Calma approves NT intervention revamp

Mr Calma praised the government for starting consultations this week with 73 remote NT communities over the commitment to re-instate the Racial Discrimination Act.

The application of the Racial Discrimination Act was suspended by Howard government in the Northern Territory to allow the roll-out of some elements of the intervention, particularly quarantining of social security income to ensure it was spent on food, not drugs or alcohol.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin announced last week there would be separate women's and men's meetings, proper interpreters available "so that people can give their response to income management, alcohol controls, those sort of measures".

Mr Calma has welcomed the consultation process.

"What they are doing is asking them about each measure under the NT intervention legislation to find out if they are of benefit to people or not.

"And if they are of benefit they are looking at maintaining them, if they are not, they are looking at changing them.

"So at least there is going to be a process of a very strong consultation and this government is talking to people and asking them what do they think about it, whereas the previous government said: 'This is what is best best for you, this is what we are we doing: We are going to control your life and we are going to extinguish your rights'".

Mr Calma has also welcomed the proposed changes to income management.

"There will be a greater opportunity for people to opt out of the system. So they can make an application to the government saying that they don't want quarantining and if the bureaucrats agree with that, people can opt out.

"And they want, they can go onto a voluntary scheme, like every Australian is able to enjoy, called CenterPay, and this is a big difference from the way the scheme is currently operated compared to the way it may be operated in the future," Mr Calma said.