Society

Indigenous taskforce request Rudd’s government to give direction

The chairwoman of the Northern Territory intervention taskforce is asking the Federal Government for direction as she feared it might stall under the Labor government.

The chairwoman of the Northern Territory intervention taskforce is asking the Federal Government for direction as she feared it might stall under the Labor government.

Dr. Sue Gordon, a magistrate at the Perth Children’s Court, will meet the Federal Indigenous Minister, Jenny Macklin, on Thursday and on the top of her agenda will be the plan for the next six months, especially in the area of health and employment.

"What we want to know is the direction the government is taking," Dr Gordon told The Australian.
"As the chairperson of the task force, I want to know: Do they have a plan for this next six months? Do we continue as we are? Do they have any new ideas?”

The intervention in the Northern Territory to tackle the rampant child-sex abuses, as documented by the ‘Little Children are Sacred’ report, has been criticised by a Christian group since its inception by the previous Coalition-led Federal Government.

The newly formed National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian Alliance (NATSIC) though acknowledged and affirm the recommendations of the report handed to the Northern Territory government last year, but, nonetheless it stated strongly its objection to the previous Howard’s government in tackling the issue.

NATSIC described the military-style approach as ‘serving to demonise, stereotype and further break the spirits of individuals, families and communities.’ Instead, they advocated for a holistic community-oriented approach in dealing with the complex issue.

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Indigenous taskforce request Rudd’s government to give direction

The chairwoman of the Northern Territory intervention taskforce is asking the Federal Government for direction as she..