Newsletter date: 4 October 2013
Contents:
* Paddy Gibson speaks at Building Bridges on the NT Emergency Response and the successor "Stronger Futures"
* Eva Cox, The Conversation: Income management: more evidence-free policymaking?
* Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Coalition to punish vulnerable people through income management expansion
* Nick Evershed, The Guardian: Welfare quarantining: does it work?
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* CAAMA Video: CLC Chairman responds to NT Chief Ministers push to develop the Territory
* SBS Aboriginal Audio: MOU Against Domestic Violence [Aboriginal men in the NT together with the Chief Minister]
* Clare Rawlinson, ABC News: Mandatory sentencing [Laws in the NT] blocks disadvantage ruling
* Background to Justice Reinvestment, Aboriginal imprisonment and Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
* Tracker: Schools should consider Aboriginal culture [remote Aboriginal communities in the NT]
* Background to the use of Aboriginal languages in NT schools
* Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory - APO NT: Youth Suicide
* Background to Suicide and Self-harm in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities
* PADDY GIBSON SPEAKS AT BUILDING BRIDGES ON THE NT EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND THE SUCCESSOR "STRONGER FUTURES"
- Video
Respect and Listen, Vimeo: NT Emergency Response / Stronger Futures
http://vimeo.com/75634596
29 Sep 13: "Paddy Gibson is an organiser with STICS (Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney http://www.stoptheintervention.org/ ) and a researcher for the UTS Jumbunna House of Learning ( http://www.jumbunna.uts.edu.au/ ). He studied the impact on those in the 'prescribed communities' and updates us on the NT Emergency Response and the successor "Stronger Futures".
This talk is part of Building Bridges, a series of talks by Indigenous and non-Indigenous presenters sharing their knowledge, expertise and personal experience in in informal and relaxed atmosphere. Building Bridges takes place each year in August/September in Parramatta (Western Sydney).
Building Bridges is organized by Reconciliation For Western Sydney http://www.reconciliation4westernsydney.org/ "
Respect and Listen: NT Intervention
http://www.respectandlisten.org/nt-intervention.html
* EVA COX, THE CONVERSATION: INCOME MANAGEMENT: MORE EVIDENCE-FREE POLICYMAKING?
- Analysis / Opinion
The Conversation: Income management: more evidence-free policymaking?
https://theconversation.com/income-management-more-evidence-free-policym...
3 Oct 13: "For a brief moment, it looked as though the Coalition would be better than the ALP on welfare policy. It appeared that the new government would listen to evidence for policy changes in its newly retitled Social Services portfolio. In a previous positive sign for evidence-based policy, new social services minister Kevin Andrews had suggested that he would increase the pay rates for sole parents, ... However, hope for evidence-based policy reform has been dashed by Andrews' recent announcement of the expansion of compulsory income management - a policy which is extremely expensive and shows no clear evidence of benefit." Author: Eva Cox, Professorial Fellow Jumbunna IHL, University of Technology, Sydney
* GREENS SENATOR RACHEL SIEWERT: COALITION TO PUNISH VULNERABLE PEOPLE THROUGH INCOME MANAGEMENT EXPANSION
- Media Release
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Coalition to punish vulnerable people through income management expansion
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/coalition-...
1 Oct 13: "The Australian Greens said today that the Abbott Government was intent on punishing vulnerable people through the expansion of income management.
"As expected, the Abbott Government is straining at the bit to expand income management, despite the regime being notoriously expensive and ineffective," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson for families and community services said today.
"Compulsory income management doesn't work. Despite the previous Government's spin, past evaluations have shown what poor policy it is.
"Despite this, the Coalition seems determined to push ahead with the policy. As a result, people who are already doing it tough will face further punishment and marginalisation.
"It is wrong for the Government to suggest that income management could be an effective policy for reducing long term unemployment. Since income management began as part of the NT Intervention, there has been little measurable or clear evidence to suggest any positive impact of the scheme. ... " [Senator Siewert said] "
- Related News
The Australian: Welfare control 'not expensive'
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/welfare-control-not-exp...
2 Oct 13: "ROLLING out income quarantining across the country would be "radically" cheaper per person than the current cost, according to the head of the new Department of Social Services. At a Senate estimates hearing in which he was cross-examined on the Labor government's scheme by the Greens, department secretary Finn Pratt declared the cost was not expensive as had been assumed by its opponents." Patricia Karvelas
The Australian: Coalition Bid To Expand Welfare Quarantining
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/coalition-bid-to-expand...
1 Oct 13: "A WIDER cross-section of welfare recipients in more disadvantaged communities across Australia will be forced to use their payments on essentials such as food, rent and clothing under an Abbott government plan to expand income quarantining. Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews has ordered a fast-tracked "interim" evaluation of five existing welfare quarantining trials. The Coalition believes the scheme is too limited and needs better "triggers" to force people on to it." Patricia Karvelas
* NICK EVERSHED, THE GUARDIAN: WELFARE QUARANTINING: DOES IT WORK?
- Analysis / Opinion
The Guardian: Welfare quarantining: does it work?
http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/oct/03/welfare-quarantinin...
