Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory (APO NT) is calling for the Commonwealth and Territory governments to honour their commitments made in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and set up formal arrangements with Aboriginal representatives in Alice Springs and across the Northern Territory to negotiate and agree the way forward on alcohol management plans and other supports and services needed in our communities.

The measures proposed in the private members bill do nothing more than what has already been agreed to be implemented by the Prime Minister and Chief Minister.

Mr Les Turner, APO NT spokesperson and CEO of the Central Land Council in Alice Springs said the time has come to put the intervention era to an end. “We need to move past politicians in Canberra and Darwin making decisions for our communities alone.

Senator Price’s proposed private members bill is just another example of politicians coming in over the top of our people. We are fed up with it, we have had enough of the political posturing and we have seen time and time again that it doesn’t work for our communities,” Mr Turner said.

“The recent commitment to provide resources in response to the crisis in Alice Springs is welcome as a necessary step to acknowledge that more investment is needed in our Northern Territory communities.

Dr John Paterson, APO NT spokesperson and Acting CEO of the North Australia Aboriginal Justice Agency added, “We support urgent investment in Alice Springs. But we need to see more urgent investment across the Northern Territory. The National Partnership on Northern Territory Remote Aboriginal Investment is coming to an end and now is the time to build a new approach for future investment, based on a formal partnership between governments, APO NT and Northern Territory communities, and in line with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.”

ENDS

About APO NT: The Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory is a formal alliance that, through its membership, represents the majority of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory.

The alliance was formed to provide a more effective response to key issues of joint interest and concern affecting Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, including working in genuine partnership with governments to achieve better outcomes for Aboriginal Territorians.

The alliance comprises the Aboriginal Medical Service Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT), North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), Central Land Council (CLC), Northern Land Council (NLC), Tiwi Land Council (TLC), Anindilyakwa Land Council (ALC), Aboriginal Housing NT (AHNT) and the Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network (NT IBN).

MEDIA: Interviews with spokespeople can be organised by contacting Seranie Gamble, APO NT Manager 0473 423 806 manager@apont.org.au

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