SNAICC in the News – Calls for end to ‘tough on crime’ electioneering and a focus on community-led solutions
The week of 15 July, 2024, saw media coverage of calls to end ‘tough on crime’ electioneering and instead invest in community-led, grassroots solutions, particularly in Mparntwe/Alice Springs.
As Northern Territory and Queensland elections approach, health leaders and children’s rights advocates argue that ‘tough on crime’ rhetoric exacerbates the vulnerabilities of at-risk children and young people. Experts are calling for a shift away from punitive measures, like curfews, towards strategies that address the root causes of youth involvement in the criminal justice system. Dr. Mark Wenitong, a Kabi Kabi man and long-time prison healthcare provider, and Sally Sievers, CEO of Northern Territory Council of Social Service, stress the need for evidence-based prevention, justice reinvestment and early intervention. They highlight the importance of community-led programs that use local knowledge and cultural strengths to foster supportive environments and positive youth development.
This call was echoed following the imposition of a second curfew in Mparntwe/Alice Springs. On the 16 July episode of The Point, Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC, emphasised that community-controlled organisations are best positioned to create relevant and effective solutions that use local knowledge and should be central to developing and implementing programs. Joining Catherine, Arrernte man Uncle William Tilmouth, founding Chair of Children’s Ground, reiterated the need for increased government investment in grassroots initiatives, advocating for a shift from temporary measures to long-term, community-led strategies.
Territory Labor has promised $35 million to increase the hours of free preschool in primary schools if it wins the upcoming NT election. This would double the number of free preschool hours for four-year-olds in the Northern Territory, from 15 to 30 hours per week. The expanded hours would be implemented at ten schools in the first year, with the goal of reaching 25 by 2028. The NT Early Childhood Alliance has welcomed the policy but also called for a recruitment drive to address the shortage of early childhood educators. The commitment is viewed as a positive step forward, that acknowledges the importance of early childhood education.
For complete coverage, read the news and media stories linked below.
Topic: Calls to end ‘tough on crime’ electioneering
This week, experts have called on political leaders to end ‘tough on crime’ electioneering, which they argue exacerbates the vulnerabilities of at-risk children and young people.
As the Northern Territory and Queensland elections approach, health leaders and children’s rights advocates have emphasised the need to address the root causes of youth involvement in the criminal justice system, rather than ‘tough on crime’ electioneering. They advocate for investment in justice reinvestment programs, which get to the root cause of the situations, and early intervention initiatives that address the social determinants of health, such as poverty, education and housing. Dr. John Paterson, CEO of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory, criticised the politicised use of tough-on-crime policies that divert resources away from evidence-based supports and rehabilitation.
A similar call was made, following the recent snap three-day curfew in Mparntwe/Alice Springs, on this week’s episode of the SBS program, The Point. Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC, emphasised that community-controlled institutions and organisations develop positions relevant to their communities, using local knowledge and skills to keep children strong and safe. On the program, Arrernte man Uncle William Tilmouth, founding Chair of Children’s Ground, also called for increased government investment in community-led grassroots solutions.
Political rhetoric in Queensland and the Northern Territory has seen proposals to lower the age of criminal responsibility and implement harsh sentencing for youth. Last week, NT opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro stated that if elected, the Country Liberal Party will lower the criminal responsibility age, among other ‘tough on crime’ policies. Meanwhile, legal experts and the National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls have criticised Queensland’s Opposition Leader David Crisafulli’s ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time‘ plan for youth crime. Advocates argue that these measures disproportionately affect Aboriginal children, perpetuating a cycle of punishment rather than support.
Experts Dr. Mark Wenitong, a Kabi Kabi man and long-term prison healthcare provider, and Sally Sievers, CEO of Northern Territory Council of Social Service, argue that a shift towards evidence-based prevention, justice reinvestment and early intervention is essential for breaking the cycle of reoffending and addressing the broader social issues impacting vulnerable youth. They emphasise the importance of community-led programs that use local knowledge and cultural strengths to create supportive environments that foster positive development.
For full coverage, view the media story linked below.
Article: Experts call for the end of “tough on crime” electioneering – Croakey Health Media (released 19 July)
Excerpt:
Read the full article“Similar calls were made following the recent snap three-day curfew in Mparntwe/Alice Springs on last week’s episode of SBS TV show The Point.
Catherine Liddle, Arrernte/Luritja woman and CEO of SNAICC, the peak body advocating for First Nations children, said that community-controlled institutions and organisations “develop the positions that are relevant to their communities, that their families know keep children strong, that use the skills that our families have”.
Also on the program, Arrernte man William Tilmouth, and founding Chair of the NT Indigenous children’s advocacy group Children’s Ground, echoed calls for more government investment in community-led grassroots solutions.”
Topic: Mparntwe/Alice Springs community leaders advocate for community-led solutions
Following the imposition of a second curfew in Mparntwe/Alice Springs, community leaders are calling for significant investment in community-led, grassroots solutions rather than relying on temporary measures like curfews.
On the recent episode of The Point, aired on Tuesday, 16 July, Uncle William Tilmouth, an Arrernte man and Founding Chair of Children’s Ground, emphasised the urgent need for addressing what he describes as ‘substandard everything’ in the Mparntwe/Alice Springs community, referencing an opinion piece he penned in January 2023. Tilmouth criticised the complacency surrounding inadequate housing, education and infrastructure. He stressed that those facing the greatest disadvantage should have the loudest voice in shaping their future, advocating for genuine community involvement in decision-making processes.
Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC, also featured on the program, echoed the call for community-led solutions. Catherine argued that Aboriginal community-controlled organisations are uniquely equipped to address the needs of their communities and should be central to developing and implementing programs. She highlighted that the path forward for Mparntwe/Alice Springs lies in a strong focus on community-led and controlled services, programs and ownership.
Arrernte/Luritja woman Cherrise Buzzacott and NT Deputy Chief Minister Chansey Paech also contributed to the discussion. Buzzacott warned against perpetuating a cycle of poverty and despair, advocating for stronger community action and belief in the capacity for change. Paech supported the use of curfews as temporary measures but emphasised the need for long-term investment in social determinants of justice, such as health, housing and education, to prevent the criminal justice system from becoming a default pathway for youth.
For full coverage, watch the full episode and view the media story linked below.
Watch The PointArticle: ‘Substandard everything:’ Mparntwe leaders call for an end to powerlessness – NITV (released 16 July)
Excerpt:
Read the full article“For Arrernte/Luritja woman Catherine Liddle, the solutions for Alice Springs lie in a heavy focus on community led and controlled services, programs and ownership.
“When you have institutions and organisations like a Children’s Ground, like our community-controlled organisations, they develop the positions that are relevant to their communities, that their families know keep children strong, that use the skills that our families have,” she said.
“So, it is genuinely about flipping that and saying: Work with your communities, what do you need, what do you want and how do we get there – and let’s get back to that accountability bit.”
“No organisations have the level of accountability that Aboriginal community-controlled organisations,” Ms Liddle added.”