How do the parties stack up on ending the Intervention?
The Northern Territory Intervention is a racist policy and a breach of Aboriginal peoples' human rights. Launched by John Howard in 2007, the Intervention saw hundreds of army personnel sent into remote communities and compulsory quarantining of welfare payments.1
Aboriginal land, infrastructure and housing was taken over by the Government. In 2010 the Labor party chose to continue many of the provisions of the the Intervention with the introduction of their 'Stronger Futures' legislation that was widely criticised by First Nations organisations and communities at the time of its introduction.2
We asked the parties if they were prepared to abolish the Northern Territory Intervention.
References
[1] 'What is the Northern Territory Intervention?', Monash University Castan Centre for Human Rights, undated.
[2] 'Stronger Futures laws condemned after passing Senate', ABC Online, 29 Jun 2012.
Here's why we rated the parties this way on the Northern Territory Intervention?
Liberal National Party: In 2007 the Liberal National government under Prime Minister Howard initiated the Northern Territory Intervention, and it continued to be supported by the Abbott government (SBS, 'Is Tony Abbott a good fit for new Indigenous affairs envoy?', 29 August 2018)
The Australian Labor Party: In their response to the policy survey, the ALP have stated that they ended the Northern Territory Intervention when they replaced it in 2010 with their 'Stronger Futures' plan. However this plan was condemned at the time by First Nations communities and organisations across the Northern Territory at the time ((ABC Online,'Stronger Futures laws condemned after passing Senate', 29 June 2012), and continued all the substantive measures of Howard's Northern Territory Emergency Response Legislation. (The Conversation,'Ten years on, it's time we learned the lessons from the failed Northern Territory Intervention', June 26 2017) To see their policy survey response head to www.getup.org.au/howtovote
The Greens: The Greens opposed both the Northern Territory Emergency Response legislation (Coalition), and the Stronger Futures legislation (ALP) which created and continued the framework for the Northern Territory Intervention. To see their full answer to this question in our survey, head to www.getup.org.au/howtovote
Katter's Australia Party: did not respond to our survey and does not have policies on this issue.
Palmer's United Australia Party: did not respond to our survey and does not have policies on this issue.
Liberal National Party: In 2007 the Liberal National government under Prime Minister Howard initiated the Northern Territory Intervention, and it continued to be supported by the Abbott government (SBS, 'Is Tony Abbott a good fit for new Indigenous affairs envoy?', 29 August 2018)
The Australian Labor Party: In their response to the policy survey, the ALP have stated that they ended the Northern Territory Intervention when they replaced it in 2010 with their 'Stronger Futures' plan. However this plan was condemned at the time by First Nations communities and organisations across the Northern Territory at the time ((ABC Online,'Stronger Futures laws condemned after passing Senate', 29 June 2012), and continued all the substantive measures of Howard's Northern Territory Emergency Response Legislation. (The Conversation,'Ten years on, it's time we learned the lessons from the failed Northern Territory Intervention', June 26 2017) To see their policy survey response head to www.getup.org.au/howtovote
The Greens: The Greens opposed both the Northern Territory Emergency Response legislation (Coalition), and the Stronger Futures legislation (ALP) which created and continued the framework for the Northern Territory Intervention. To see their full answer to this question in our survey, head to www.getup.org.au/howtovote
Katter's Australia Party: did not respond to our survey and does not have policies on this issue.
Palmer's United Australia Party: did not respond to our survey and does not have policies on this issue.
We have focussed on those parties or candidates that met all of the following criteria:
- are running in seats with a significant Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander population (higher than 9%)
- have community support. Parties and candidates were considered to have demonstrated community support if they are currently represented in the Federal Parliament, or are a new contender with significant support in credible published polls.
- are not excluded because of racist views (for example Pauline Hanson's One Nation, Fraser Anning's National Conservative Party, Rise Up Australia and the Australian Liberty Alliance were all excluded from GetUp's survey process)
To see why we rated the parties this way on these issues, please head to https://www.getup.org.au/howtovoteADD YOUR VOICE!
Whichever party forms government, the Northern Territory Intervention (Stronger Futures) needs to end. It takes control from Aboriginal communities and causes cultural and psychological harm.
Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory deserve to live free from discrimination.
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