The Northern Territory (NT) Country Liberal Party has defended its handling of Aboriginal affairs, after four Indigenous land councils issued a joint statement accusing the government of neglecting issues like racism and water supply.
The executive committees of the Northern, Central, Tiwi and Anindilyakwa land councils gathered for the first time in five years on July 24, calling on the federal tier of government to “hold the NT government accountable” over federally allocated funding.
“Federal funding for our people props up the NT’s budget,” the statement claimed.
Aboriginal land councils preside over more than half the NT and 85 percent of its coastline.
What the Aboriginal Land Councils Want
The four land councils have called for greater federal supervision of funds for Indigenous purposes in the NT, as well as a bigger role in building the economy.
They are also calling for the establishment of an independent police misconduct body and the publication of an “implementation plan” based off the Kumanjayi Walker Coronial Inquest.
Nineteen-year-old Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot by police in 2019 during an attempted arrest, with the officer who shot him cleared of murder charges after a jury found he had acted in self-defence.
The findings of the inquest delivered on July 7 gave way to 32 recommendations, including strengthening “anti-racism” systems within NT Police, a review of when armed officers should enter Indigenous communities, more youth diversion programs, and more Aboriginal engagement in the health sector.
NT Police have pledged to consider and implement these findings.
Northern Land Council Chair Matthew Ryan said the Indigenous groups wanted a seat at the table on navigating those recommendations.
“We want a working group of relevant agencies to develop and implement better procedures to address complaints by Aboriginal people about police racism and use of force—a group that consults with the land councils and affected families and communities,” he said.
Ryan says money spent on law and order would be better spent on programs to keep youths out of jail.
The issue of water was another key concern.
“We want the federal government to strengthen the National Water Agreement, extend the water trigger in federal environment laws to all thirsty industry proposals and keep funding remote community drinking water projects,” he said.
‘We are Working Together’: NT Government
The NT government says it is working to reduce crime, rebuild the economy, and restore Territory life.
In a statement to The Epoch Times, Aboriginal Affairs Ministers Steve Edgington criticised the former Labor government for scrapping community government councils and leadership structures in 2008, after abolishing the NT Law and Justice Strategy in 2005.
“We recently discussed the development of an Aboriginal Affairs policy at the last meeting of the NT Executive Council on Aboriginal Affairs (NTECAA), which I co-chair with Dr. John Paterson,” he said.
“We are working together with Aboriginal Peak Organisations (APO NT) which include the four lands councils on Closing the Gap initiatives.”
Other members of APO NT include the Aboriginal Medical Service Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT), North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), Aboriginal Housing NT (AHNT) and the Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network (NT IBN).
Edgington said his government had been working with Indigenous communities to empower locals to lead and contribute with a more active role in decision-making processes.
A key component of the government’s economic strategy, according to the minister, involves strengthening Aboriginal partnerships.
The NT Remote Aboriginal Investment Agreement has allocated $842.6 million over six years to address critical service issues.
Additionally, $4 billion has been allocated to build 2,700 remote homes in the span of a decade.
Another $40 million in 2025-26 and 2026-27 will deliver housing, municipal and essential services in 381 homelands and 18 non-leased town camps.
Friends Read Free
Copy
Facebook
Tweet
