Attorney-Generals 16 DEWR 140 IBA 10 DEST 17 Health Ageing 42 FACSIA 150 Human services 350 (Centrelink – 300)

$88m for income quarantining for approx. 25,000 people

Where will it apply?

to all Aboriginal people living in

prescribed areas including:

ALRA communities – 47

Community living areas – 16

Town Camps - 36

NT Context

disadvantage

Demographic trends

geography

needs

Socio-economic disadvantage across ATSIC regions

NT age distributions

Note also that 72% are resident on Aboriginal land

Non - Indigenous Indigenous

9 towns of 1,000-2,000

50 localities of 200-999

570 places <200

80% Aboriginal people live outside urban centres

40% growth over past 2 decades

Proportion of Indigenous people 15 years and over living in overcrowded housing by State/Teritory

010203040506070

NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas NT ACT Aust

Per

cen

tag

e

2002 2004-5

Source: Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2007

Housing needs Estimates by Territory Housing to meet

current unmet need is 5,000 dwellings over the next 3-5 years

Total unmet housing and housing related infrastructure costs is estimated to be $2.3b.

Fed commitment $800M over 4 years

Approx. $200m is new / additional $

Childcare and family safety facilities in NT

Aboriginal communities Source: 2006 ABS Census

Communities with 50+ people

Per cent

All Communities

Per cent

Childcare centre 39 13% 39 6%

Women’ refuge or safe house

15 5% 15 2%

Single men’s housing

10 3% 10 2%

Single women’s housing

23 7% 23 4%

Issues Child safety Confusion, fear Displacement / urban drift Strengthening community policing Suspension of RDA 5 year leases Permits Income quarantining v’s Centrepay

deductions Lack of external review / right of appeal

Govt Business Managers

Issues…

Overwhelming influx of public servants, meetings e.g. over 160 visitors over 10 weeks

New housing – Govt Business Managers

No additional child protection workers no additional services for victims or

perpetrators

Issues …. Health checks

Approx 17,000 children under 16 yrs est. vary but approx. 3,400 checks

completed At best 67% screened, some larger

communities less than 50% not revealing anything new No new referrals of child abuse are

known to be reported

Getting it right

Compliance with international obligations, procedural fairness and natural justice

Non-discrimination Development approach

Getting it right resources for child protection and

family support services

Need to address underlying causes of child abuse and neglect

Better alignment with recommendations of Anderson/Wild report

Getting it right Development of a long term plan to address

needs

Needs-based funding for infrastructure, housing and services – especially early childhood, pre-school and education; health; community policing

Improved cooperation and collaboration – both governments and Aboriginal people and communities

Coherent and consistent policy approach by both governments re investing in remote communities and outstations