Aug 2019
Remote Control
The Community Development Program (CDP), remote Australia’s work for the dole scheme
The CDP is expected to perform a herculean task. Remote Australia has few jobs and a disadvantaged workforce. However, the CDP is failing. It pays less than the minimum wage and imposes harsh penalties. It costs taxpayers more than similar programs. Government claims of success are based on creative interpretation of statistics, not on outcomes.
Rod Campbell, Bill Browne, Matt Grudnoff. The Australia Institute: Research that Matters. ACTU
Please click here to read the report.
Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights:
Review of the Stronger Futures package of legislation
Source: http://www.openaustralia.org/debates/?id=2014-03-05.4.2
In the 43rd Parliament, our predecessor committee applied this approach to the examination of the Stronger Futures package of legislation, and used its 11th report of 2013 to set out its understanding of the concept of special measures and the circumstances in which special measures may be permitted or required under human rights law. In considering those measures described as special measures in the Stronger Futures legislation, the committee noted the importance of continuing close evaluation of such measures and concluded that the committee could usefully perform an ongoing oversight role in this regard. The committee recommended that in the 44th Parliament it should undertake a 12-month review to evaluate the latest evidence in order to evaluate the continuing necessity for the Stronger Futures legislation.
The committee has given careful consideration to our predecessor committee’s recommendation and has decided to undertake a review of the Stronger Futures package of legislation, commencing in June 2014. The committee proposes to write to the minister and advise him of its intention to undertake this review, invite him to respond to the conclusions drawn by our predecessor committee in its 11th report of 2013 and alert him to the range of information the committee will seek from him and his department as part of the review. The committee proposes to report the conclusions of this review in 2015.
June 2013
Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights Report
We learn from the Report that the Committee:
… sets out the committee’s analytical framework for the assessment of human rights compatibility and addresses a number of issues of general relevance raised by the Stronger Futures package. It then goes on to apply this analytical framework to a number of the Stronger Futures measures on which the committee has decided to focus its comments: the tackling alcohol abuse measure, the income management measure, and the school attendance measure.
The report does not deal with the food security measures relating to the licensing regimes for food stores in certain areas, certain land reform measures, and amendments relating to the extent to which customary law may be taken into account in bail and sentencing decision, or restriction on access to pornography in certain areas.
Even with these limitations, the report reaches the conclusion that the Stronger Futures measures considered are unlikely to be ‘special measures’.
The committee is not persuaded by the material put before it by the government that the Stronger Futures legislation can properly be characterised as ‘special measures’ under the ICERD or other relevant human rights treaties.
The report identifies a series of concerns including the need to ensure the affected communities are engaged in the development of policy making and policy implementation processes, and are engaged in meaningful consultation – using the criteria as set out by the former Human Rights Commissioner, Tom Calma.
Ultimately, the report concludes:
The committee has indicated the importance of continuing close evaluation of measures such as these which are claimed to have a beneficial effect, and notes that the potentially disempowering effects of such measures also need to be taken into account in any assessment of human rights compatibility.
The committee considers that it can usefully perform an ongoing oversight role in this regard and recommends that in the 44th Parliament the committee should undertake a 12 month-review to evaluate the latest evidence in order to test the continuing necessity for the Stronger Future measures.
Please click here for the full report
June 2013
Sixth Anniversary of the Intervention – 21 June 2013
Striking the Wrong Note
Aboriginal advocate Olga Havnen, in her Lowitja O’Donoghue oration, has asked a critical question. She asks what has been the psychological impact of the Intervention on Aboriginal people of the Northern Territory. It is surprising that so little attention has been given to this critical, yet in some ways tenuous, link before now.
Even before the Intervention began in June 2007, government had long planned a new approach to the ‘management’ of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. It was no longer part of government thinking that self-determination and Aboriginal control over land could be allowed to continue.
