The Northern Territory intervention has been a debacle, but it is time for a "Mark II" plan with strong federal government involvement, an inquiry has heard.
Prominent Aboriginal Territorian Olga Havnen says the vast majority of funds under the 2007 intervention have been squandered, and the system needs a complete overhaul to improve the outcome for indigenous children and families.
The Danila Dilba Health Service CEO says it will probably be necessary to have much stronger involvement by the federal government, given the Territory's heavy reliance on Commonwealth funding.
"It would be an ideal time I suppose to do maybe Mark II of what was attempted previously under the intervention, but do this completely differently," Ms Havnen told the NT child protection royal commission.
She has called for a new 10-year plan that involves the federal and NT governments, but most importantly has a strong ongoing role for Aboriginal people in its planning, oversight and implementation.
Ms Havnen said the federal government does not need to be directly involved as service providers.
"The experience of the intervention was such a debacle you'd never want that repeated, but I do think that there is a role for the federal government in here in the Northern Territory," she told the Darwin hearing on Thursday.
Ms Havnen said large amounts of money were committed in the intervention to improve the situation in Aboriginal communities, but without sufficient accountability to ensure the funds were spent effectively.
"By any measure you'd have to say the vast majority of that money has been squandered."
Ms Havnen said scrutiny by the federal parliament was needed to ensure accountability in the funding arrangements, including holding the decision makers to account.
"We get blamed when things don't seem to be improving and it's this constant pathologising of Aboriginal people and yet we have no control and no say over any of this."
Wednesday marked the 10th anniversary of the Howard government's controversial intervention in remote NT Aboriginal communities.
The 2012 Stronger Futures legislation continued the intervention for 10 years.
Share
