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The Northern Territory Government today released its submission to the Northern Territory Emergency Response Review Board, making more than 60 key recommendations.

 

Chief Minister Paul Henderson together with the Minister for Indigenous Policy, Marion Scrymgour, said the submission emphasised that a new approach to service delivery in the bush was required.

 

“Community engagement must underpin any plan to turnaround the disadvantage in remote Indigenous communities,” Mr Henderson said.

 

“Working with Aboriginal people to establish a new governance framework is also necessary and adequate resources must be committed to address disadvantage.”

 

Ms Scrymgour said the Territory Government is committed to Closing the Gap of disadvantage between Indigenous and non indigenous Territorians.

 

“Since Labor came to office in the Northern Territory we have been working to address the unacceptably high levels of poverty and disadvantage experienced by Indigenous Territorians,” Ms Scrymgour said.

 

“We have committed $300 million to Closing the Gap, however the size of the task has always been beyond the financial resources of the Northern Territory Government on its own. 

 

“There is simply such a massive backlog of unmet need.”

 

Mr Henderson recognised the emergency intervention highlighted the problems and challenges faced in the bush but said it was time for a new way of implementing change.

 

“Now that we have a Federal Government committed to a consultative approach we have a real opportunity to address Indigenous disadvantage.

 

“We now have the opportunity to work in a real partnership with mutual respect and understanding.

 

“We must build a strong and functional Aboriginal Society, but this will take renewed commitment from across the community, hard work and adequate funding.

 

“If we don’t make inroads to Closing the Gap of Indigenous disadvantage then we have failed.”

 

The NTG Submission to the NTER Review Board is available at www.action.nt.gov.au

 

Media Contact: Chief Minister Geoff Fraser 0407 360 256

                        Indigenous Policy Minister Bethaney Jensen 0423 593 999

 

 

Key Recommendations

 

Community Engagement

Program delivery is more effective when it is informed by, developed with, and implemented in partnership with, the community. Adoption of best practice communications techniques, a concerted effort to employ locals and high quality, locally delivered governance and leadership training are recommended.

Income Management

Income Management should only be applied on the basis of behavioural triggers (such as school attendance, alcohol and justice orders, child neglect and rent arrears) or on a voluntary basis.

 

CDEP

CDEP should require the transition of people to work where jobs are available, support mobility for those individuals who chose to move to obtain work, and provide a wage and incentives regime where there is currently a substantial jobs gap in the local labour market.

 

Mechanisms must be put in place ensure that CDEP is not used as a mechanism to avoid income management (by strictly applying eligibility criteria for entering the CDEP program based on the behavioural triggers for income management; and by strictly applying employer-employee responsibilities while participating in the CDEP program).

 

Racial Discrimination Act

The suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act is not supported on the basis that it is not good public policy. Ceasing blanket application of Income Management and transitioning compulsory 5-year leases to negotiated leases under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act will facilitate reinstatement of the Racial Discrimination Act.

 

A New Governance Framework

A new partnership arrangement to be managed by the NT is required across the three tiers of Government, the non-government and community sectors. This new partnership will require a transparent and accountable implementation, monitoring and evaluation framework.

 

It should be designed as a key governance mechanism to manage and align the range of initiatives, strategies and evidence-based reporting requirements to be applied to the Closing the Gap programs of both governments.

 

Resources

 

The Northern Territory Government has committed $300 million to its Closing the Gap package over the next four years. However, the submission argues that significant funding is required from the Commonwealth given the magnitude of the challenge in overcoming Indigenous disadvantage.

 

Related files:
NT Government Submission to Emergency Response.pdf ( 243.57 kb )