Abstract
In 2007 the former federal government introduced a far-reaching ‘intervention’ into Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. The government claimed that the coercive measures outlined in this policy were aimed at combating child abuse and welfare dependency, arguing that ‘old approaches’ – such as self-determination – had ‘not worked’. In contrast, Sarah Maddison argues that meaningful self-determination has never in fact been tried in Australia, and is likely to be far more effective in addressing indigenous disadvantage than the overtly xenophobic and paternalistic approaches evident in the current policy approach.
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Notes
The three bills comprising the complex 500-page emergency response legislation were introduced to the House of Representatives on 7 August and passed that same day with bipartisan support. Following a hastily convened one-day Senate inquiry on 10 August, the legislation passed in the Upper House on 17 August without amendment. The package of legislation underpinning the intervention included the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Bill (2007); the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Payment Reform) Bill (2007); and the Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory National Emergency Response and Other Measures) Bill (2007).
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Underlines the importance of self-determination in policies addressing discrimination against indigenous Australians
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Maddison, S. Australia: Indigenous autonomy matters. Development 52, 483–489 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1057/dev.2009.62
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/dev.2009.62