On 21 June 2007, then-Prime Minister John Howard announced an intervention in the Northern Territory (NT) in response to the crisis of child abuse in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities.

Among the proposed changes were scrapping of the permit system controlling access to Aboriginal lands, the CDEP program, compulsory medical checks for children, 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 and abuse. This is particularly the case in relation to Aboriginal children, who have been found by numerous reports to have a greater risk of being abused than non-Aboriginal children. We welcome the significant additional resources ($587 million) that have been directed towards Northern Territory Aboriginal communities as a result of the Intervention.

However, ANTaR is also concerned that unless changes are made to the Federal Government's approach, its attempt to stop child abuse in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities will fail.

ANTaR disagrees with the former Federal Government that breaching the Racial Discrimination Act is necessary to protect children. In particular, we are concerned that this has led to mistrust, division and increased intolerance towards Aboriginal people that are barriers to protecting Aboriginal children from abuse.

Recent key reports

Report: Progress of the Northern Territories Emergency Response Child Health Check Initiative

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (along with the Department of Health and Ageing) has released a new report today: Progress of the Northern Territory Emergency Response Child Health Check initiative. Preliminary results from the Child Health Check and follow-up data collections. December 2008

ANTaR Report: Federal Government response to the NTER Review

The recommendations of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) review report provide an opportunity to refocus the Federal Government’s efforts from an emergency to community development approach in improving the lives of Northern Territory Aboriginal children. This is ANTaR's response. 23 October 2008

Report: Report of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) Review Board

The NTER Review Report provides an independent and transparent assessment of the first 12 months of operation of the Northern Territory Emergency Response. 13 October 2008

Report: A Community Based Review of the Northern Territory Emergency Response

This is a quantitative and qualitative study of the impact of the Northern Territory Emergency Response on the Aboriginal communities of Barunga, Wugularr, Eva Valley, Kalano, and associated outstations, within the Katherine East region of the Northern Territory. This research presents a range of findings and recommendations, geared towards assisting in delivery of the aims of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) as stated in the Terms of Reference for the NTER Review Board. Download the report from the University of Newcastle website.

Report: Northern Territory National Response Act

The Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 (PDF), to respond to the Northern Territory’s national emergency.

Report: A proposed Emergency Response and Development Plan to protect Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory

This report (PDF 121k) from the Combined Aboriginal Organisations of the Northern Territory was a preliminary response to the Australian Government’s proposals.

Submission: ANTaR's submission to the Inquiry into the Appropriation of the NT National Emergency Response Bill

This is ANTaR's submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee Inquiry into the Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2007-2008 (PDF 115k).

Submission: AIDA's submission to the Inquiry into the Appropriation of the NT National Emergency Response Bill

This is Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association's submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee Inquiry into the Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Bill (No. 2) 2007-2008 (PDF).

All things considered — a range of opinions

To give you a complete picture about the NT intervention, here's a range of statements, reportage and opinions. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of ANTaR, but we think they should be considered and thoughtfully debated.

Statements

• Government approach to NT Intervention should be incentive based and tailored to individual community needs - ANTaR, 23 October 2008
• All sides of politics urged to support NTER Review recommendations - ANTaR, 13 October 2008
• 10 point plan to improve NT intervention - Tom Calma, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, 31 March 2008
• Call to protect all children - Anglican Church, 23 October 2007
• John Howard is taking over the Territory - Rex Wild, 13 September 2007
• The Australian Greens - August 2007
• Parliament Supports Vital Reforms to Protect Aboriginal Children - The Hon Mal Brough MP, 17 August 2007
• Government’s fatally flawed NT Bills pass Senate - Australian Democrats, 17 August 2007
• Maori doctors concerned for long term improvements in Indigenous Australians' health - Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association & Te Ohu Rata o Aotearoa - Maori Medical Practitioners Association, 26 July 2007
• NT Emergency Response - Good progress in first month but long road ahead - Mal Brough MP, 19 July 2007
• Bishops lash black welfare bans - Sydney Morning Herald, 6 July 2007
• Letter to the Prime Minister regarding the Government's 'emergency plan' to address child sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities (PDF) - Law Council of Australia, 4 July 2007
• Jenny Macklin, Labor's Indigenous Affairs spokeswoman speaks to ABC's Insiders, 1 July 2007
• Reawakening awareness - The Age, 29 June 2007
• Statement from Mutitjulu, 28 June 2007
• A human rights based approach is vital to address the challenges in Indigenous communities - Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, 26 June 2007
• John Howard's address to the Sydney Institute, 25 June 2007
• Social Justice Commissioner's statement on the government's 'national emergency' measures - Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, 22 June 2007
• Indigenous doctors demand real and long term results in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids' health (PDF) - The Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association, 22 June 2007
• SNAICC Media Release - Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care, 22 June 2007
• Indigenous Child Abuse - Australian Medical Association, 22 June 2007
• Federal Measures On Child Abuse In Indigenous Communities - Australian Labour Party, 22 June 2007
• Statement by Reconciliation Australia in response to National Emergency Measures to protect Aboriginal children - Reconciliation Australia, 21 June 2007

