The Australian Government is announcing its final response to the Review of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER). The NTER is an important cross-government initiative, and the final response has been agreed with the Northern Territory Government.
The NTER Review was commissioned in June 2008, honouring the Rudd Government’s commitment to review the intervention at the 12 month point. The Government appointed a three-person Review Board chaired by Mr Peter Yu, with Ms Marcia Ella Duncan and Mr Bill Gray AM.
The Terms of Reference required the Board to:
- examine evidence and assess the overall progress of the NTER in improving the safety and wellbeing of children and laying the basis for a sustainable and better future for residents of remote communities in the Northern Territory, and in particular, in improving the education, health, community safety and employment outcomes for citizens, and particularly women and children, resident in remote communities and town camps in the Northern Territory;
- consider what is and is not working and whether the current suite of NTERmeasures will deliver the intended results, whether any unintended consequences have emerged and whether other measures should be developed or ways of working applied to better address circumstances facing remote communities in the Northern Territory; and
- in relation to each NTER measure, make an assessment of its effects to date, and recommend any required changes to improve each measure and monitor performance.
The Australian Government provided its interim response on 23 October 2008, accepting the Review Board’s three overarching recommendations that:
- the Australian and Northern Territory Governments recognise as a matter of urgent national significance the continuing need to address the unacceptably high levels of disadvantage and social dislocation experienced by remote communities and town camps in the Northern Territory;
- Governments reset their relationship with Indigenous people based on genuine consultation, engagement and partnership; and
- Government actions respect Australian human rights obligations and conform with the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (RDA).
At the same time the Australian Government announced its medium-term strategy to continue and strengthen the NTER. The longer term aim is to achieve sustainable improvement in Territory communities. This will require commitment from both governments.
In the recent Budget, the Australian Government announced a substantial commitment of $807.4 million funding over three years. The Northern Territory Government will maintain its expenditure in real terms on Indigenous services.
Attached is a more detailed summary of the actions agreed by governments on each of the seven NTER measures and their component programs, including details of funding provided in the 2009-10 Commonwealth Budget to continue the measures. These funding decisions have been guided by the Review Board’s recommendations.
Also attached is a table setting out the final response to each of the Review Board’s recommendations.
The NTER will continue to be closely monitored by both governments and there will be a full evaluation in 2011-12.