‘Modern day slavery’: NT politician tears into remote work-for-the-dole program

THE Federal Government’s Community Development Program has been torn to shreds by NT parliamentarian

Member for Namatjira Chansey Paech has called for the CDP program to be scrapped. Pictured at the Desert Song Festival in Alice Springs. Photo: EMMA MURRAY

THE Federal Government’s Community Development Program (CDP), also known as the remote ‘work-for-the-dole’ initiative, has been torn to shreds by Namatjira MLA Chansey Paech, who labelled it “criminal” and likened it to “modern day slavery”.

In an impassioned address during adjournment speeches in NT Parliament last night Mr Paech said he had heard from his constituents about how the CDP was robbing people of access to basic amenities and criticised the program’s punitive measures.

“It certainly breaks down the cycle of dependency — you can’t depend on something that you are banned from. In fact, it cuts off the most marginalised people in the country and leaves them high and dry with no form of income for up to eight weeks,” he said.

“This is criminal, an injustice, and is causing harm to the Northern Territory, in our remote communities and in our major towns. We are all paying for the Federal Government’s failures.”

These latest calls to scrap the CDP follow revelations from an inquiry into proposed changes to the legislation, which showed over 6000 people have “disappeared” from the scheme since its beginnings in 2015. From the estimated 35,000 CDP participants in Australia, 83 per cent are indigenous and there has been a 740 per cent increase in financial penalties since its commencement.

The CDP is overseen by Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion. A spokesman for Mr Scullion refuted the claims and said the CDP had been a resounding success.

“(The CDP) has seen jobseeker engagement increase from six per cent under the failed policies of Labor up to over 70 per cent under the Coalition,” he said.

Read more about the CDP in NT Weekend this Saturday.