Health impacts of the Northern Territory intervention
Loading...
Date
2010
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Medical Journal of Australia
Abstract
During 2006 and 2007, there was much discussion in the
media about child sexual assault in Northern Territory
Aboriginal communities. In April 2007, the report of the
NT Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children
from Sexual Abuse, entitled Ampe akelyernemane meke mekarle
“Little children are sacred”, was presented to the Chief Minister of
the NT Government; it was released to the public in June 2007.
The report addressed concerns about child sexual abuse and made
recommendations that child abuse and child sexual abuse be
designated as issues of urgent national significance by both the
Australian and NT governments.1
On 21 June 2007, the then Minister for Families, Community
Services and Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough MP, announced, on
behalf of the Australian Government, the Northern Territory
Emergency Response (NTER) to protect Aboriginal children in the
NT.2 The announcement included, among other measures, alcohol
restrictions, welfare reform, compulsory income management,
compulsory health checks, banning of pornography, scrapping of
the permit system for common areas, and improving housing and
community living arrangements. Significantly, legislation was
passed by the Australian Parliament suspending Part II of the
Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cwlth), so that the government’s
measures could be imposed in prescribed Aboriginal communities
in the NT.3 Part II of the Act prohibits racial discrimination in
rights to equality before the law; access to places and facilities,
land, housing and other accommodation; and provision of goods
and services.
Description
Keywords
Health impacts, Northern Territory intervention
Citation
O’Mara, P. (2010). Health impacts of the Northern Territory intervention. Medical Journal of Australia, 192(10), 546-548.