Newsletter date: 23 June 2013
Contents:
* Barbara Shaw, New Matilda: The NT Intervention - Six Years On
* Paul Bleakley, Australian Times UK: Intervention marks 6 years, as community questions impact
* ACOSS, NWRN & St Vincent de Paul Society: Joint Statement: Six years of the NT Intervention is six years too long
* The Wire: Stronger Futures? [Featuring Paddy Gibson and Kylie Sambo]
* The Wire: Major parties agree on what one expert calls a piece of 'apartheid' in Oz [Featuring Dr Ruth Phillips]
* Bankstown Coalition set to challenge expansion of income management on anniversary of NT Intervention [Featuring Semra Guler, Kylie Sambo and Paddy Gibson]
* The Wire: Stopping Compulsory Income Management [Playford, featuring Pas Forgione and Nick Champion]
* SPAG & SIMPla: Compulsory income management: Say no! An attack on welfare rights! [Playford]
* Spirit of Eureka: Stop Income Managment in Playford
* Protest the Basics Card! No Compulsory Income Management! Not In Playford, Not Anywhere! - 1 July 2013
* Hon Jenny Macklin MP & Warren Snowdon MP: Stronger Futures delivering more jobs for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory
* FaHCSIA: Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory - Six-Monthly Progress Report
* SBS World News: Kids doing better under intervention: govt
* Senator Nigel Scullion: NT Stronger Futures a flop
* A Current Affair: Welfare shake-up
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* BARBARA SHAW, NEW MATILDA: THE NT INTERVENTION - SIX YEARS ON
- Analysis / Opinion
New Matilda: The NT Intervention - Six Years On
http://newmatilda.com/2013/06/21/nt-intervention-six-years
21 Jun 13: "Barbara Shaw has lived on income management in Alice Springs for more than five years. On the sixth anniversary of the NT Intervention, read what it has meant for her and her community. ... we must continue to stand together and to struggle, to fight for Aboriginal self determination and to fight for jobs and services for all struggling communities - not the punishment of the Intervention. Black and White unite!" By Barbara Shaw, a resident of Mt Nancy town camp in Alice Springs
* PAUL BLEAKLEY, AUSTRALIAN TIMES UK: INTERVENTION MARKS 6 YEARS, AS COMMUNITY QUESTIONS IMPACT
- Analysis / Opinion
Australian Times UK: Intervention marks 6 years, as community questions impact
http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/news/in-australia/intervention-marks-6-...
19 Jun 13: "INDIGENOUS leaders have marked the sixth anniversary of the controversial 2007 government intervention in the Northern Territory by questioning the psychological repercussions of regulating the day-to-day management of Aboriginal communities. Indigenous advocacy group Concerned Australians have published an article alleging that the ultimate aim of the intervention was to "empty the homelands" in the Northern Territory. ... " By Paul Bleakley, a journalist and academic raised on Queensland's Gold Coast
See:
WGAR News: Sixth Anniversary of the Intervention - Striking the Wrong Note: 'concerned Australians' (20 Jun 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/06/19/wgar-news-sixth-anniversary-of-the-in...
* ACOSS, NWRN & ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY: JOINT STATEMENT: SIX YEARS OF THE NT INTERVENTION IS SIX YEARS TOO LONG
- Media Release
Joint Statement: Six years of the NT Intervention is six years too long
ACOSS: http://www.acoss.org.au/media/release/joint_statement_six_years_of_the_n...
21 Jun 13: "On the sixth anniversary of the traumatising Northern Territory Emergency Response, known as the Intervention, three leading national community welfare organisations are urging the major parties to dump the policy of mandatory income management, which they assert is wasteful, ineffective and harmful.
The Australian Council of Social Service, the National Welfare Rights Network, and St Vincent de Paul Society say compulsory income management punishes people who are already doing it amongst the toughest and is incredibly expensive. It should be replaced with a genuinely voluntary scheme, which is part of a broader development plan in communities. The Government should abandon plans to further extend wasteful and ineffective income management from 1 July 2013.
The 2012 independent evaluation of income management in the Northern Territory found no clear evidence of the value of the program. At best, some people perceived that they were being assisted by the program. More than two thirds of those surveyed said they felt discriminated against by income management. Three quarters felt it was unfair and a similar number reported feelings of embarrassment. ... "
* THE WIRE: STRONGER FUTURES?
[FEATURING PADDY GIBSON AND KYLIE SAMBO]
- Audio Interviews
The Wire: Stronger Futures?
Produced by Matthew Newton
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=10497
21 Jun 13: "The government has released the first six-monthly monitoring report on the Stronger Futures program. The release of the report coincides with the 6th anniversary of the Norther Territory Intervention, the precursor to Stronger Futures. The government claims the program is a success but not everyone is convinced. ...
