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NATSIEC Newsletter
30th November 2009
In This Issue
Changes to the NTER
Senate Inquiry Details
Will They Be Heard? Report
From the news wire...
2009 Martung Upah Appeal
 
 
This is the newsletter of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission (NATSIEC) which is a commission of the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA).  
Changes to the NTER
 
NATSIEC has created a space on its website to identify key documents and relevant links to sources of information relating to the recently introduced leglislation. We will update it as necessary.
 
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Changes to the Intervention Announced
 
Last week the long awaited legislation to reintroduce the RDA was unveiled. The Government has announced that it will not only keep the income management system (with some exclusions) but will also extend it to all welfare recipients in the Northern Territory with the intention of eventually extending the system across Australia to areas that are identified as disadvantaged.
 
Other aspects of the Intervention, such as alcohol and pornography prohibitions and five year leases, are to stay as Special Measures.
 
The Bills containing these changes have been referred to the Senate Community Affairs Committee for inquiry. The Committee has called for submissions which are due by 1/02/2010 and it will report by 9/03/2010.
 
We urge you to make a submission to the inquiry. Terms of reference and contact details are below.
 
NATSIEC will in due course make a submission. Some of the areas that we are particularly concerned about, and will be asking the Senators to consider are:
 
* Whether the welfare reforms will have a disproportionate impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as they are the most disadvantaged group in Australia. Therefore, while the stated intention is to remove the discriminatory nature (based on race) of income management, in practice this policy could still have the greatest impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
 
* Whether there is conclusive evidence that this sort of punitive strategy is the best way to address the issues that people face, or whether there are proven strategies that are more empowering. We note that several welfare agencies and groups are urging caution and disputing the validity of such an approach.
 
* How will the changes be implemented to avoid the kind of confusion and humiliation that were encountered during the roll out of the existing income management system?  
 
* Whether the Government's consultations are proper evidence to support either income management system or any of the identified Special Measures. In particular, we are concerned that the agenda of the consultations was prescribed by Government and informed by their own discussion paper Future Directions for the Northern Territory Intervention. We question whether these consultations were a genuine opportunity for Communities to identify their own issues and solutions to those issues. 
Senate Inquiry Details.
 
As mentioned above, the BIlls to reintroduce the RDA as well as to make changes to the Intervention and also to the Welfare System were tabled in Parliament last week. They were referred to the Senate Community Affairs Committee. The Committee will receive submissions until the 1/02/2010.
 
Inquiry into Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform and Reinstatement of Racial Discrimination Act) Bill 2009 and the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (2009 Measures) Bill 2009 along with the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Restoration of Racial Discrimination Act) Bill 2009

This information is taken from the Committee webpage http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/clac_ctte/soc_sec_welfare_reform_racial_discrim_09/tor.htm
You can link to the Bills from that page.
 
Reason for referral of the Bills and information relating to the reference
 
On 26 November 2009 the Senate, on the recommendation of the Selection of Bills Committee, referred the provisions of the above Bills to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 9 March 2010.

The Committee invites you to provide a written submission addressing issues that may be of relevance to you. The submission should be lodged by 1 February 2010. The Committee prefers to receive submissions electronically as an attached document - email: community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au - otherwise by fax (02 6277 5829).
 
Should you require further information please contact the Committee Secretariat on (02) 6277 3515.
Statement of reasons for referral of the Bills
These are significant reforms to welfare policy which will affect a large number of disadvantaged Australians around which there has been significant community interest.
Assess the effectiveness of the amendments proposed in the Bills to:
 
* improve the social and economic conditions, social inclusion and life outcomes of all the disadvantaged individuals and communities affected by the measures, including but not limited to the Northern Territory;
deliver measurable improvements in protecting women and children, reducing alcohol-related harm, improving nutrition and food security, promoting community engagement and strengthening personal and cultural sense of value in all affected communities, including but not limited to Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory;
 
* reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 and deliver on our international commitments under the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in the operation of relevant legislation, particularly the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007;
 
*Assess the evidence that the proposed measures will deliver their stated policy objectives in an appropriate and cost effective manner.
 
*Consider the relative merits of alternative measures in achieving these outcomes.
 
*Assess the likely direct and incidental costs of the proposed measures including: 
*the cost of administration and delivery of the measures;
*additional costs incurred by those subject to the measures;
*the costs incurred by businesses complying with the Basics Card and potential losses of businesses excluded from the scheme.
 