Please click here to read the full document
October 2010
Yolŋuw Makarr Dhuni
(Yolŋu Nations Assembly)
Statement from the second Yolngu Nations Assembly meeting, Maningrida
October 11th – 13th, 2012
Click here for the Statement
June 2012
Press Conference on the Stronger Futures Legislation
in the Senate Courtyard at Parliament House, Canberra on 18 June 2012
Click here for the Statements made by Aboriginal, Church and Community Representatives
Yolŋuw Makarr Dhuni
(Yolŋu Nations Assembly)
Signing the Statement
Statement regarding Australian Federal Government Stronger Futures Bills and Northern Territory Policies, to the Leaders of the Australian Federal and Northern Territory Parliaments
Click here for a copy of the Statement
Churches, Religious, Organisations and Reconciliation Groups
Calls to Abandon the Stronger Futures Legislation, and
Calls to Support the Yolngu Nations Assembly Statement
Click here for their Statements
March 2012
Launch of the report “Listening But Not Hearing”
by the Rt. Hon. Malcolm Fraser AC CH
From left to right:
Ian Viner, Frank Vincent, Malcom Fraser, Nicole Watson, Alastair Nicholson
The report, based on transcripts of the 2011 Consultations, was prepared by Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning and the Hon. Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC.
Audio recordings from the launch of the report on 8 March 2012
The Hon. Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC (excerpts) (MP3)
Former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia
The Hon. Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC (excerpts) (MP3)
Former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia
The Rt. Hon. Malcolm Fraser AC CH (MP3)
Former Prime Minister of Australia
Nicole Watson (MP3)
Senior Researcher, Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning, co-author of the report
The Hon Ian Viner AO QC (MP3)
Former Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
The Hon. Frank Vincent AO QC (MP3)
Provost of the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre, Former Chancellor, Victoria University
Click here for a copy of the report (PDF)
March 2012
13 March 2012
Statement supported by 28 Leading Australians
is sent to Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott and Bob Brown calling on Government to Abandon the Stronger Futures Legislation
The House of Representatives debates the Stronger Futures Legislation
Monday, 27th February 2012
February 2012
Senate request for inquiry
The Selection of Bills Committee referred the Stronger Futures Bills to the Community Affairs Committee on 25 November 2011.
The reason for Referral/Principal Issues for Consideration:
The Effect of measures and implementation plans, evidence of community awareness / acceptance. Assessment of intended and unintended consequences.
(See Appendix 8 of the Selection of Bills Committee Report No. 17 of 2011 (PDF) )
Senate Hearing at Maningrida 22 February 2012
The above video is a compilation from the hearing (13 min).
Click here for the full recording of the hearing
Transcripts of the Senate Hearings:
20/02/2012 Ntaria (Hermannsburg) (PDF)
21/02/2012 Alice Springs (PDF)
22/02/2012 Maningrida (PDF)
23/02/2012 Darwin (PDF)
24/02/2012 Darwin (PDF)
01/03/2012 Canberra (PDF)
06/03/2012 Canberra (PDF)
November 2011
No More! Enough is Enough!
Statement by Northern Territory Elders and Community Representatives
4 Nov 2011 (PDF)
August 2011
Central Land Council, Kalkaringi, 26 August 2011 (PDF)
November 2009
“Will They Be Heard?” – a response to the NTER Consultations June to August 2009
Introduction by the Hon. Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC
Prepared by the Hon. Alastair Nicholson, Larissa Behrendt, Alison Vivian, Nicole Watson and Michele Harris – Research Unit Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning, November 2009
Initiated and Co-ordinated by “concerned Australians”
Launched at Melbourne University Law School on 23 November by:
The Right Hon. Malcolm Fraser, AC CH,
The Hon. Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC
Larissa Behrendt, Professor of Law & Director of Research at Jumbunna House of Indigenous Learning, University of Technology, Sydney, and
Theo Mackaay, General Secretary, Victorian Council of Churches