Featured in story:
* Paddy Gibson - Stop The Intervention Collective Sydney
* Kylie Sambo - NT Youth Leader"
See:
WGAR News: Paddy Gibson, Solidarity Online: Six years of shame: Aboriginal assimilation and the NT Intervention (20 Jun 13)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2013/06/19/wgar-news-sixth-anniversary-of-the-in...
WGAR News: STICS: Young NT leader living on income management to address Bankstown protest (20 Jun 13) [Featuring Kylie Sambo]
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2013/06/19/wgar-news-sixth-anniversary-of-the-in...
- Related Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/am-19-06.mp3
19 Jun 13: "A young Aboriginal woman from the Northern Territory who has been on income management for the past three years is travelling to Sydney to tell people how it has impacted on her life."
* THE WIRE: MAJOR PARTIES AGREE ON WHAT ONE EXPERT CALLS A PIECE OF 'APARTHEID' IN OZ
[FEATURING DR RUTH PHILLIPS]
- Audio Interview
The Wire: Major parties agree on what one expert calls a piece of 'apartheid' in Oz
Produced by Alexia Attwood
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=10480
18 Jun 13: "Income quarantining forces people on welfare payments to spend a portion of their income on essential items like food and rent. Their income is loaded onto a ‘basics card’ that resembles an efpos card, and can only be used in certain shops. Income management was a policy introduced under the Howard Government but was left largely unchanged when Rudd became Prime Minister. The program runs mostly in the Northern Territory but also in selected areas across Australia such as Bankstown in New South Wales and Rockhampton in Queensland. ...
Featured in story: Dr Ruth Phillips, Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney"
* BANKSTOWN COALITION SET TO CHALLENGE EXPANSION OF INCOME MANAGEMENT ON ANNIVERSARY OF NT INTERVENTION
[FEATURING SEMRA GULER, KYLIE SAMBO AND PADDY GIBSON]
- Media Release
Say No to Government Income Management - Not in Bankstown, Not Anywhere Campaign Coalition:
Bankstown Coalition set to challenge expansion of income management on anniversary of NT Intervention
The Network: http://misseaglesnetwork.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/the-challenge-is-on-ban...
20 Jun 13: "Members of the Say No to Government Income Management - Not in Bankstown, Not Anywhere Campaign Coalition will join a rally this Saturday June 22, marking 6 years since the announcement of the NT Intervention.
The Coalition says it will challenge the further expansion of income management planned for July 1, 2013. Income management began in 2007 for Aboriginal people living under the NT Intervention and was expanded to Bankstown in 2012.
From July 1 2013, new categories of marginalised young people will be compulsorily placed on income management across the NT and all trial sites including Bankstown:
- People under 25 applying for a Crisis Payment for Released Prisoners
- Young people receiving an unable to live at home allowance
- Recipients of the Special Benefit
The Campaign Coalition in Bankstown is supported by 67 organisations representing a diverse range of ethnic and cultural communities along with trade unions and faith groups. Since a declaration calling for a community wide boycott on income management in 2012, Bankstown has the lowest numbers of people on both voluntary and compulsory income management of any trial site. ... "
- Past Rally
Event: Sat 22 June 2013: Bankstown, Sydney, NSW
Protest marking 6 years of the NT Intervention
* Repeal "Stronger Futures / Stolen Futures" Legislation!
* Stop Income Management - not in NT - not in Bankstown - not anywhere!
* Reinvest in community controlled services and jobs!
"In Sydney, a rally marking the six year anniversary
of the NT Intervention will be held in Bankstown in June."
"June 21 will mark six years since John Howard announced
the NT Intervention and sent the military into Aboriginal
communities. This was one of the most shameful days in
the history of Australia's brutal and racist treatment of
Aboriginal people and has set the struggle for Aboriginal
rights back many decades."
Speakers:
- Kylie Sambo, NT youth leader living on income management
- Maree O'Halloran, Welfare Rights Center
- Gary Moore, CEO of Homelessness NSW
- Robin Croon, Public Service Association
- Wafa Ibrahim, Child, youth and family support officer, Arab Council Australia
Flyer: http://stoptheintervention.org/uploads/files_to_download/Past%20Events/2...
Flyer: http://psa.asn.au/marking-six-years-of-the-nt-intervention-rally-in-bank...
Poster: http://stoptheintervention.org/uploads/files_to_download/Past%20Events/2...
Event details: http://www.respectandlisten.org/
Event details: http://stoptheintervention.org/
Event details: http://indymedia.org.au/marking-6-years-of-the-nt-intervention-0
Event summary and Media Release: http://indymedia.org.au/2013/06/19/young-nt-leader-living-on-income-mana...
Event summary and Article: [scroll down page to end] http://www.solidarity.net.au/55/income-management-expansion-in-effort-to...