In addition to the above in relation to the three Bills referred, the following issues for consideration were also provided in relation to the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform and Reinstatement of Racial Discrimination Act) Bill 2009 -
 
Assess the effectiveness of the amendments proposed in the Bill in meeting the Government's policy objectives to:
* address the social and economic disengagement arising from long term welfare dependence in disadvantaged regions, and in particular across the whole of the Northern Territory;
* improve the engagement, participation and responsibility of certain welfare recipients;
* continue and strengthen the measures to protect women and children, including reduce alcohol-related harm, improve food security, ensure appropriately secure tenure for the delivery of government services, promote personal responsibility and rebuild community norms in Northern Territory Indigenous communities; and
* reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (RDA) in the operation of relevant legislation, particularly the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007.
 
For further information, contact:
Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia
Phone: +61 2 6277 3515
Fax: +61 2 6277 5829
Email: community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au
Will They Be Heard ?
 
Prior to tabling the Bills, the Government also released its report about its consultations on the Intervention. In this report the Government presented its interpretations of the meetings as they related to the Intervention. Additioanlly, the Government published an independent report it had commissioned to scrutinise the actual consulation process.
 
On the same day another report was released which provided an independent analyses of the consultations. This report called Will They Be Heard? was authored by the Hon Alastair Nicholson, QC, Professor Larissa Behrendt and others in conjunction with the group "concerned Australians". The report provides some analyses of the consultation process, based on three case studies. Importantly, the group filmed the meetings and then provided the transcriptions, which allow a clearer assessment of the meeting process. 
 
All of these reports can be accessed via our website - click here
From the news wire...  
 
26/11/09 - Australian Association of Social Workers -  INCOME MANAGEMENT PLAN DOES NOT HELP SUPPORT LOW INCOME AUSTRALIANS (FED)
 
The AASW is concerned that the Federal Government's plans to roll out income management across the country will stigmatise low income households and have unintended punitive consequences for vulnerable children and families. Social workers warmly welcome the re-instatement of the Racial Discrimination Act in the Northern Territory, but are concerned there is no evidence to warrant an extension of income management. The measures are an untested tool to address problems sometimes faced by low income households, such as alcohol and drug usage, and will do nothing to address the lack of training and education places for those seeking work, particularly in rural and remote parts of Australia, said AASW National President Professor Bob Lonne. This crudely fashioned measure could lead many people on benefits to be fearful of seeking income and other support from Centrelink and other welfare agencies and could therefore impact negatively on the children it is seeking to help.
 
26/11/09 - Law Council - REINSTATEMENT OF THE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT A WELCOME MOVE (FED)
 
The Law Council says the introduction of legislation to reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA) under the NT Intervention means Aboriginal people can once again look forward to protection from discrimination. Law Council President John Corcoran said, "The restoration of fundamental rights for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory is long overdue. This announcement is an important step forward in ensuring the NT Intervention meets Australia's international obligations."

26/11/09 - Central Land Council - NTER STILL DISCRIMINATORY (NT)
 
At a meeting of its 90 members in Tennant Creek today, the Central Land Council said that the Federal Government had squandered a valuable opportunity to reset the relationship with Aboriginal people. CLC members said that the Federal Government's application of the Racial Discrimination Act to the Northern Territory Emergency Response legislation still ignores Aboriginal people's interests and its 'special measures' remain discriminatory. CLC director David Ross said that he felt deeply disappointed with the Government.
 
26/11/09 Anglicare Victoria - CHANGES TO NT RESPONSE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION (VIC)
 
Anglicare Victoria today welcomed the Federal Government decision to repeal income management measures imposed on Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory and replace them with more mainstream measures to manage welfare and family payment spending on essentials such as food and housing. Anglicare Victoria CEO Dr Ray Cleary said the new measures showed a more reasoned and thought out strategy to improving outcomes for the most vulnerable members of the community. "The Australian Federal Government has responded to the community's call for consultation and has developed a road map to address issues of disadvantage that recognises the complexity of the situation and the individual needs of different communities across the Territory."
 
25/11/09 Reconciliation Australia - SUCCESS OF NEW NTER FRAMEWORK DEPENDS ON GENUINE ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION (FED)

Reconciliation Australia welcomed the introduction of amendments to legislation underpinning Government action in the Northern Territory so that it complies with Australia's anti-race discrimination laws. The new approach reflects the reality that social problems are not determined by race. Co-Chair Mark Leibler said the priority now was to determine how to implement the changes in a way that was most likely to succeed. "The language in the Bill and explanatory documents reflects an understanding that the success of programs aimed at alleviating disadvantage hinges on the ongoing involvement of people on the ground, he said. The changes also go some way towards recognising that policy needs to be flexible to allow for different approaches put forward by different communities.

25/11/09 - Catholic Social Services Australia - CSSA CAUTIONS AGAINST NEW QUARANTINING ARRANGEMENTS (FED)
 
Welcoming the re-instatement of the Racial Discrimination Act, Catholic Social Services Australia today cautioned against applying untried policies across the population, particularly in the absence of programs and services that are known to be effective. Executive Director, Frank Quinlan said the initiatives outlined this morning will do little to resolve the issues currently facing some of the most disadvantaged Australians.
 
