Aboriginal children will be worse off under the proposed Federal Government expansion of the cashless welfare card in the Northern Territory, according to the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
SNAICC – National Voice for our Children strongly opposes the Federal Government’s assertions in the announcement yesterday that that the proposed expansion will lead to more stability and safety for children in the Northern Territory. A system that clearly targets Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, and that removes freedom and replaces it with government control, will have significant impacts on the wellbeing of our children.
The government’s own studies into the impacts of this very system have shown that income management in the Northern Territory is associated with substantial negative short-term outcomes. It has also not demonstrated any positive outcomes across a range of indicators, including child health, child neglect, school attendance or development outcomes.
Fundamentally, this comes down to an issue of basic human rights. What the card does is deny families the same level of access and freedom as everybody else.”
– Dawn Ross, SNAICC Council Member
Through the current Closing the Gap refresh process and the seminal partnership agreement between Aboriginal leaders and all Australian Governments, the Federal Government has affirmed its commitment to self-determination and privileging the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to have a say in the decisions that affect us. The cashless welfare card model flies in the face of self-determination, restricts our freedom, and significantly challenges equality amongst Australians.
The costs of administering an ineffective system like the cashless welfare card are extraordinary.
“That level of funding and energy should instead be put into addressing real issues like overcrowded housing, access to preschool, and health care – areas that we know actually lead to greater outcomes in child safety and wellbeing.”
– Dawn Ross, SNAICC Council Member
A wealth of evidence confirms what we know works to empower our families in need of support: strengths-based early intervention, redressing basic needs and enabling people to be decision-makers in their own lives. Our communities hold incredible strengths, and when we are able to have a say in the way we live, our children grow up stronger, prouder, and safer.
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