Newsletter date: 11 November 2012
Contents:
* Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education: Olga Havnen Presentation
* STICS: Anti-Intervention campaigners speak out over sacking of Olga Havnen
* Dr Janet Hunt: Inconvenient truths of the intervention
* Bob Gosford: Anderson sacks Havnen - a case of two strong hens in the NT henhouse is one too many?
* Background to Olga Havnen's Report
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Natasha Robinson: Lesson in how to play fair [Wadeye, NT]
* Tobias Nganbe & Dominic McCormack: Education in Wadeye and the Thamarrurr Region
* BATCHELOR INSTITUTE OF INDIGENOUS TERTIARY EDUCATION: OLGA HAVNEN PRESENTATION
- News
Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education: Olga Havnen Presentation
http://www.batchelor.edu.au/portfolio/olga-havnen-presentation/
26 Oct 12: "Olga Havnen, formerly the Coordinator General for Remote Services, visited Batchelor Institute on the 24th October to present the findings of her final report to staff and students. The report outlined the progress on the implementation of the NTG’s Working Future Policy and provided an excellent insight into remote service delivery issues. One of the key messages of Olga’s presentation was that there were some excellent programs running at the grass roots level and driven by the local community. Olga explained that the community driven approach is where the focus and funding needs to be channelled to improve outcomes for Indigenous Australians."
- Photo
Outgoing Northern Territory Coordinator-General for Remote Services Olga Havnen.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-11/olga-havnen-2/4307640
11 Oct 12: "Olga Havnen's report highlighted a lack of transparency about billions of dollars in Commonwealth and Territory funds being spent in Aboriginal communities."
- Related News
ABC Indigenous: Sacked bush spending watchdog goes public
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-11/sacked-olga-havnen-to-give-public-...
11 Oct 12: "The Northern Territory's former coordinator-general for remote services will go ahead with a series of public briefings about her annual report, despite being sacked earlier this week. Olga Havnen is volunteering her time to deliver the first public briefing in Darwin today, with another session planned for Alice Springs tomorrow. She is inviting the public to hear her findings on how government money is being spent on services in the bush. "I was well paid in that role, so if it means spending some of my money to do these things, that's fine," she said."
ALP NT: Labor welcomes community meetings
http://territorylabor.com.au/2012/10/11/labor-welcomes-community-meetings/
11 Oct 12: "Shadow Minister for Indigenous Policy Lynne Walker has welcomed Olga Havnen’s decision to go ahead with community briefings on her work as the Northern Territory’s Coordinator General for Remote Services. "The CLP’s decision to sack Olga Havnen has not deterred her from holding public meetings to discuss the findings of her report on spending in remote communities at her own cost," Ms Walker said. "I am impressed with the decision and I have also met with Ms Havnen and have been equally impressed with the quality of her work. "Ms Havnen has focused on what has been working, with insightful recommendations for real improvements - moving on from the 'blame game' that that has often undermined real improvements. ... ""
* STICS: ANTI-INTERVENTION CAMPAIGNERS SPEAK OUT OVER SACKING OF OLGA HAVNEN
- Media Release
STICS: Anti-Intervention campaigners speak out over sacking of Olga Havnen
http://stoptheintervention.org/anti-intervention-campaigners-speak-out-o...
12 Oct 12: "Campaigners working to stop the NT Intervention have spoken out against the sacking of NT Co-ordinator General for Remote Indigenous Services Olga Havnen, ahead of a community briefing on her new report in Alice Springs today.
Central Australian Aboriginal leader Rosalie Kunoth Monks says the sacking has been a shocking mistake and that Ms Havnen should be reinstated.
Stop the Intervention Collective (STICS) spokesperson Paddy Gibson will attend the community briefing. He says that the report delivered a damning indictment of the NT Intervention and showed an urgent need for funds to be redirected from bureaucracies to Aboriginal community controlled organisations.
