Stronger Futures policy
[5] In order to address Indigenous input, the policy created 'transitional committees' through which the Australian Government could provide advice about shires and non-Indigenous individuals and stakeholders could participate.
[citation needed] In October 2008, after an examination of an independent review of the Northern Territory Intervention, the Australian Government pledged to recognise the extreme disadvantage and social seclusion experienced by remote communities within the Northern Territory, form a legitimate relationship with the Indigenous people based on consultation, acknowledge Australian human rights responsibilities and reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.
In June 2010, as a result of these consultations, the Australian Parliament passed legislation to "reinstate the operation of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 in relation to the Northern Territory Emergency Response, introduce a new, non-discriminatory scheme of income management, redesign the alcohol and pornography restrictions, five-year leases and community stores licensing, redesign law enforcement powers to improve and make them sustainable for the greater long-term benefit of Indigenous people.
The report identified measures of the Intervention which drew positive support from Northern Territory community members such as the utilisation of Indigenous Engagement Officers, establishment of Government Business Models, increased presence of police and use of night patrols.
[6] In addition, the report revealed how the Intervention expanded educational systems, reduced school overcrowding and increased the availability of teaching positions.
Despite these improvements, the report recognised that "a key gap in the evaluative evidence that we have addressed was the systematic collection of data about the experiences and views of local peoples from the NTER communities.
"[6] The report identified certain problems within the Northern Territory Emergency Response such as the blanket imposition of initiatives, especially those that demanded behavioral change such as income management, and the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.
[6] The report received widespread criticism, such as that it was a hasty reaction to allegations and not properly planned or thought through, and that it was nothing more than another attempt to control these Aboriginal communities.
[7] Through this evaluation, the Australian Government recognised the large discrepancy which persists between non-Indigenous and Indigenous peoples within the Northern Territory and has created the "Stronger Futures" Policy along with several pieces of supportive legislation to continue "closing the gap."
On 23 November 2011, Hon Jenny Macklin MP, the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs introduced legislation to Parliament in order to address issues within the Northern Territory and released the Stronger Futures policy statement.
"[8] The Australian Government identified imperative issues within the Northern Territory such as appropriate education, rampant alcohol abuse, housing availability and the deficient supply of economic and employment opportunities.
Through consultations with Aboriginal community members, the Australian Government recognised how unemployment continues to be a central problem in the Northern Territory yet this will be addressed through the Stronger Futures policy by a jobs package of 19.1 million in funding over four years.
The Stronger Futures policy addresses the issues of alcohol traders by allowing the Commonwealth Indigenous Affairs Minister, under the Northern Territory Liquor Act, to request the appointment of an independent assessor to review licensee operations.
[9] In response to the Stronger Futures legislation, Amnesty International called on the Australian Government to collaborate with the Indigenous communities of the Northern Territory and construct appropriate approaches that "respect the rights of those affected.
The campaign criticises elements of the Northern Territory Emergency Response Act of being culturally and racially discriminating and claims these features remains consistent in the Stronger Futures policy.
[2] The campaign has outlined several measures that enhance government control over Aboriginals and their land: Several prominent figures in Australia have expressed opposition to the Stronger Futures legislation.
The statement discussed their rejection of their Stronger Futures legislation and called on the Australian Government to issue an apology for the "hurt, embarrassment, shame and stigma" that Aboriginals in the Northern Territory experienced because of the measures within the Intervention.
The individuals wrote about the "iniquitous and demeaning nature of income management", and how SEAM is an "obvious injustice to children depriving their parents of the means of support for them.
The individuals called on the Government to abandon the legislation and set up appropriate mechanisms to involve Aboriginals leaders and Elders of the Northern Territory in the decision-making processes that define their future.
[14] The Stronger Futures policy is regarded by the Government as an important initiative to improve the quality and access of education for children in the Northern Territory through a $583 million investment, as discussed by Jenny Macklin, Peter Garrett MP, the Minister for School Education, Warren Snowdon MP, the Minister for Indigenous Health, and Senator Trish Crossin, Senator for the Northern Territory, in a joint media release.
[15] In addition, the releases states how the Stronger Futures policy will continue funding of a nutrition program that provides meals to 5,000 students in 67 schools every day.
[15] In another media release, members of the Australian Government, including Macklin, Snowdon, Kate Ellis and Trish Crossin, suggest that the Stronger Futures policy provides an investment of more than 443 million dollars to strengthen the safety and encourage the well-being of Aboriginal children, youth and families in the Northern Territory.
[16] This funding will support sixteen women's safe houses and allow for the expansion of a number of Communities for Children sites, which offer various services such as early learning and literacy programs and child nutrition advice.
[16] Advocates of the Stronger Futures policy discuss how it encourages the livelihood of Indigenous community members and increases the amount of services for Aboriginal families in the Northern Territory.
[17] The Australian Government claims that through the funding provided by the Stronger Futures policy, the safety of Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory will increase and the degree of alcohol abuse will decline.
