Draft legislation to reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA) in relation to the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) is a crucial opportunity to turn around the Federal Government's troubled relationship with Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation) said today.

"Reports released on Monday on the Federal Government's consultation process for 'redesigning' the NTER indicate the urgent need for fundamental change in the government's approach to dealing with Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory", ANTaR President, Dr Janet Hunt said.

"It is clear that unless the government reinstates the RDA and embraces a genuine partnership approach rather than coercive measures, its significant investments in the NT will be wasted and a precious opportunity for positively re-engaging with Aboriginal communities on collaborative strategies towards 'closing the gap' will be lost".

The reports reveal a deeply disturbing picture of widespread community frustration and confusion regarding the measures introduced under the NTER. Communities have been struggling to cope with chaotic, uncoordinated and disempowering changes that have been imposed without their input.

"The government's consultation process provides no basis for continuing aspects of the NTER, such as compulsory quarantining of income - either as so-called 'special measures' or if applied to all welfare recipients across the Territory to avoid racial discrimination", Dr Hunt said, “There are strong feelings about this indiscriminate measure which persist. The Government’s own NTER review recommended that it be scrapped a year ago but nothing has been done.

“Reports yesterday of a proposal to extend income management to non-Indigenous Territorians suggests the government has failed to listen to Aboriginal Territorians on this issue.”

“It is to be hoped that the RDA will be reinstated and the discriminatory and coercive aspects of the NTER ended sooner rather than later.”

“The government's recent consultation process was extensive, but ineffective. Fundamental flaws and failures in the consultation process were evident at every level. These included a lack of independence by those doing the consultations, a pre-determined government agenda and inadequate explanation and communication during meetings” Dr Hunt said.

The consultations provide a very poor foundation for repairing an already damaged relationship”, Dr Hunt concluded.

Media comment:
Dr Janet Hunt (Canberra) 0408 170 448
Dr David Cooper (Darwin) 0418 486 310