In particular, Mr Gibson says the report's explosive revelations about government approaches child welfare must be urgently addressed.
"With Olga working in her position we saw a light at the end of the tunnel. She was a voice, not only of eloquence, but of truth", said Rosalie Kunoth-Monks."
- Related Video
Dailymotion: Sacked Remote Services Watchdog Speaks Out
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xu9apw_sacked-remote-services-watchdog-...
11 Oct 12: "The recently sacked Northern Territory watchdog of government spending on Indigenous programs is holding public meetings to discuss a recent report.
Powered by NewsLook.com
Producer: Australian Broadcasting Corp."
- Related Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/am-9-101.mp3
9 Oct 12: "NT Coordinator-General for Remote Services has been given little time to observe Governments response to her criticism of its spending of Commonwealth money specifically allocated for Aboriginal people with the new Country Liberal government closing her office on Monday without notice."
- Related News
ABC: Coordinator-General for Remote Services to go
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-08/coordinator-general-for-remote-ser...
8 Oct 12: "The Northern Territory's outgoing Coordinator-General for Remote Services says the new Country Liberals Government is making a mistake by abolishing her position. Olga Havnen was appointed in October last year and recently completed her first annual report on service delivery in the bush. It identified significant wastage and a lack of financial transparency in Indigenous programs. The Minister for Indigenous Advancement Alison Anderson says an audit will now be conducted in response to Ms Havnen's findings."
National Indigenous Times: Rosalie Kunoth-Monks says sacking of Territory Co-ordinator a "shocking mistake"
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2071-rosalie-kunoth-monks-says-sacking-of-ter...
"Campaigners working to stop the Northern Territory Intervention have spoken out against the sacking of the Territory's Co-ordinator General for Remote Indigenous Services Olga Havnen. Central Australian Aboriginal leader Rosalie Kunoth-Monks said the sacking was a "shocking mistake" and Ms Havnen should be reinstated."
NT News: Olga feels Anderson's wrath
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2012/10/08/314149_ntnews.html
8 Oct 12: "A SENIOR public servant has been sacked for committing an unpardonable sin - stealing a Cabinet Minister's thunder. Olga Havnen was only told today that her contract as Co-ordinator-General for Remote Services was being terminated as a press release was sent out announcing the move. She had a year left to serve. Ms Havnen last week published a scathing report about services in Aboriginal communities. Most of her criticism was aimed at the Federal and former NT Labor governments."
Australian: Olga Havnen lashes NT government after ditching of Coordinator General for Remote Services
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/olga-havnen-lashes-nt-g...
8 Oct 12: "THE Northern Territory government has abolished the office of the Coordinator General for Remote Services, prompting an extraordinary outburst from its outgoing head. Olga Havnen issued an explosive press release late this afternoon following the abolition of her office, claiming successive Territory governments had used indigenous funding to pay for luxury public infrastructure in Darwin such as wave pools."
Koori Mail: NT office abolished
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
9 Oct 12: "THE Northern Territory Government has abolished the office of NT Coordinator-General for Remote Services, held by Olga Havnen. The move comes soon after Ms Havnen released a report calling for more financial accountability of money spent by bureaucracy on NT programs."
Australian: Indigenous funds 'wasted on sport'
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/indigenous-f...
9 Oct 12: "THE outgoing Northern Territory Co-ordinator General for Remote Services has attacked successive governments for siphoning off indigenous funds to pay for wave pools and sporting complexes, while blaming bureaucrats for "factual errors" in her own work. The role held by Olga Havnen was abolished yesterday and her responsibilities devolved to departmental heads."
Alice Springs News: NT needs someone to 'call things honestly' says Havnen …
http://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/2012/10/14/nt-needs-someone-to-call-t...
