This is the final report to the government from the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) Taskforce. This report period is from June 2007 to June 2008.
The Australian Government has in place emergency measures to protect Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory. These measures were originally announced on 21 June 2007 by the then Prime Minister, the Honourable John Howard MP and the then Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Honourable Mal Brough MP, and became known as the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER).
The Prime Minister, the Honourable Kevin Rudd MP and the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Honourable Jenny Macklin MP, had supported the emergency response while in opposition. Following the Federal election in October 2007, they reaffirmed their commitment to the NTER, subject to a review to be undertaken in mid 2008.
The aim of the NTER is to protect children and make communities safe as well as creating a better future for Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.
The body of this report provides information about:
- the role and activities of the Taskforce (section 2);
- key achievements of the NTER (section 3); and
- the Taskforce's views on the NTER (section 4).
The appendices provide the following, more detailed information:
- Biographical profiles of NTER members (Appendix A);
- NTER Taskforce meetings, dates and attendees (Appendix B);
- Dr Gordon's speaking engagements and meetings (Appendix C);
- Dr Gordon's media interviews (Appendix D);
- Major General Chalmers's media interviews (Appendix E).