Stronger Futures Update

On 19 October 2011, the Government released a report on its consultations on the future of NT remote communities.

The consultations report shows that Aboriginal communities raised many concerns about the lack of services and infrastructure in their communities, including the inappropriateness and inadequacy of education services available. They also proposed many solutions, including incorporating Aboriginal culture into the curriculum, involving parents and Elders more in local schools, providing mentors for struggling parents and doing more to attract and retain good teachers – all with a view to putting communities back in the driving seat.

ANTaR is concerned that the Government's initial response to the consultations on the future of Northern Territory communities shows a determination to continue on much the same ‘Intervention’ course. Its proposal to extend income support suspension, linked to school attendance, is alarming due to the harm it is likely to cause to families and children. Under the scheme, families face more than three months without income support payments.

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ANTaR is also concerned that the many and diverse voices of Aboriginal people in communities expressed in the consultation process were either not heard, or are not being respected in the announcement of future directions.

The Government's initial response is disappointing but ANTaR, along with many Aboriginal organisations, advocates and community members in the Northern Territory, will continue to advocate for better solutions that empower communities.

A Better Way: Building healthy, safe and sustainable communities in the Northern Territory through a community development approach

In response to the Government's 'Stronger Futures' discussion paper on the future of the Northern Territory, ANTaR has published a submission, calling on both major parties to learn from the international development experience and work with Aboriginal people to plan the transition from intervention to sustainable futures.

It also recommends that the language and style of ‘intervention’ be abandoned, and that Government seek sustainable solutions that empower local people, informed by community development principles and focused on capacity building.

A Better Way: Success Stories in Aboriginal community-control in the NT

ANTaR calls on governments to support empowered Aboriginal organisations and communities to drive solutions to the challenges they face.

This new booklet of success stories showcases 13 successful Aboriginal community-controlled organisations in the NT that are working across a diverse range of sectors. All feature Aboriginal management and administration, are responsive to local community needs and priorities and work in partnership with other organisations.

Individually, these organisations are tackling petrol sniffing, delivering health care, ensuring access to healthy foods, building self-reliance in times of financial crisis, supporting people to budget and eat well and delivering banking services to remote areas. Together, they offer an alternative response to the challenges facing Aboriginal communities based on community participation and leadership.

Since 2007 Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER), Aboriginal communities in the NT have faced myriad, complex policy changes, including reforms to Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP), housing, education and local government. Many of these changes have been imposed on communities without consultation or consent.

Recent reforms have missed opportunities to build the capacity of local communities and to work in partnership with Aboriginal people. In some cases, like CDEP, reforms have reduced the capacity of community organisations and threatened the viability of existing programs and services. The services we are profiling in the publication are achieving remarkable outcomes despite current policy constraints.

On 21 June 2007, the former Federal Government announced an intervention in the Northern Territory (NT) in response to the declared crisis of child abuse in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities. The changes announced included suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act, blanket compulsory income management, the scrapping of the permit system, changes to the CDEP program, and the Commonwealth takeover of Aboriginal land on five-year leases.

ANTaR considers that Australian governments have a responsibility to intervene to protect children in danger from violence, neglect and abuse. However, ANTaR is concerned that the changes introduced by the Federal Government failed to adopt the approach recommended by the Little Children Are Sacred report to positively engage Aboriginal communities and to provide the additional services and capacities necessary to establish the conditions for safe and strong communities. We therefore welcome the support given by both the Australian and NT governments for the recommendations of the recent Growing them strong, together report on child protection in the NT that highlight the need for increased Aboriginal engagement and community controlled service delivery in relation to family support and child protection.

Meanwhile, ANTaR has consistently maintained that breaching the Racial Discrimination Act was not necessary to protect children. In particular, we have expressed our concerns that this led to mistrust, division and increased intolerance towards Aboriginal people that are barriers to empowering Aboriginal communities and keeping children safe. Whilst ANTaR welcomed the recent partial reinstatement of the Racial Discrimination Act, we are concerned that this does not go far enough in protecting the human rights of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. We will continue to call for the full reinstatement of the Act.

Download ANTaR's A Better Way: Success Stories in Aboriginal community-control in the Northern Territory publication

Watch A Better Way on Vimeo, or watch the extended version.

"If it is to work, community development must be led by the community and partnered by government." Northern Territory Emergency Response Review Board, 30 September 2008

Aboriginal leader calls for social justice outside Australia House in London

15 May 2011 -Rev. Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra OAM, senior elder and Dhurili Clan Nation leader of the traditional Yolngu peoples of Northeast Arnhem Land, has delivered a speech to the world's media outside the Australian High Commission in London. He expressed the deep hurt of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory caused by the Northern Territory Intervention and other policies that breach their human and cultural rights. Rev. Dr. Gondarra announced the Global Call to Action for Aboriginal Rights, which draws from a statement signed by former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and other eminent Australians. He has invited the global community to support Aboriginal people in their struggle.

Read about Dr Gondarra's protest here.

You can help create a better way

Help ANTaR create a better way for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory:

• Download and read ANTaR's A Better Way: Success Stories in Aboriginal community-control in the Northern Territory publication
• More details about A Better Way campaign
• Use our campaign materials to tell more people what's happening in the NT
• Read more information and views about the Northern Territory Intervention