"Olga Havnen, whose position of Coordinator-General of Remote Services was terminated by Minister for Indigenous Advancement Alison Anderson last Monday, appeared to be among friends when she spoke to her first and only report in Alice Springs on Friday. Donna Ah Chee, Acting CEO of Congress, introduced Ms Havnen (pictured at left), referring to "the events of this week" and pointing out that Ms Havnen was here "in her own personal time"."
* DR JANET HUNT: INCONVENIENT TRUTHS OF THE INTERVENTION
- Analysis / Opinion
Canberra Times: Inconvenient truths of the intervention
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/inconvenient-tru...
6 Nov 12: "The new Northern Territory government abolished the office of its coordinator-general for remote services early last month, though it barely made the news in Canberra. The incumbent, Olga Havnen, had been in the job for only a year and had just published her first report on government spending, programs and service delivery in the territory's remote communities. It was a case of ''if you don't like the message, shoot the messenger''. ... Shooting the messenger doesn't mean the message isn't worth hearing." By Dr Janet Hunt, a fellow with the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, Australian National University
* BOB GOSFORD: ANDERSON SACKS HAVNEN - A CASE OF TWO STRONG HENS IN THE NT HENHOUSE IS ONE TOO MANY?
- Analysis / Opinion
The Northern Myth - Bob Gosford in the NT:
Anderson sacks Havnen – a case of two strong hens in the NT henhouse is one too many?
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/2012/10/09/anderson-sacks-havnen-%E2...
9 Oct 12: "The hottest tickets in Darwin and Alice Springs later this week will be to the public community briefings by Olga Havnen on her report – and more. If the CLP government thought that they could silence Havnen by sacking her on Monday and that this would stop her running public forums on her work later in the week then they have underestimated her resolve and commitment. ... Yesterday morning Northern Territory Indigenous Advancement Minister Alison Anderson sacked Olga Havnen, the NT’s Coordinator General for Remote Services and abolished the office in support of the job that she had created three years ago." By Bob Gosford
* BACKGROUND TO OLGA HAVNEN'S REPORT
This section courtesy of STICS website:
Damning NT report shows income management must go
http://stoptheintervention.org/facts/press-releases/damning-nt-report-sh...
1 Oct 12: "The Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney (STICS) has renewed calls for the national income management system to be dismantled, following the release of a damning report by the NT Co-ordinator General for Remote Indigenous Services (NTCGRIS). The report, which documents extreme waste on spending on bureaucracy, comes as the $120 million national expansion of income management is badly stalling, with few referrals and work bans on the scheme in NSW."
Background Info:
Office of the Northern Territory Coordinator-General for Remote Services Report
June 2011 to August 2012
http://www.drdia.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/144886/NTCGRS_ful...
NT Coordinator General for Remote Services
http://www.drdia.nt.gov.au/indigenous_advancement/coordinator-general
Department of Regional Development and Indigenous Advancement Progress Reports
http://www.drdia.nt.gov.au/indigenous_advancement/coordinator-general/pr...
The New Lawyer: Report spotlights indigenous rights
http://www.thenewlawyer.com.au/govt---regulation/report-spotlights-indig...
8 Oct 12: "Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has urged governments to do more to respect the rights of Aboriginal peoples in light of a new report on service delivery to the Northern Territory. Stephen Keim (pictured), president of ALHR, said the NT coordinator-general’s findings in relation to the decision-making of Aboriginal peoples and how this relates to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) were "concerning". ... "
Catherine Zengerer: New report highlights cost of income management in the NT
http://catherinezengerer.com/tag/nt-intervention/
3 Oct 12
For the audio clip: http://czengerer.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/paddy-gibson-03102012.mp3
SNAICC News: Report finds serious flaws in delivery of government services to NT Aboriginal communities
http://www.snaicc.asn.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=892
27 Sep 12: "The first report of the Northern Territory Coordinator General for Remote Services entitled Office of the Northern Territory Coordinator-General for Remote Services Report, June 2011 to August 2012 has called for greater accountability and transparency from government departments - at both the territory and Federal levels - delivering programs and services to Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory."
