A Commonwealth inquiry into racism against Aboriginal people has heard allegations of systemic racism within Northern Territory courts, hospitals, schools and the general community, as the NT Government faces scathing criticism for snubbing the probe. Source: ABC News.
Formed after an alleged terror attack against First Nations people marching in an Invasion Day rally in Perth this year, the federal inquiry has this week been in Darwin to hear evidence from local Aboriginal organisations and individuals.
However, a notable absence from proceedings was the NT Government, with multiple departments, including the NT Police Force, snubbing invitations to make submissions and give evidence.
In a statement, inquiry chair Labor senator Jana Stewart said the NT Government had not said why its agencies would not appear.
“With almost 30 per cent of the Northern Territory’s population being First Nations people, the NT Government’s participation is particularly important,” she said.
All state and territory governments were invited to make submissions to the inquiry, with all except the Queensland and NT governments making statements.
During the hearings in Darwin, witnesses spoke about examples of what they believed was institutional or systemic racism in the Northern Territory.
Chair of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT, Rob McPhee, also told the inquiry the NT Government’s policy of fining parents for their children’s non-attendance at school was an example of “subtle structural racism” in the territory.
“We see everyday laws enacted that are really only going to impact on Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, and everybody knows it, but it’s considered OK because it’s applied to everyone,” he said.
Numerous witnesses, including Mr McPhee, recommended an independent statutory body be established, with institutional targets to eliminate racism and the ability to impose penalties.
Mr McPhee said the body could benefit health services by establishing certain standards and penalties to prevent racism.
“Hospitals should be required under their funding to show that they are delivering cultural competency [training] in making hospitals safe and free of racism,” he said.
FULL STORY
NT government slammed for federal racism inquiry no-show as committee hears evidence in Darwin (ABC News)
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