Intervention increasing hardship in Tennant Creek: NT election candidates challenged on policies
media release… media release… media release… media release… media release….
4/8/08 for immediate release
Intervention increasing hardship in Tennant Creek: NT election candidates challenged on policies
The Intervention Resistance Action Group (IRAG) from Alice Springs is challenging candidates in the upcoming NT election to speak out against the destructive effects of the Intervention, criticising NT Labor’s commitment of $280million to continue the Intervention for another four years.
IRAG visited Tennant Creek last week to conduct extensive interviews with local Aboriginal people about the effects of the NT Intervention. They report deteriorating living conditions, distress and increasing hardship resulting from the introduction of the "income management" system and the racist approach of the Intervention.
Dianne Stokes, a Warumungu – Warlmanpa woman and community spokesperson currently staying in Tennant Creek told the group, "This Intervention is the biggest problem in Tennant Creek. People from remote communities are coming into Tennant. They don’t want to be here, but they have to come in and see Centrelink and do their paperwork and go to the shop here. They can't put it back to the community they have to use it here in this town. Then it's hard for them to get back out bush".
"This is making overcrowding worse. More people living in town camps now, like three families living in a house. Some of us we sleep outside. Three old people sleep in a cage area here. They got nowhere to stay because that Intervention brought them into town and they can't leave".
Margaret Limmerick, who is currently on the income management system in Tennant said, "When the Intervention started off I thought it was really good. Now I end up just walking out (from Centrelink) without anything in my hand, no money, just paper to go shopping every time in the Foodbarn”.
“Centrelink are holding $3000 of mine in income management. One time I asked them to give me some to go down to Alice Springs, they said, "you can't take it out", but I don't drink. They said I can only spend that money at Little Rippers (variety store) or Foodbarn. But I got my rent too, my power, my phone. I couldn't use it on any of these things".
Barbara Shaw, from the Intervention Resistance Action Group in Alice Springs said, “A lot of old people we have spoken to believe this new law is taking them back to the old ration days and the old dog tag days. This is another way of controlling us, where we are limited to stay in one place”.
“The Intervention is leading to more hardship in Tennant Creek. But candidates in the upcoming NT government elections were saying nothing about its destructive effects. Tonight I challenged candidates at the election forum in Alice Springs– will you speak up against the suspension of the NT Anti-Discrimination Act currently in place? Will you call for the implementation of the 97 recommendations of the Little Children are Sacred Report commissioned by the NT government?”.
“We want the resources, consultation and support recommended in this report, not punitive laws. We also demand to know why NT Labor have quietly committed $280million to the ongoing roll-out of the Intervention, while its future is supposed to be currently under review?” Ms Shaw concluded.
For more information contact Intervention Resistance Action Group:
Barbara Shaw 0401291166
Paddy Gibson 0415800586
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http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com
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Source of media release: quarantine racism <quarantineracism@warpmail.net>
Media release posted by WGAR (Working Group for Aboriginal Rights) as a community service. Please note WGAR is not the author of this media release.
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