The campaign coalition - Say No to Government Income Management, Not in Bankstown, Not Anywhere – today warmly congratulated the NSW ALP State Conference for its historic weekend resolution calling on the Federal Government to halt the imposition of compulsory income management in Bankstown or in any community.
“We applaud the strong and passionate speeches for justice and good policy made by ASU Secretary Sally McManus, and AWU State Secretary Russ Collison in moving and seconding this resolution, to which there was no opposition. The trade union movement, including Unions NSW, has played such a commendable role with this resolution”, said Ms Randa Kattan, Executive Director of Arab Council Australia and spokesperson for the campaign coalition.
The NSW ALP State Conference called for a revision of the ‘Stronger Futures’ legislation and repeal of current provisions in the Social Security Act that facilitate income management.
The Conference also called for the redirection of all funds earmarked for administering compulsory income management into programs that will provide real and much needed support for people in the community who are vulnerable or struggling, including increased funding for social services and job creation.
Most importantly, the Conference called for the right to immediately exit compulsory income management to be granted to all people in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland who already on the system.
“It is heartening to know that our message is getting through and has won broad support and we now call on the Federal Government to listen to the voices of its own party members, the community and the 63 organisations now in our Coalition. We call on the Federal Government to sit down with us to discuss how to better use the $217 million allocated for this program on expanded social services and job creation. We want real solutions for the people we serve, not some technical fix”, concluded Ms Kattan.
Stop The Intervention Collective spokesperson Paddy Gibson called on the Federal Government to act immediately to allow people to exit compulsory income management in the NT and elsewhere. “Many Aboriginal people have suffered under this policy, stripped of control and dignity, for five long years since the NT Intervention. Many union representatives from NSW have visited NT communities, or hosted Aboriginal speakers at their conferences and workplace meetings, to hear first-hand the crippling effect of compulsory income management. These unions have been vital allies in the struggle”, said Mr Gibson.
"The resolution for a review of Stronger Futures legislation must also be heeded by the Federal Government,” said Mr Gibson. “Aboriginal communities want to see the laws scrapped entirely, but the government has refused to even subject them to the scrutiny of the Joint Parliamentary Human Rights Committee. The National Congress of Australia's First People is continuing to call for the Committee to conduct a full review of the laws - this must begin immediately".
Campaign website www.sayno2gim.info
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Paddy Gibson, Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney on 0415 800 586
Randa Kattan, Executive Director, Arab Council Australia on 02 9709 4333
or 0433 144 858