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NT Indigenous intervention bills introduced to parliament
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
1:35:02 PM
CANBERRA, August 7, 2007: The federal government has introduced draft laws into parliament that allows it to intervene in Northern Territory Indigenous communities.
Minister for Indigenous Affairs Mal Brough has introduced the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Bill 2007 to the lower house, the first bill in its 500 page legislation package.
The scheme, in which leases would be taken over in Aboriginal communities for five years and alcohol and pornography banned, will cost $587 million in its first year.
"The interventions proposed will work together to break the back of violence and dysfunction and allow us to build sustainable, healthy approaches in the long term," Mr Brough said.
Some measures have already gone ahead without legislation, including extra police and almost 500 health checks on Aboriginal children under 16.
"Not surprisingly, some cases have been referred to child protection authorities and the results of some initial tests have been referred for further testing for sexually transmitted diseases," Mr Brough said.
"This is a very encouraging start after a few short weeks.
"But Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory will never be safe and healthy without fundamental changes to the things that make communities dangerous and unhealthy places."
Under the changes, permits will not be required to visit larger public townships and the roads that connect them.
Mr Brough said closed towns had made it easier for abuse and dysfunction to stay hidden.
The bill would also impose "widespread alcohol restrictions", creating a general ban on people having, selling, transporting and drinking alcohol in prescribed areas.
Fines of $75,000 and up to 18 month imprisonment could be imposed on people who try to smuggle alcohol into the remote communities.
"Through very harsh penalties and more police, we are sending a clear message that, if you run grog into these vulnerable places and put the lives of women and children at risk, you will face a severe penalty," Mr Brough said.
The bill allows the government to acquire five year leases over townships and take over the town camps, so it can "begin the process of improving housing and infrastructure dramatically".
"This is a great national endeavour and it is the right thing to do," Mr Brough said.
Mr Brough made the comments while introducing the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Bill 2007.
The Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory National Emergency Response and Other Measures) Bill 2007, the Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Bill (No. 1) 2007-2008, and the Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Bill (No. 2) 2007-2008 also form part of the package.
The legislation will also ban the possession of pornography for five years, and impose regular audits on publicly-funded computers to stop sexually explicit material being accessed through the internet.
Mr Brough said the Little Children Are Sacred report revealed the availability of pornography in Northern Territory communities contributed to child sexual abuse. It was being used to groom children for sex and desensitise children to violence and inappropriate sexual behaviour.
The bill makes it an offence for people in Aboriginal communities to possess pornographic material, or for the material to be sent into the areas.
It allows heavier penalties to be imposed on anyone who supplies five or more pornographic items.
The changes also gives Australian Federal Police officers the same powers as local NT police.
And it means the federal and NT governments will retain ownership of buildings and infrastructure on Aboriginal land that are constructed or upgraded with government funding.
The absence of ownership in the past "has meant the government has been unable to protect its investment and has also led to very poor outcomes", including fewer houses existing in the NT now than five years ago despite massive investment.
"This is an emergency situation in the Northern Territory and we need to act quickly," Mr Brough said.
"Each and every day, children are being abused. We need strong powers so that we are not weighed down by unnecessary red tape and talk-fests, and can focus on doing what needs to be done." - AAP
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