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Section One: Aboriginal Concerns Regarding Income Management: Results of Surveys

In order to better understand the impact of the Income Management scheme implemented as part of the NT “Emergency Intervention”, DARC undertook surveys of affected people between Feb and May, 2008. General questions regarding the broader Intervention changes were also asked. The surveys were completed with 43 Aboriginal people affected by Income Management either at a “complaints desk” set up outside Centrelink offices throughout Darwin or in “prescribed” communities1. A broad range of ages, genders, living areas and those with dependents or not were covered.

1. Survey Conclusions2:

2. Gender, Dependents and Location Analysis

2.1 Gender

No women reported an overall positive position regarding the Intervention changes.

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Of those few who do like using store cards, they are more likely to be male. Over 90% of females disliked using store cards.

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This strongly suggests opinions that only young men dislike the intervention are not accurate.

2.2 Dependents

People without dependents were the only ones likely to report they had no problems only having half their money in cash.

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This suggests that the intervention changes are making it more difficult for families.

Question 5 analysed by dependents supports this conclusion.

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2.3 Location

Location:
• Rural (community/outstation): 37 %
• Urban (town camp/urban): 44%
• Other (long grass/no data/other): 18%

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There was little statistical difference between those who lived rurally and those who lived in urban areas for most questions, suggesting that, whilst the problems may differ in detail, the Intervention is causing problems for people in all areas.

However, there were no people who lived in urban areas who reported that overall there was any positive aspect of the Intervention, suggesting urban areas are being more negatively affected.

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3. Discussion of common concerns voiced:

3.1. Many people reported difficulties with having to transport groceries (40%) – issues include the distance from major shopping centres where they are now forced to shop (both urban and remote communities) the cost of such transport, the difficulty of carrying large quantities they are now being forced to buy at once (to use up the store card).

“It means we have to shop at Coles. So we do a week’s shopping in one go. With no money for a taxi, we have to carry groceries on the bus. It’s harder for the aged and disabled – if you say we have to shop this way, give us vehicles!” (#103)

3.2. The distance people have to travel to access Centrelink is also worrying for many (21%), especially given the increase need for attendance at Centrelink offices and the cost of travel to and fro so frequently.

“We live in the bush, 30 minutes from Peppirementi, and there is no Centrelink out there” (#32 – see below, this person also cant use the store cards to pay for fuel or vehicle upkeep which makes travel much more difficult also!)

“I want to do it monthly. I live in the bush and it’s too far to come every two weeks.” (#4)

3.3. There were considerable problems reported associated with people’s ability to budget – the store cards have been making budgeting more difficult in a number of ways:

  1. Difficulty with payment of bills and purchasing larger items such as car registrations/maintenance, fridges and home goods (47%)

    “I prefer my money in my account. We have needs – paying for a generator, use of a vehicle, fuel etc and you cant pay for that with the store card… “(#32)

    “Can’t save money – can’t invest – I usually invest $50 fortnight, and I can’t now. It makes it difficult to pay larger bills” (#9)

    “Having half the money in cash puts me in debt,, because of direct debits set up… means that there has been penalty charges from the bank.” (#43)

  2. Availability of funds for collective purchases, a common phenomenon in Indigenous communities (28%)
  3. Availability of funds for supporting children in schools, especially those in boarding schools (19%)

    “It affects everything – I can’t even send money for my kids in boarding school and other expenses apart from nominated stores.” (#18)

  4. The restriction of choice regarding where people can shop is also of great concern (28%), not only regarding the rights of people to choose, but because shops other than Coles, Woolworths and Target are cheaper, closer, locally (and often community) owned

    “It’s a waste of time – I’ve gotta come into Centrelink, and some of the shops don’t accept the cards… I can’t buy the things they need. We’re not stupid, we know how to spend our money. Its just because we’re Aboriginal. Its really hard” (#6)

    “Not enough money for taxis, especially when I do the shopping. It’s hard. We need a taxi card. It’s hard with debit payments, for example at Chrisko’s, not enough money in my account after debit payments and I might end up with $50 or $100. For remote people it’s harder because they take out money for rent, bills. It’s hard to get tot a place to buy power cards. Its easier if you just have cash.” (#6)

3.4. 33% of people reported the income management system was making life more difficult for people with disabilities and pensioners; the most commonly reported problems relate to transport difficulties with shopping and Centrelink visits.

“We are helping our old people, to teach them how to use the cards, we go to Centrelink. This is very humiliating and unfair to the nations of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory.” (#16)

“A friend who was sick was on it [Income Management]. The community store would have been easier, but now she can’t go there.” (#7)

3.5. Many people were very angry and confused about the nature of the Intervention, and Income Management in particular, and disliked the fact the intervention is:

  1. racist and lacks cultural respect (33%), with consistent confusion and anger that this policy is directed only at Aboriginal people. (Especially given non-Aboriginal people are also victims of sexual abuse and violence but non-Aboriginal communities are not treated to an Intervention.)

