Review of issues related to the acquisition and management of container accommodation in the Northern Territory and the management of ACMS on prescribed communities 

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Background to the NTER 

  1. The background to the NTER has been canvassed at length in numerous reports, but to establish a context for this report it may be summarised as follows:
    • The NTER was initiated by the then government in response to the report of the NT Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse;
    • That report proposed that 'Aboriginal child sexual abuse in the Northern Territory be designated as an issue of urgent national significance by both the Australian and Northern Territory governments';
    • On 21 June 2007 the then government announced national emergency measures to protect Aboriginal children in the NT;
    • the NTER has three 'phases';
      • a 'stabilisation phase', 
      • a 'normalisation phase', and
      • longer term 'support phase' based around the same norms and choices enjoyed by other Australians.
    • elements in the NTER included:
      • Policing,
      • Community Improvement including the Community Clean Up program,
      • General Health Checks,
      • Welfare Reforms,
      • School enrolments and attendance,
      • Community Safety, and
      • measures to deal with substance abuse, Pornography and Permits.

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