Northern Territory Emergency Response Review
What is working?
Little has improved since the introduction of the NTER
The sign at the front of the camp indicating no alcohol, may have had an effect on limiting the level of drinking visitors.
What is not working?
Income management, see below
What has happened because of the intervention?
Measures
Income management
Store cards at centrelink are limited to spend on food only, which is limiting. When the house is full of food already for the family, there is no need for food store cards, but the cards cannot be used for other services deemed necessary by the family. It is potentially a worthwhile scheme for vulnerable people or those who have a history of alcohol abuse. However for some families that are clearly able to look after themselves and their family, the one size fits all model is prejudiced and a hindrance.
The amount of food in the house has not changed since the intervention started, it was always appropriately stocked. There is a surplus of store cards for use on food, leaving the other non-managed half of the income to disappear rapidly. If there were other shops and services that could be used for store cards, it would have worked better. Similarly, if there is some kind of assessment to determine who should (not) be income managed, this would have been more relevant.
The family is used to shopping at second hand shops where there are quality goods available at good prices. Unfortunately they cannot be accessed now, goods must be bought first hand from only one possible shop in town. This limits purchases to new goods only, from one supplier only and at a higher price.
Store cards should be possible for any worthwhile business, though ideally those families managing their accounts in a satisfactory fashion, should be able to access all their income and not have to see centerlink staff to show their needs are appropriate.
Queuing up at centrelink, and waiting for a significant time in line to receive a card is a hindrance on normal weekly habits, especially for those who are trying to work. Being employed also means that there is a very small window to get to centrelink to pick up cards. Employment is an issue and for those working to change this, they are being penalised. Those working have to leave their job and wait in a line, to receive a card, at the expense of lost wages.
CDEP
It is unclear why these changes were introduced. There were corrupt ways of people signing more than one person’s time sheet to make it look like everyone has performed more work that they have. The re-introduction seems to be better managed where people will have to work the hours.
School
The threat of removing child payments from the carer’s income may have helped to keep parents encouraging school attendance.
Alcohol
The sign at the front of the town camp has helped visitors realise that they cannot stay here and drink. They may stay for only one night party now, they understand that they cannot drink here. Unfortunately the residents of the camp have not changed their drinking habits since the intervention started. Continuing to work to keep the town camps dry is worthwhile.
Policed searching for grog is good thing. They should work harder to find
where people are hiding their grog. When police look inside the house, this
is a good thing, however the fashion they do it in is inappropriate
Police
The attitude of police is a problem. Searching for alcohol is a relevant, however doing it in a way that turns houses inside out, braking of doors and frightens all family, should be changed so that police search for grog in a respectful way. Damage of property and the impact on residents needs to be considered to be much more important than it currently is, so that residents see police in a better light
FACS
Health checks
Permits
Other
What is different for children?
Nil
What would help things improve?
Regarding kids money into the care’s income, rather than just taking
a punitive approach to removing funds for poor attendance, rewarding those
parents who are demonstrating exemplary attendance of their children. This
would assist the parents support their childrens attendance, including being
used to eg buy a bike