Thursday, 21 May
Removing racial prejudice increases chances of success
True consultation with Aboriginal people is the only way to improve life outcomes and to create safe environments for women and children on an ongoing basis, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma said today while welcoming the federal government’s Future Directions for the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) consultation.
“I welcome the Minister’s discussion paper and the pending consultations with the 73 prescribed communities affected by the NTER as necessary steps to make sure the Emergency Response does not discriminate against Aboriginal people on the basis of their race,” Commissioner Calma said.
“I have said since the outset of the NTER, that as long as racially discriminatory actions were allowed, the Emergency Response would lack legitimacy among Aboriginal people and communities as well as the broader Australian society.
“I commend the government for being true to its word and moving to introduce legislation in the coming months to remove provisions in the legislation that exclude operation of the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA).
“It is essential in doing this that all measures under the Emergency Response comply with the RDA and not just the main ones such as income management.”
Commissioner Calma said it was also of paramount importance that the government be able to show strong evidence of community wishes to justify the continuation of any special measures that treated Aboriginal people differently.
“Minister Macklin says she wants to get it right and is prepared to really listen to people’s views,” Mr Calma said. “This means nothing less than bringing an open mind to direct engagement with Aboriginal people and a willingness to move towards more community-driven and community-owned responses.”
Commissioner Calma said government should also be mindful of the enormous anxiety that still exists in the prescribed communities towards government intervention, particularly for those in Homeland communities who have been rocked this week by the announcement of new strategies that could force them to leave their country of affiliation.
“I urge the 45,000 men, women and children affected by the NTER to stand up and be counted and tell the government how best to sustain improvements in their community in the fairest possible way. If you don’t agree with something or like the way it is being done, now is your time to say so,” Commissioner Calma said.
“Similarly, I urge the government to be ‘all ears’ and to diligently record the wishes of Aboriginal people in the prescribed areas.
“Finally, politicians of all persuasions should not stand in the way of what these communities say they need and require to move forward and eventually prosper in safety and with good health.”
Media contact: Louise McDermott on (02) 9284 9851 or 0419 258 59