Reportage

• Intervention policy does not wash - Sydney Morning Herald, 3 March 2008
• Thousands to march against NT intervention - ABC, 11 February 2008
• Indigenous community gives Rudd CDEP plan - ABC, 16 December 2007
• Labor eyes expanded NT scheme - The Australian, 1 December 2007
• It's time to stop playing politics with vulnerable lives - Sydney Morning Herald, 30 November 2007
• Outback welfare cards sold for cash - The Australian, 30 November 2007
• Scheme 'based on flawed opinions' - The Australian, 29 November 2007
• Not Holding Our Breath - The Epoch Times, 27 November 2007
• Federal election ripples capsize NT leadership - Sydney Morning Herald, 27 November 2007
• Labor softens stand on intervention - The Australian, 27 November 2007
• Abolishing CDEP: Coming soon to a community near you - Crikey, 16 November 2007
• NT intervention 'a health opportunity' - SBS World News, 9 November 2007
• One policy, two camps - the takeover rift - Sydney Morning Herald, 27 October 2007
• Aboriginal MP backs intervention - The Australian, 25 October 2007
• Desert elders lash out at intervention - The Age, 25 October 2007
• Labor minister lashes party over intervention - Sydney Morning Herald, 24 October 2007
• Territory for hope - The Australian, 23 October 2007
• What indigenous health experts think of the NT intervention - Crikey, 18 October 2007
• PM's victory on land deal - The Australian, 20 September 2007
• Aborigines to get $100m health corps boost - Sydney Morning Herald, 18 September 2007
• Misdiagnosing a "National Emergency" - Crikey, 15 September 2007
• Aboriginal health: a decade-old election promise - The Lancet, 15 September 2007
• New Aboriginal alliance vows to fight NT intervention - ABC, 14 September 2007
• NT intervention threatens Aboriginal program - The Age, 13 September 2007
• Shame Job - Sunday, 26 August 2007
• The Law Report interview with Olga Havnen - ABC, 21 August 2007
• 'A sad day for Aborigines' - SBS World News Australia, 18 August 2007
• Intervention bills will let Govt 'do what is necessary' - ABC News, 17 August 2007
• Senate passes NT indigenous laws - Sydney Morning Herald, 17 August 2007
• Lack of respect will not help indigenous children - Sydney Morning Herald, 14 August 2007
• Entering dangerous territory - Sydney Morning Herald, 11 August 2007
• PM's wedge is no gift to Aborigines - The Australian, 10 August 2007
• Building a future for black Australia - The Canberra Times, 30 July 2007
• Opal fuel saved my life - The Australian, 30 July 2007
• Long to see PM over a new deal - Herald Sun, 29 July 2007
• No family favours on the bush beat - The Australian, 28 July 2007
• Kids behind some 'atrocities' - The Australian, 28 July 2007
• Fear replaced by thanks - The Daily Telegraph, 28 July 2007
• Mutitjulu requests adult health care - The Age, 27 July 2007
• Sex abuse, alcohol - and tea - The Daily Telegraph, 27 July 2007
• Fact vs Fiction: The truth behind a bandaid solution - National Indigenous Times, 26 July 2007
• Aboriginal coalition's alternative plan - The Australian, 11 July 2007
• 'I asked them to act 10 years ago' - The Australian, 9 July 2007
• All parents to face loss of welfare payments - The Australian, 4 July 2007
• How hard is Howard's way? - The Age, 1 July 2007
• Ditch politics when children are suffering - The Australian, 28 June 2007
• It's our hurricane Katrina, says emotion-charged PM - The Age, 26 June 2007
• Now comes the hard part - action - Sydney Morning Herald, 25 June 2007
• Black aid plan could do more harm than good - The Age, 24 June 2007
• Attempting to make up for decades of neglect - The Age, 22 June 2007
• Alcohol, porn ban for NT indigenous - The Age, 21 June 2007

Opinion and Analysis

• An unfinished business - Rex Wild, 11 September 2008
• NT Intervention one year on - Janet Hunt, ANTaR, 21 June 2008
• Saving children's lives a matter of long-term will - Fiona Stanley, Sydney Morning Herald, 31 July 2007
• Opinion from NSW Rape Crisis Centre, 26 July 2007
• An entire culture is at stake - Patrick Dodson, The Age, 14 July 2007
• Remote Communities: Unexplained Differences - Ian Anderson, Australian Policy Online, 29 July 2007
• Indigenous affairs minister Mal Brough speaks to Insiders - ABC, 24 June 2007
• Pat O'Shane's open letter to Kevin Rudd, 24 June 2007
• Interview: Kevin Rudd - Nine's Sunday program - 24 June 2007
• The devil in the detail - Karen Middleton, The Canberra Times, 23 June 2007
• Politics aside, an end to the tears is our priority - Noel Pearson, The Australian, 23 June 2007

Should the NT intervention be changed, maintained or scrapped ... and why?

We encourage considered, respectful and where necessary provocative debate. Please feel welcome to have your say, and in turn allow others to have their say without responding in anger or distrust.

ANTaR reserves the right to delete any comment that contains offensive, defamatory or discriminatory content. If you feel any of these comments are of this nature, please let us know.