3 Oct 13: "Setting aside part of a welfare benefit for staples such as food has existed in the NT since 2007, and the program has affected some positively, some negatively ... The Coalition has said it is evaluating welfare quarantine trials, which limit the types of goods and services welfare payments can be spent on. Quarantining is the approach used in the Northern Territory Emergency Response (known colloquially as the NT intervention) under the Howard, and then Rudd/Gillard governments. Given it has existed in the NT since 2007, we should have an idea by now whether it is effective." Nick Evershed
"Nick has worked for Fairfax Media as a Multimedia Editor. After a short stint as a scientist he changed careers and now specialises in data-based investigation and multimedia"
* BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
Last updated: 29 September 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-...
* BACKGROUND TO 'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:
Last updated: 29 September 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-stronger-futures-new-nt...
* CAAMA VIDEO: CLC CHAIRMAN RESPONDS TO NT CHIEF MINISTERS PUSH TO DEVELOP THE TERRITORY
- Video
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: CLC Chairman responds to NT Chief Ministers push to develop the Territory
http://caama.com.au/clc-chairman-responds-to-nt-chief-ministers-push-to-...
1 Oct 13: "Tagged Central Land Council, CLC Chairman, Maurie Japarta Ryan, mining royalties, NT Chief Minister Adam Giles"
* SBS ABORIGINAL AUDIO: MOU AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE [ABORIGINAL MEN IN THE NT TOGETHER WITH THE CHIEF MINISTER]
- Audio Interview
SBS Aboriginal: MOU Against Domestic Violence
By Marc Tong
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/291563/t...
27 Sep 13: "Aboriginal men in the Northern Territory together with Chief Minister Adam Giles have initiated an effort to end domestic violence in communities. ... Northern Territory Aboriginal men have signed a memorandum of understand to tackle the persistent high rate of domestic violence, gaining support from the Chief Minister with an anticipated new male policy unit. ... One of the five men involved is Des Rogers, deputy CEO of the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress. The Arrente man says the urgency to address domestic violence is apparent in both statistics and what he has seen for himself."
* CLARE RAWLINSON, ABC NEWS: MANDATORY SENTENCING [LAWS IN THE NT] BLOCKS DISADVANTAGE RULING
- News
ABC News: Mandatory sentencing blocks disadvantage ruling
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-03/naaja-reaction-to-high-court-indig...
3 Oct 13: "An Aboriginal legal service lawyer says a High Court decision that Indigenous disadvantage should be taken into account in sentencing is not likely to have any impact in the Northern Territory. The High Court of Australia yesterday ruled that disadvantage should be taken into consideration when sentencing a 31-year-old Aboriginal man from Wilcannia in NSW. Jonathon Hunyor from the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) says mandatory sentencing laws in the Territory often prevent judges from using discretion in sentencing people from disadvantaged backgrounds, whether they are Aboriginal or not." By Clare Rawlinson
* BACKGROUND TO JUSTICE REINVESTMENT, ABORIGINAL IMPRISONMENT AND ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY:
Last updated: 1 October 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/12/17/background-to-aboriginal-imprisonment...
* TRACKER: SCHOOLS SHOULD CONSIDER ABORIGINAL CULTURE [REMOTE ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES IN THE NT]
- News
newsTracker: Schools should consider Aboriginal culture
http://tracker.org.au/2013/09/schools-should-consider-aboriginal-culture/
19 Sep 13: "NORTHERN TERRITORY: There has been little to no change in the school attendance rates of kids in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory over recent years. ... He [Sam Osborne] says schools in remote areas could look to the town of Jabiru in Kakadu national park, where the local community has pooled its own funds to come up with a 25-year educational plan in which children will be taught in their own language and about their own culture, while still improving English literacy and numeracy to prepare them for university entry." AAP
* BACKGROUND TO THE USE OF ABORIGINAL LANGUAGES IN NT SCHOOLS:
Last updated: 4 September 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/05/background-to-the-use-of-aboriginal-l...
* ABORIGINAL PEAK ORGANISATION NORTHERN TERRITORY - APO NT: YOUTH SUICIDE
- Policy
Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory - APO NT: Youth Suicide
http://apont.org.au/index.php/youth-suicide.html
"In October 2011 APO NT made a submission to the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory Inquiry into Youth Suicide in the Northern Territory. The rate of suicide in the Northern Territory (NT), especially youth suicide, is simply unacceptable. Between 2005 and 2009, the NT had the highest rate of suicides compared to other Australian states and territories. For this reason alone, suicide is a significant concern in the Northern Territory, particularly amongst Aboriginal people. But it goes much further than this: Aboriginal youth suicide is a cancer in our communities."
Welcome to APO NT
http://apont.org.au/
"Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory-APO NT-is an alliance comprising the Central Land Council (CLC), Northern Land Council (NLC), North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service (CAALAS) and the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the NT (AMSANT)."
* BACKGROUND TO SUICIDE AND SELF-HARM IN ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER COMMUNITIES:
Last updated: 28 September 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/08/13/background-to-suicide-and-self-harm-i...
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