concerned Australians
A Conversation with Aboriginal
Elders from the Northern Territory
Djirrikaymirr Rev. Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra OAM
Rosalie Kunoth-Monks OAM
with The Hon Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC
and facilitated by
Jeff McMullen
Galiwinku
concerned Australians
Darwin
Yirrkala
Darwin
Yilpara
Blue Mud
Bay
Ampilatwatja
Alice
Springs
Utopia
/Arlparra
concerned Australians
Galiwinku
concerned Australians
Darwin
Yirrkala
Darwin
Yilpara
Blue Mud
Bay
Ampilatwatja
Alice
Springs
Utopia
/Arlparra
concerned Australians
FACTS – in response to Questions
concerned Australians
Justification for the Intervention was based on
concerns regarding Paedophilia and rampant Child
Sexual Abuse
Paedophilia
No paedophilia rings have been found or prosecuted
since the Intervention commenced.
From ‘The Little Children Are Sacred’ report page 63:
“While the Inquiry found no evidence of any “paedophile
rings” operating in the Northern Territory, there was
enough evidence to conclude that a number of individual
non-Aboriginal “paedophiles” had been infiltrating Aboriginal
communities and offending against children.”
concerned Australians
Child Sexual Abuse
This information is from the Government’s (FaHCSIA) Report –
‘Closing the Gap’ in the NT, part two-October 2009:
• In the two years before the Intervention, there were 15
convictions for child sexual abuse involving Indigenous
perpetrators.
• In the first two years of the Intervention, there were 18
convictions involving Indigenous perpetrators.
Diedre Penhaligon from the Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare confirmed Indigenous children in suburban Victoria are
more at risk from sexual abuse than those in the Territory:
"If we look at the Northern Territory about 4 per cent of all
substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect were for sexual
abuse in Indigenous children.
"But for other children, that is people who haven't identified as
being Indigenous, it is actually 9 per cent and that's a pretty
consistent finding across all the jurisdictions."
concerned Australians
Domestic Violence
It is recognised from most reliable data collections that domestic
violence rates in the Northern Territory are high.
Drawing comparisons between states and Territories is not helpful.
The correlation between domestic violence and disadvantage is
well known. So is the link between domestic violence and chronic
overcrowding.
The Northern Territory has a very high percentage of Australia’s
most disadvantaged peoples. Other states and the ACT are
generally affluent but with pockets of disadvantage.
Overcrowding in the Northern Territory is extreme.
From the FaHCSIA Report ‘Closing the Gap’ October 2009
an increase in domestic violence of 61% is reported since the
commencement of the Intervention. One might question whether
an increase in reporting or an increase of pressure on family has
led to this finding.
Galiwinku
concerned Australians
Darwin
Yirrkala
Darwin
Yilpara
Blue Mud
Bay
Ampilatwatja
Alice
Springs
Utopia
/Arlparra
concerned Australians
Housing
After almost three years:
• Of the 750 houses promised only 7 have been completed
under the 5-year programme.
• Of the promised 2,500 refurbishments, 174 upgrades have
been completed.
After 30 odd years without regular maintenance (many
houses have had no maintenance) the refurbishments have
been cut back so that only kitchen units and bathrooms are
being upgraded. Many houses where work has been
completed remain with dirt floors, no fly screening, broken
windows and warped doors that will no longer close.
concerned Australians
concerned Australians
concerned Australians
Galiwinku
concerned Australians
Darwin
Yirrkala
Darwin
Yilpara
Blue Mud
Bay
Ampilatwatja
Alice
Springs
Utopia
/Arlparra
concerned Australians
Employment /CDEP - Community Development
Employment Programme
A CDEP employee wage was based on a minimum 15 hour
week. If the opportunity was there, as it often was, a worker
had the opportunity to work longer hours and increase
his/her pay (top-up pay).
When the Rudd Government came into power there was a
promise to replace CDEP with “real jobs”.
This has happened for approximately 2000 workers. Almost
5000 were not so lucky.
concerned Australians
Employment /CDEP (continued)
The movement away from CDEP to Social Security
Benefits began in July 2009. This is at great cost to
personal pride and affecting workers ability to earn any
‘top-up’ pay. Ultimately for many, their earnings have been
substantially reduced.
The CDEP programme is due to be terminated in 2011.
Those on Social Security Benefits in the NT are now
required to work for the dole.
In many communities, lists of names are publicly posted of
those who are required to attend for work to ensure
access to unemployment benefits.
Once again Aboriginal people are being used by
government for social policy change experimentation.
concerned Australians
Galiwinku
concerned Australians
Darwin
Yirrkala
Darwin
Yilpara
Blue Mud
Bay
Ampilatwatja
Alice
Springs
Utopia
/Arlparra