Article: http://concernedaustralians.com.au/
Article: http://www.solidarity.net.au/57/six-years-of-shame-aboriginal-assimilati...
WGAR Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention: http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-...
WGAR Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws: http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-stronger-futures-new-nt...
* THE WIRE: STOPPING COMPULSORY INCOME MANAGEMENT
[PLAYFORD, FEATURING PAS FORGIONE AND NICK CHAMPION]
- Audio Interviews
The Wire: Stopping Compulsory Income Management
Produced by Graham Backhaus
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=10498
21 Jun 13: "It is nearly a year since compulsory income management was extended to Playford in South Australia and 5 other Australian communities in a trial of the program that has been in place in the Northern Territory for 6 years. Opponents of the program claim there is no solid evidence to show that it is achieving its goals. They would like to see the funds spent on the program go towards more community and support services for families and individuals at risk. More than 40 organisations from Playford, have signed an open letter calling on the Federal Government to suspend compulsory income management. ...
Featured in story:
* Mr Pas Forgione - Coordinator, SIMPla
* Mr Nick Champion - Federal Member for Wakefield"
* SPAG & SIMPla: COMPULSORY INCOME MANAGEMENT: SAY NO! AN ATTACK ON WELFARE RIGHTS!
[PLAYFORD]
- Analysis / Opinion
Compulsory income management: Say no! An attack on welfare rights!
Spirit of Eureka: http://www.spiritofeureka.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&...
28 May 13: "The information below is a flier produced by SPAG (Single Parents Action Group) and SIMPla (Stop Income Management in Playford, South Australia), and distributed at a protest outside Nick Champion's electoral office on 20th May. ... But there’s NO EVIDENCE the policy works! In fact, the humiliation it causes could damage their mental health. It wastes money that could provide more education, employment, health, and financial counselling services. It’s an unjust, heavy-handed, and an attack on the right of those on welfare payments to control their payments - and on the safety-net we all need during difficult times."
* SPIRIT OF EUREKA: STOP INCOME MANAGEMENT IN PLAYFORD
- Open Letter from SIMPla
Spirit of Eureka: Stop Income Managment in Playford
http://www.spiritofeureka.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&...
23 Dec 12: "In the Adelaide suburb of Elizabeth, the Stop Income Management in Playford (SIMPla) group have been campaigning against the implementation of one of the measures introduced by the Northern territory Intervention, Income Management into metropolitan sites around Australia. Recently activists involved in the campaign have been working on collecting signatories to send an open letter to the Australian Government, and the response from the Elizabeth community has been good so far. SIMPla has had supporters at community events recently leafleting, and have received a generally great response, except from Local MP Nick Champion!"
* PROTEST THE BASICS CARD!
NO COMPULSORY INCOME MANAGEMENT!
NOT IN PLAYFORD, NOT ANYWHERE!
- Upcoming Event
Event: Mon 1 July 2013: Smithfield, SA
Protest the Basics Card!
NO Compulsory Income Management!
Not In Playford, Not Anywhere!
"To mark the one-year anniversary of the so-called
"trial" of compulsory income management in the
City of Playford, and the introduction of TWO NEW
categories of income management,
SIMPla (Stop Income Management in Playford) calls
for all opposed to this heavy-handed, unjust, wasteful
policy, expanded beyond the NT into Playford and several
other sites across Australia last July, to JOIN US as we
protest this scheme outside the office of local Federal
Labor MP for Wakefield, Nick Champion."
Event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/472979739462654/
* HON JENNY MACKLIN MP & WARREN SNOWDON MP: STRONGER FUTURES DELIVERING MORE JOBS FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLE IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
- Joint Media Release
Hon Jenny Macklin MP & Warren Snowdon MP: Stronger Futures delivering more jobs for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory
http://jennymacklin.fahcsia.gov.au/node/2425
20 Jun 13: "Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory are benefiting from more jobs and better services in their communities as a result of the Australian Government’s unprecedented investments under Stronger Futures.
The Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin and the Minister for Indigenous Health and Member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon today released the first Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Six-Monthly Progress Report. ... "
- Related News
newsTracker: 3000+ govt jobs created from intervention: Macklin
http://tracker.org.au/2013/06/3000-govt-jobs-created-from-intervention-m...
21 Jun 13: "NATIONAL: Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin says that since 2007, there had been almost 3000 government jobs created thanks to the intervention into Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. Her department’s report also claims the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal children has climbed since the intervention in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. The commonwealth intervention has reduced the number of Aboriginal kids with early development problems by 20 per cent in three years, claims the first six-monthly report into the scheme, News Limited reports."
* FaHCSIA: STRONGER FUTURES IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY - SIX-MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORT
- Report
FaHCSIA: Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory - Six-Monthly Progress Report
http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/our-responsibilities/indigenous-australians/pr...
"Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory have been very clear that in addition to significant investments in important services and infrastructure, they want greater transparency and accountability in relation to how money is being spent by the Australian and Northern Territory governments in their communities. The Australian Government has committed to increased accountability and transparency though the National Partnership Agreement on Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory. ... The first six-monthly Stronger Futures report is being published here. It covers the period from July 2012 to December 2012."
- Related News
ABC News: Report says Stronger Futures program is working
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-20/stronger-futures-law-first-progres...
20 Jun 13: "The Federal Government says the first six-monthly report into its Stronger Futures scheme in remote Northern Territory Aboriginal communities shows improvements are being made. The progress report says 760 people have been employed in jobs ranging from night patrol officers to school nutrition workers across the Territory. ... Stronger Futures was attacked when it was first introduced for having disempowered Aboriginal people, and for being racist and discriminatory." By Jano Gibson
PS News: Children's lot improves with Stronger Futures
http://www.psnews.com.au/Page_psn366f6.html
21 Jun 13: "There were fewer vulnerable children and improved education outcomes among Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory as a result of Stronger Futures initiatives, according to a new report. The first Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Six-Monthly Progress Report also reported that more jobs and better services had been established. The report shows there have been improvements in outcomes for Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory on the Australian Early Development Index, which measures health and wellbeing, social and communication skills."
* SBS WORLD NEWS: KIDS DOING BETTER UNDER INTERVENTION: GOVT
- News
SBS World News: Kids doing better under intervention: govt
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1780364/Kids-doing-better-under-inter...
20 Jun 13: "Aboriginal children are experiencing improved health and wellbeing since the intervention in NT communities began, says Jenny Macklin. The health and wellbeing of Aboriginal children has climbed since the intervention in indigenous communities in the Northern Territory, a new report shows. The commonwealth intervention has reduced the number of Aboriginal kids with early development problems by 20 per cent in three years, says the first six-monthly report into the scheme, News Limited reports."
- Related News
The Australian: Remote kids reaping intervention benefits
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/remote-kids-...
20 Jun 13: "THE commonwealth intervention in indigenous communities in the Northern Territory has reduced the proportion of Aboriginal children who are vulnerable on two or more early development indicators by almost 20 per cent in three years. The first six-monthly report into the federal government's Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory scheme, to be released by Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin today, shows improvements in outcomes for Aboriginal children on the Australian Early Development Index, which measures health and wellbeing, social and communication skills." Patricia Karvelas
The Australian: Jenny Macklin vows study on income management for Ceduna
http://m.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/ceduna/story-f...
21 Jun 13: "INDIGENOUS Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin will today commit to a feasibility study of income management in Ceduna on South Australia's west coast, in a bid to cut itinerant alcoholics from drinking themselves to death. The residents of the seaside town, 780km west of Adelaide, have been calling for income management for almost two years in a bid to stop Aborigines coming in from outlying dry communities and drinking their entire welfare cheques each week."
* SENATOR NIGEL SCULLION: NT STRONGER FUTURES A FLOP
- Media Release
Senator Nigel Scullion: NT Stronger Futures a flop
http://www.nigelscullion.com/media-hub/indigenous-affairs/nt-stronger-fu...
20 Jun 13: "Today’s NT Stronger Futures progress report confirms the Gillard Government has failed to close the gap for Northern Territory Aboriginals in education and employment, Shadow Indigenous Affairs Minister Senator Nigel Scullion said.
"This report is full of Government propaganda but shows that over seven years Labor dropped the ball on the intervention and failed to empower Indigenous Territorians by getting people off welfare through economic development.
"The key requirements for economic development are education and real jobs, neither of which Labor offers. ... " Senator Scullion said."
- Related Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/am-21-06.mp3
21 Jun 13: "Shadow Indigenous Affairs Minister Senator Nigel Scullion says the NT Stronger Futures progress report is more about a a bureaucrat’s paradise rather than improvements in a real economy."
- Related News
The Australian: Howard plan used to help homeless kids
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/howard-plan-...
21 Jun 13: "LABOR is extending to children forced out of their homes by violence and drug abuse the income management provisions of the Howard government's emergency intervention in Northern Territory indigenous communities. On the sixth anniversary of the intervention targeting abuse in 73 communities, thousands of young people in urban sites where the scheme was extended to last November will have their welfare quarantined for essentials." Patricia Karvelas
* A CURRENT AFFAIR: WELFARE SHAKE-UP
- Video
A Current Affair: Welfare shake-up
Hosted by tracy grimshaw
http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8677097
19 Jun 13: "No cigarettes, no alcohol and no pokies. It's the welfare shake-up that's divided the country. Does the government have a right to decide how welfare cheques are spent?"
* BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
Last updated: 20 June 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-...
* BACKGROUND TO 'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:
Last updated: 20 June 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-stronger-futures-new-nt...
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