Service Delivery in Government: Office of the Northern Territory Coordinator-General for Remote Services Report, June 2011 to August 2012
http://servicedelivery.govspace.gov.au/2012/09/26/office-of-the-northern...
26 Sep 12: "The first report by Olga Havnen as Northern Territory Co-ordinator General for Remote Service "focuses on four major themes arising from the approach taken by governments in relation to Aboriginal people since the NT Emergency Response (NTER) commenced in 2007 and reflected in the Stronger Futures arrangements proposed for the next ten years. These are: ... "
Amnesty International: Report confirms inequity in government services in remote Indigenous communities
http://www.amnesty.org.au/news/comments/29833/
25 Sep 12: "Amnesty International is hopeful a new report, which looks at Commonwealth programs to reduce Indigenous disadvantage in the Northern Territory, will lead to changes in the way services are delivered in remote communities. The report, released by the Office of the Northern Territory Coordinator-General for Remote Services, concludes government programs fail to take into account the needs of Aboriginal towns and communities and do nothing to counteract what it calls 'structural entrenched racism'. ... "
For the report: http://www.amnesty.org.au/images/uploads/news/120926-NTRemoteServicesRep...
See also:
Australian Government Coordination Arrangements for Indigenous Programs
http://www.anao.gov.au/Publications/Audit-Reports/2012-2013/Australian-G...
24 Oct 12: "Portfolio: Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Department: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of FaHCSIA‘s performance of its lead agency role in coordinating whole-of-government commitments to closing the gap in Indigenous disadvantage."
PS News: Auditor finds gaps in closing the gaps
http://www.psnews.com.au/Page_psn336f2.html
26 Oct 12: "The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) has been insufficiently proactive in its role as lead agency for Indigenous Affairs, according to the Auditor-General. In his report Australian Government Coordination Arrangements for Indigenous Programs, the Auditor-General, Ian McPhee said this had led to missed opportunities for "closing the gap" in Indigenous disadvantage. Mr McPhee said the Department had built good working relations with other agencies but had been “quite measured” in its leadership approach."
* BACKGROUND TO 'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:
Last updated: 9 November 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-stronger-futures-new-nt...
* BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
Last updated: 9 November 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-...
* NATASHA ROBINSON: LESSON IN HOW TO PLAY FAIR [WADEYE, NT]
- Analysis / Opinion
Australian: Lesson in how to play fair
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/lesson-in-how-to-play-fair...
11 Jun 12: "IT was more than eight years ago that the early data from a landmark report that would shame the Northern Territory government began to hit the desks of bureaucrats in Darwin and Canberra. The report's subject was Wadeye ... Demographer John Taylor, a professor at the Australian National University's Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy and Research, had been given unprecedented access to internal NT spending data. ... Taylor's study found the remedial costs applied to Wadeye were negative, instead of positive, "to the tune of $4 million, or $1944 per Aboriginal resident" annually."
* TOBIAS NGANBE & DOMINIC McCORMACK: EDUCATION IN WADEYE AND THE THAMARRURR REGION
- Report / Paper
Education in Wadeye and the Thamarrurr Region: Challenges and Responsibilities across the Generations
By Tobias Nganbe and Dominic McCormack
http://www.bowden-mccormack.com.au/uploads/articles-papers/education-wad...
Sep 2009: "The overall issue of education – our challenge and responsibility – is one that can only ultimately be solved at the community level by the people who understand the broader social context within which it is to be delivered, and are therefore able to identify and request the support required at the appropriate time. It is about regaining self-confidence, autonomy and the capacity to self-develop. As Tobias Nganbe recently said:-
As I see it, we are not in this together – we are now separate: school, council, clinic, others. We are not really operating as a community. This is back to Kardu Numida days of being separate, not together. We must get back to togetherness, we must get back to Thamarrurr".89 " page 39
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