7th Aug 2007, 8:36 PM – Representatives Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Payment Reform) Bill 2007 - Second Reading - Labor amendment to second reading motion

This division relates to the Policy For the NT National Emergency Response.

The majority voted in favour of a motion "That the words proposed to be omitted (Ms Macklin’s amendment) stand part of the question." In other words, the majority wanted the words to remain unchanged.

Labor MP Jenny Macklin had moved an amendment to the motion "that the bill be read for a second time". The amendment was:

That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“whilst not declining to give the Bill a second reading, the House notes that:

(1) the protection of children from harm and abuse is of paramount concern to all Australians;

(2) the documented instances of child abuse within Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory are of such gravity as to require an urgent and comprehensive response to make children and the communities they live in, safe;(Read more about the report into child sexual abuse in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities that sparked this legislation here. )

(3) these legislative measures taken together represent a major challenge for Territorians and a change to current arrangements;

(4) we will not succeed in our goal of protecting children without the support and leadership of Aboriginal people of the Northern Territory; the Commonwealth must gain their trust, engage them and respect them throughout this emergency and beyond;

(5) the work of strong and effective Indigenous community members and organisations must continue to be supported during this emergency;

(6) it is important that temporary measures are replaced in time with permanent reforms that have the confidence and support of Territorians, and short term measures aimed at ensuring the safety of children grow into long term responses that create stronger communities that are free of violence and abuse;

(7) In the case of town camps effective partnerships with lessors and negotiated outcomes should obviate the need for compulsory acquisition;

(8) this includes stimulating economic development and more private sector partnerships to secure greater self-reliance;

(9) both levels of government must work in partnership; there must be political accountability at the highest level—with the Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs;

(10) program funding must hit the ground through evidence-based delivery; there must be relentless focus on best-practice and rigorous evaluation by all parties set within specific timeframes;

(11) practical measures must include;

(a) police to keep every community in the Territory safe, particularly children, women and elders;

(b) safe houses that provide a safe place for women and children escaping family violence or abuse built using the direction and leadership of local Indigenous women;

(c) night patrols that provide important protection;

(d) community law and justice groups that play an important role in the effective administration of justice;

(e) appropriate background checks for all people providing services in communities who work in proximity to children;

(f) comprehensive coverage of child and maternal health services are essential to give children the best start;

(g) comprehensive coverage of parenting and early development services for Indigenous parents and their babies;

(h) an effective child protection system in the Northern Territory;

(i) all children enrolled and attending school and governments to deliver teachers, classrooms, teacher housing and support services (eg Indigenous teacher assistants);

(j) investment in housing construction and maintenance to reduce the shortfall in Indigenous homes and infrastructure; and

(k) reform of the Community Development and Employment Program, including transitioning participants who are employed in public sector work into proper public sector jobs and ensuring participants are not left without sufficient income or participation opportunities”.

Background to the bill

The bill was introduced along with four other bills:

• the Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory National Emergency Response and Other Measures) Bill 2007
• the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Bill 2007
• the Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Bill (No. 1) 2007-2008, and
• the Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Bill (No. 2) 2007-2008.

This legislation was introduced in response to the Report of the Northern Territory Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse, known as the Little Children are Sacred report, which was publicly released on 15 June 2007.(Read more about the background of the bills in the interim bills digest. ) That report came after concerns were raised on ABC's Lateline program in 2006.(Read the transcript for the Lateline programs that addressed the issue of child abuse in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory here (the May 2006 program) and here (the June 2006 program).)

References