25/11/09 - HENDERSON WELCOMES KEY INTERVENTION REFORMS (NT)
 
The Chief Minister Paul Henderson welcomed the Federal Government's package to strengthen and refocus the Northern Territory Emergency Response measures. The Northern Territory Government has consistently said the key to the success of the Intervention would come through strong community engagement. Mr Henderson said really targeting income management measures to behavioural triggers like school attendance rather than using race as the focus is important. He also welcomed the reinstatement of the Northern Territory's Anti Discrimination laws.

25/11/09 - ACWA SCEPTICAL ABOUT EFFECTIVENESS OF WELFARE QUARANTINING (FED)
The Association of Children's Welfare Agencies (ACWA) says welfare quarantining cannot be viewed as a solution to protecting marginalised children, families and individuals already entrenched in poverty. ACWA CEO Andrew McCallum said he is not convinced that proposed new income management measures unveiled today by Families Minister Jenny Macklin will assist those struggling to escape the cycle of welfare dependence. Under the reforms, to be rolled out from July next year, welfare recipients could have up to half their payments quarantined for spending on essential items such as food, rent and clothing.
 
25/11/09 Australian Council of Social Services - ROLLOUT OF BLANKET INCOME MANAGEMENT UNFAIR AND UN-AUSTRALIAN (FED)
ACOSS has raised concerns about the Federal Government's plans to roll out income management across the country, saying it could further disadvantage low income Australians. "While the reinstatement of the Racial Discrimination Act is welcome step, it comes at a cost," said Clare Martin, CEO, Australian Council of Social Service. "These are major reforms to our welfare system and we are concerned there is no evidence to warrant an extension of income quarantining. Blanket income management is a blunt instrument which does not consider individual circumstances. We need individual solutions to individual problems and we urge caution on a national rollout.
 
25/11/09 - National Rights Welfare Rights Network - PLAN TO CONTROL SPENDING OF POOR IS "DRACONIAN, DISEMPOWERING AND DOWN-RIGHT DANGEROUS" (FED)

Reports in all of the major papers that the Federal Government has plans for a massive expansion of conditions for receiving Centrelink payments, with half of all payments to be only available via a Basics Card type scheme that operates in the Northern Territory (NT) has been branded "disempowering and down-right dangerous", said Kate Beaumont, President of the National Welfare Rights Network (NWRN) today. These measures are draconian, paternalistic and extreme. The Government's move to make the NTER compliant with the Racial Discrimination Act will see the blanket income management scheme replaced with another flawed scheme. The proposed broad 'triggered' based scheme will mean that too many people in the NT will remain under income management without justification.
 
25/11/09 - ANGLICARE SYDNEY CONCERNED ABOUT WELFARE PAYMENT MANAGEMENT SCHEME (FED)
ANGLICARE Sydney has responded cautiously to the commitment from the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin to breaking the cycle of poverty and social exclusion experienced by many on welfare payments. ANGLICARE Sydney CEO Peter Kell says legislation proposing the extension of the scheme to manage the welfare payments of recipients who face severe disadvantage might go some way to addressing the challenges they face, but needs to be rigorously evaluated.

25/11/09 - Human Rights Commission - REINSTATING THE RDA IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY WELCOMED (FED)
The Australian Human Rights Commission has welcomed today's announcement by the Australian Government that it will reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA) in the Northern Territory in 2010. Race Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes, said the proposal to progressively lift the suspension of the RDA and anti-discrimination laws in the Northern Territory and Queensland was essential for Australia to be able to comply with its human rights obligations and ensure that people were protected from discrimination on the basis of their race.

Acknowledgement: We would like to thank TEAR Australia for the free subscription to their news service. http://www.tear.org.au/
2009 Martung Upah Appeal  
Fellowship of the Least Coin

The Make Indigenous Poverty History Campaign is an initiative of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission (NATSIEC). Other projects run by NATSIEC include the Indigenous Theology project and a development fund.

NATSIEC receives significant funding from Act of Peace and the Uniting Church (NSW) 2% fund, however the rest of our funding comes from donations by Churches and Individuals to its annual appeal Martung Upah*.  
 
By supporting the Martung Upah appeal you are joining us in a partnership to engage Churches and the wider community in fostering a deeper understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Together we can work towards healing the hurts of the past and building a better tomorrow for all our children so that injustice and discrimination will not be part of Australia's future.
 
We thank you for your support.
 
To download go to the Martung Upah Appeal webpage click here.
To go direct to the online donation page click here

* Martung Upah is from Western Australia and means partnership.