CLP would move to ‘reset’ relationship with Indigenous community

THE CLP want to ‘reset the relationship’ with NT’s growing First Nations population, releasing a new policy that includes supporting the Federal Indigenous Ministers’ view of developing a ‘national voice’

THE Country Liberal Party want to “reset the relationship” with NT’s growing First Nations population, releasing a new policy that includes supporting the Federal Indigenous Ministers’ view of developing a “national voice”.

The CLP’s Indigenous policy, to be released today, puts empowering Aboriginal people to be part of the decision-making process at the front and lists “connectedness to country”, resilience, leadership, safety and vitality as factors they’ll take into account when figuring out how to make service delivery more effective.

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But the party’s policy also includes support for the Commonwealth Government’s Aboriginal work-for-the dole scheme known as the “Community Development Program”, which Aboriginal peak bodies says is more discriminatory and harmful than helpful and have called for it to be scrapped.

The CLP says it will support the “Draft Aboriginal Justice Agreement” and will work to implement its vision, principles and aims in consultation with First Nations elders and stakeholders.

Northern Territory Opposition Leader and CLP leader Lia Finocchiaro pictured in Darwin.

“The over-representation of Aboriginal people in NT prisons points to current and past policy failures. More offending leads to more arrests and higher incarcerations. This must be turned around and will only occur if we work together,” the party’s policy states.

It would establish a local community justice system where “some action or consequence” occurs from the first interaction with the justice system “to prevent escalation of offending” as one of six actions.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro, since releasing the party’s youth crime policy, has defended that plan from criticism it would unfairly target Aboriginal people, saying it was “absolutely not the case” and the policy was about “keeping all Territorians safe”.

The CLP would support Aboriginal rangers with training and development and double funding for the Aboriginal Ranger Grants program

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“For too long, governments in the Northern Territory have taken a ‘we know what’s best for you’ policy approach, by not effectively engaging with communities and working primarily at a high level with governments and land councils. Communities and individuals have been left out, which has led to a disconnect and substantial policy failure,” Ms Finocchiaro said.