    “I don’t like the Intervention. It’s up to no good. They run us down. Why do they talk about black people? Why don’t they talk about themselves? It’s racist. Its no good.” (#3)

    “They take away our way. We would like… to run our community culture respect way, not dictated by government” (#25)

  2. indiscriminately applied, regardless of whether you drink or smoke, look after your kids, manage your money, are a pensioner or parent etc (28%)

    “Children are all grown up, it’s just us, so there's no need for Intervention!” (#27)

    “The Federal Government said that all Aboriginal people are the same people – the they all smoke and drink and don’t look after their kids properly. Definitely discrimination towards Aboriginal people.” (#9)

    “Its good for other ones whose parents are spending the money on grog, but it feels like we are being punished when we don’t drink or smoke. It makes us feel like little kids.” (#43)

  3. a return to the mission days and destroys Aboriginal independence by telling them what to do (30%). Some felt it was their right to be able to drink and smoke.

    “Its not right that people who spend their money proper way are punished” (#9)

  4. creating intense feelings of shame and humiliation for Aboriginal people (26%)

    “People look at us, see us coming in all the time. I reckon it’s a big shame job this Income Management.” (#6)

3.6. People reported incidences of humbug for groceries and/or vouchers (23%); there were also reports of a black market for store cards (people selling cards for less than their value to get cash).

3.7. Of grave concern, a number of people did not realise there could be money left over on store cards after each spend, did not know what happened to any left over money, or that they could use store cards plus cash if the value of the shopping came to more than the store cards (16% total). At times the store cards either didn’t work, or there were issues with the transition processes.

“I’d rather have the cash. Sometimes, there is not enough on the card – it’s embarrassing. Its lumped on all Aboriginal people.” (#24)

“Sometimes I don’t get no change – it happens a lot. I don’t know what they do with small amounts left on the card; you cant buy anything with $1.50” (#7)

“At Elcho Island I had to wait 3 weeks for money to go into the store cards. I have four kids to feed – I had to bludge off my mum.” (#34)

3.8. 7% reported they were unable to fulfil family and cultural obligations due to the income management and intervention changes

“I can’t buy enough things for myself. It makes it harder to work out the money, especially paying family back when they’ve lent me money” (#5)

3.9. One story was told of a man who was living in a hostel in Darwin due to the essential need to be close to Dialysis, and did not realise his “registered” address was still in Maningrida and as such has been caught up in the Intervention changes without knowing and without actually living in a prescribed area. He reported many people in the hostels didn’t realise they could be affected by the Intervention changes.

3.10. Other issues people mentioned relate to the lack of education (both school and post-school training) for Aboriginal people in the Intervention changes and the ongoing poor recognition of Aboriginal land rights and sovereignty.

3.11. 40% of people were previously using Centrepay, and nearly half of those had trouble transitioning to the new system – many believe they were better off under this voluntary system.

“Its not enough money. Centrepay was OKAY.” (#17)

“It has effected the payments from before; I used to pay Centrepay before, and it just made it more difficult” (#18)

3.12. 45% of people displayed communication difficulties in discussion with questioners, and 32% showed signs they did not fully understand the Income Management changes – the lack of true consultation, education and support in language for people for whom English is a second language is of major concern in relation to peoples rights and any potential benefit for programs/interventions.

“They don’t explain; they don’t talk to us.” (#35)

4. Summary of data on common concerns:

Themes Respondents % (#)
ability to budget more difficult 47% (20)
availability of funds for collective purchases 28% (12)
availability of funds for supporting children in school 19% (8)
trouble transporting shopping 40% (17)
difficulties for elderly/disabled 33% (14)
racism 33% (14)
mission days/paternalism 30% (13)
indiscriminate application of IM 28% (12)
humiliation/shame 26% (11)
choice of shops too limited 28% (12)
humbug for vouchers/groceries 23% (10)
distance from Centrelink 21% (9)
not able to fulfill cultural/family obligations 7% (3)
not knowing about left over money on card 14% (6)
cards not working 2% (1)
right to drink/smoke 5% (2)
lack of provision for education in changes 5% (2)

1. See Appendix 1 for a direct transcript of all comments. These comments were analysed to extract common problems and complaints, which were then organised into general themes and recorded quantitatively as number of people mentioning those problems.

See Appendix 2 for qualitative data for each question and by gender, location and dependents.

See Appendix 3 for example of the surveys – the first survey was modified slightly after the first round to reflect the responses received and the need for further information.

2. For the purposes of clearer analyses, only those who answered the question are contained in these figures, as not all 43 respondents answered each question. See Appendix 2 for all data.

3. Respondent # will be in brackets following every quote. The full transcripts can be found in Appendix 1

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Section Two: Discussion of General Concerns: Overview elaborated from conversations with organizations, communities and individuals

Summary