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Peta Hoffmann

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing in response to the review of the NT intervention in the determined hope that a better way can be found to help the indigenous peoples of this land. There is no denying that in the efforts to help and protect the indigenous peoples of Australia, the Australian Government has done many injustices (the stolen generation for example) and my fear is that the Howard governments attempt to do something to make a difference through this Intervention will perpetrate the same injustices all over again.

If we truly do wish to help the peoples in remote indigenous communities it would be far more effective to work with them rather than enforce our own version of what they need. It is a serious issue when an government can not enforce the law in all parts of the country especially in relation to children's welfare, however marshal law, racial discrimination and removing human rights should NEVER be an option for a progressive society. I fear this country has taken the first step towards destroying the fabric of democracy. This is a legacy we will not be proud of.

The first steps should be to;

  1. Reinstate the racial discrimination act (without this legal protection for each Australian we can not really pretend to be aiming for the human rights we aspire to provide in the first place) This alone will right the wrongs of quarantining payments with shopping cards based on race alone an extremely demoralizing, unlivable system for remote area living and one that harks back to the day of rations (how degrading).
  2. Recognition and true reconciliation needs to occur with compensation for stolen wages, land and lives along with culture specific restorative practice. (these alone will initiate the sustainable healing the indigenous communities need, to rebuild pride, self esteem and self control and ensure self compliance is occurring rather than authoritarian compliance, which gives only short term and pushes the abuse further underground.)
  3. Continued consultation with the peoples of these communities, conducted by people who are understand the unique cultural dimensions of the languages and cultures of indigenous communities. This along with restorative practices will provide each individual within a community the skills and strength to care for themselves and each other in line with the standards we would hope for all humans.
  4. Less waste of resources by bureaucratic decision making, achieved through community level, grass roots implementation of jobs, housing and policing projects ( this is a far more sustainable approach for the long term self control of these communities) Capacity building at a community level rather than top down approaches have far better outcomes.

Recognition that the actions of a colonial government in this country has caused the problems the NT intervention aimed to stop was the first step. Working with the people who have been affected by these policies to ensure that their conditions in life improve is obvious. I am sure the creative and strong motivation of the Australian people and its government to ensure the rights of all indigenous peoples are protected will create a better model of care for the NT communities that will not include the current systems gross waste of resources, lack of dignity offered to the people it proports to help, and removal of human rights of the individual.

During this review I ask you consider drastic changes to the model of intervention that is currently being subjected to the indigenous communities. Consider taking the time to establish cross department whole system approaches which establish community based consultations and models of compliance which are designed by the individuals and are far more effective and sustainable. Rollback the intervention, there has to be a better way, strive for excellence, these are peoples lives, and the future of this countries reputation you have been given care of, make a legacy one you can be proud of.

The NT Intervention is a shameful way of righting the wrongs.

Yours Sincerely,

Peta Hoffmann