If your government told you where and how you could spend your money, wouldn't you feel outraged?

If your government said it would only fix essential services to your property as long as you agreed to hand over control of your property for a fixed amount of time, wouldn't that sound ridiculous?

If someone came from outside your community and imposed upon you, your family and friends a system that you could plainly see would cause more problems than it solves, wouldn't you stand up and shout NO!

The truth is, this is how your Government treats Aboriginal communities across the Northern Territory. In the NT this is the law. Aboriginal people have been standing up and shouting NO but their voices have been ignored.

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

There is a better way. There's plenty of evidence around to show that sustainable, community-led solutions are the most effective way of solving community problems. And that faceless bureaucrats rolling out their policy-from-afar does NOT work.

"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

Government support is definitely needed, but it must not ignore Aboriginal voices, and it should build on evidence of what’s already working in communities across the NT – because there’s plenty to draw from.

You can help create a better way

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

• Sign-up to become an ANTaR Advocate for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory
• Find out what is actually going on in the Northern Territory
• Read about community-led solutions that are working
• Read more about the discriminatory laws
• Use our campaign materials to tell more people what's happening in the NT