Flawed and inadequate consultation with Aboriginal communities remains a key concern at the second anniversary of the Northern Territory Emergency Intervention, according to ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation).

“The lack of significant improvements resulting from of the intervention measures and the continuing concerns and opposition from affected communities, demand that fundamental changes are made to the Australian Government’s approach in the Northern Territory”, ANTaR spokesperson, David Cooper said.

“Instead the Minister continues to ignore this evidence and significant community opposition and to push for the intervention measures to be continued largely unchanged.

“The current community consultation process raises concerns about the basis of the Government’s commitment to reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act in relation to the intervention measures.

“The apparent sidelining of Aboriginal community-based organisations and lack of adequate provision of interpreters and independent monitors suggest that once again we will see a pre-determined outcome from this roadshow.

“We’ve seen almost $200 million spent so far on income quarantining 15,000 people with no reliable, independent evidence of positive impact. Meanwhile:

• "The Australian Government is providing a paltry and inadequate $20 million a year for services for the nearly 10,000 people living on over 500 homelands and outstations;
• The provision of new housing and infrastructure is being used to coerce communities into signing over long-term leases – an agenda that seeks to sideline traditional land owners, residents and their representative organisations from community development decision-making;
• There has been a significant increase in top-down control of decision-making via Government Business Managers and other bureaucrats;
• There has been virtually no increase in child protection workers since the intervention began.

The skewed priorities of the NT intervention risks squandering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to address Indigenous disadvantage and develop strong, self-reliant communities.

“ANTaR urges the Australian Government to use the current community consultation process as a first step in developing a real partnership with communities; one that reflects Prime Minister Rudd’s National Apology promise to reset the relationship between Indigenous Australians and the Government on the basis of respect.

“The Australian Government needs to properly listen to and engage Indigenous people in finding and implementing solutions”.

Media contacts: David Cooper (Darwin) 0418 486310 OR Janet Hunt (Canberra) 0408 170 448