Indigenous women benefit from intervention

29-October-2008

Indigenous Women living in remote communities are clearly benefiting from the Intervention measures and the progress must continue, Shadow Minister for Women Sophie Mirabella said today.

“I am very pleased that the measures taken last year by the Coalition Government are having a real impact and helping improve the lives of indigenous women and children. I congratulate Minister Macklin for overruling her own Intervention Review Board recommendation and insisting that income management measures remain in place.”

“During her visit to the Tanami this week, the Minister clearly experienced the division of opinion on gender lines regarding the quarantining half of all welfare payments. The women clearly favour it and the men do not,” Federal Shadow Minister for Women Sophie Mirabella MP said today.

“I am very pleased that the Minister has done the right thing by the women and children and insisted that this measure remain in place.”

Mrs Mirabella said it was heartening that the manager of Yuendumu Women’s Centre had reported less domestic violence and illicit drinking in the community – with the women’s shelter unoccupied for a record 7 weeks.

“The early results are very positive and I welcome the Minister’s insistence that the Government will continue the current “stabilisation” phase of the intervention for another 12 months – including strict controls on welfare payments,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“The Coalition will support the Government as long as it continues to focus on genuine outcomes such as the health and wellbeing of women and children. That’s what we need to deliver to these communities. So far, it is clearly working and we need to keep it up.”

Mrs Mirabella said the Coalition would closely monitor the situation in respect to any changes or watering down of the NT Intervention policies.

“Unfortunately, one of the first things Labor did was re-introduce the permit system which has helped keep the veil of secrecy on this issue for so many years. We’ll be monitoring the Rudd Government very closely to ensure it keeps the welfare of women and children paramount and doesn’t cave in to pressure from some sectors who oppose the Intervention for political reasons.”