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Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin has been forced to defend the government's budget spending, or lack there-of. |
Macklin forced to defend underspend claims in NT
Issue 152 - 02 May 2008
DARWIN, May 14, 2008: The federal budget provides the largest injection of funds for Aboriginal people the Northern Territory has ever seen, says NT Chief Minister Paul Henderson.
But Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin was today forced to defend the government against criticism that it was vastly underspending its predecessor.
The first year of the Howard government's intervention into Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory was budgeted at $556 million.
The Rudd government has allocated only $666 million over four years for the measures, which includes money to be spent on ‘closing the gap’ in Aboriginal disadvantage.
About $320 million will be spent next financial year, after which funding tapers off for key intervention measures such some of the welfare reforms and the child abuse taskforce.
Ms Macklin today denied her government was underspending on Aboriginal people in the Territory.
"We've allocated money for each of the measures in the intervention and there is over $300 million for those but on top of that there is another $300 million for indigenous communities in the Northern Territory," she told ABC radio in Darwin.
"It is very important to add both of those together. It's a very significant amount of money for indigenous Territorians."
Ms Macklin said the government would reassess the intervention following an independent review, to start in July.
But, she said, core elements would probably be retained.
"Certainly we expect that the measures that have improved safety and improved educational opportunities and improved health services ... we expect there will be a need for those to continue," she said.
NT Chief Minister Paul Henderson said the federal government had also provided for the "biggest housing upgrade the Northern Territory has ever seen in the bush".
Ms Macklin last month announced $547 million would be spent over four years to provide 750 new houses in the territory's 73 Aboriginal communities.
"Everybody always wants more but can I say $323 million next year on top of what's already provided is a very significant contribution and commitment," Mr Henderson told reporters in Darwin.
"With the housing money on top of that it is going to make a difference...
"It's the biggest commitment of funding the Northern Territory has ever seen to the most disadvantaged people in the Northern Territory."
 
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