Michele Clarke
Dear Review Board Panel Members,
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Gathering (NATSIWG), Working Party welcomes this opportunity to contribute to the 12 month review of the Northern Territory Emergency Response by an independent panel and that they are assisted to achieve the terms of reference of the review.
Firstly an introduction is necessary to give context of where our submission has arisen from:
The annual National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Gathering convened in Hobart on 22-23 May 2008 with women delegates from across Australia as part of the Ministerial Conference on the Status of Women to discuss issues of national importance the following agenda items were presented:
Session 1 theme: “Closing the Gap on Indigenous Early Childhood Disadvantage”
Session 2 theme: “Safety and Wellbeing”
Session 3 theme: “Housing and Homelessness”
Session 4 theme: “Exploration/Discussion of future approaches to providing input from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women into Government Policy”
The themes were workshopped resulting in NATSIWG recommendations tabled to
- The Ministerial Conference on the Status of Women
- Women’s Affairs Ministers in State and Territory Jurisdictions
- NATSIWG Working Party to prepare recommendations actions and monitor
The Working Party Members on behalf of the Gathering would like to draw on Gathering Session 1 Statement which we submit to the current NTER Review.
Session 1 Statement:
The NATSIWG 2008 delegates do not tolerate nor support the Federal Northern Territory Emergency Response Bill 2007 in particular the Social Security and other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Payment Reform) Bill 2007. It is our view that this violates and erodes all aspects of human rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, children and families.
Our families and communities need the autonomy, dignity and respect to take responsibility for their own wellbeing.
At the time of the Gathering we were not aware of the pending NTED Review and thus could not take the opportunity to see presentation and workshop responses to the specific questions of the Review Board.
Points for consideration are in respect to the nature of the NT Emergency Response is of legislative aspects of the intervention rolling out in Northern Queensland and Western Australia.
As you would find some Northern Territory Aboriginal people are of the opinion that the intervention is good in that for example income management achieves the outcome of food being provided for children is guaranteed. In opposition to this opinion - it does not provide due recognition or rewards to those parents who have been doing the right thing in feeding and sending their children to school pre the NTER.
The Emergency Response does not encourage engagement it does not allow families and communities to take responsibility for their own well being. If families or communities want help they can ask for help. If communities say we need funding to address the social problems, health, law and order, education, support for families, housing and coordination of services which some have always done in the competitive submission process. For those unsuccessful submission applicants acknowledgement and advice on approached in regard to what the Intervention could offer in respect to the given Measures would be of interest.
As you can see from the NATSIW themes - workshopped, discussed and our delegates from across Australia have explored and listen to key departmental speakers on agenda topics, national reforms and strategies explored or proposed by the Australian Government.
The question is that what considerations were given to the Little Children Are Sacred Report recommendations and the need to priorities certain communities who may have been in crisis and needing support and help rather than a blanket sweep of same solutions for all. This approach does not recognise nor acknowledge the achievements already gained by certain communities and that they may be at another level of progress and thus support may be needed in other areas of community development.
If you require clarification or further information contact can be made through Erin Jia, NATSIWG Secretariat, Consultation & Coordination, Office For Women.
Yours truly,
Michele Clarke
CHAIRPERSON
NATSIWG Working Party