PM admits errors in Aboriginal intervention

The controversial Northern Territory intervention that suspended racial discrimination laws to take over the lives of indigenous communities appears set for a major overhaul.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin yesterday released a discussion paper and announced consultations across the remote north to determine the shape of new policies for Australia's hugely disadvantaged Aborigines.

The announcement came as anger greeted the fourth anniversary of the dramatic 2007 intervention by the military, federal police, medical teams and bureaucrats launched by former Liberal Prime Minister John Howard in response to a shocking report into child sexual abuse in the Territory.

The intervention compulsorily acquired indigenous townships, suspended rights to control entry to Aboriginal land, ended the use of customary law and cultural practices in courts, imposed strict controls on alcohol, and introduced income management plans that quarantined money for food and other essentials.

Welcomed by some indigenous leaders and communities, the intervention - continued under Labor - has been attacked by many other Aboriginal groups, the United Nations and human rights organisations.

Although the Federal Police will withdraw next month and policies have already been modified by Labor, more than 200 intervention opponents this week marched through Darwin demanding an end to the intervention.

Lawyer Rex Wild, QC, co-author of the "Little Children are Sacred" report that triggered the intervention, also said present policies should be scrapped despite the fact they had produced some benefits.

Gillard, whose Cabinet will meet in Palmerston, near Darwin, next week, has promised that new policies would be bound by the Racial Discrimination Act and that indigenous communities would have a voice in shaping them.

"We know this was started without consultation with Aboriginal people, and we know starting it without consultation did lead to feelings of hurt and feelings of shame," she said.

"We know that a stronger future can only be built in partnership with Aboriginal people and communities, because the issues we want to tackle are the issues which many indigenous people confront every single day."

Aborigines die a decade younger than other Australians, child mortality is much higher, they suffer far higher rates of disease, are over-represented in the nation's jails, live on incomes one-third lower than other households, endure double-digit unemployment, and are far more likely to be homeless or live in overcrowded houses.

Gillard acknowledged that after four years the intervention, due to end in July next year, had failed to overcome what the Government's new discussion paper described as an ongoing crisis in which too many children did not go to school and alcohol still fuelled "devastating" violence and abuse.

"Over the past four years we have made significant progress in improving people's lives in the Northern Territory, but the situation for many indigenous families remains critical," Gillard and Macklin said in a joint statement.

"Feedback from these communities to date is that people now feel safer, children are being better cared for, alcohol and gambling abuse is lessening and indigenous job opportunities are improving.

"But there is no quick fix to overcoming entrenched disadvantage. It will take time, investment and a commitment to work together to deliver lasting improvements."

While acknowledging the scale of disadvantage, Gillard defended gains claimed for the intervention.

"Women, children and the elderly are now safer, children are better fed and clothed, and there is less pressure on welfare recipients for money to be spent on alcohol, drugs and gambling," she said.

Gillard said that more than 300 new homes had so far been built and 1400 refurbished under the intervention's 10-year, A$1.7 billion ($2.2 billion) housing programme, police were now working in 18 communities previously without a permanent presence, crisis accommodation was now available for more than 1200 people, and a mobile child protection team had been introduced.

She said 5000 jobs had been found for Aborigines since the intervention began, as well as more than 2200 jobs created in the federal and Territory governments.

The intervention had also provided more teachers, more than 10,600 child health checks had been conducted, and licensed community stores had boosted the supply and quality of fresh food and ended "book up" credit schemes that trapped many Aboriginal families in debt.

New consultations will focus on plans for school attendance and educational achievement, economic development and employment, alcohol abuse, community safety, health, food security and housing.