Ms LAWRIE - 2002-02-28
Can the minister explain the effectiveness of the Aboriginal Law and Justice Strategy that has been introduced at the Lajamanu and Ali Curung communities?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to inform this House that law and order concerns at Ali Curung have decreased significantly over the past six years, especially in the area of family and community violence. My Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs continues to assist the community in implementing local strategies to address law and order concerns, as outlined in the Lajamanu Law and Justice Plan which commenced in November 2000.
A grant of $40 000 has also been provided by the Northern Territory government to help establish a women’s safe house at Lajamanu and, given the support for your motion in the House last night, Madam Speaker, I am sure this initiative will be welcomed by all, although we get some heckling from the members opposite. The establishment of the safe house is one of a number of strategies being developed by the community as part of its community law and order plan. Lajamanu has also been chosen by the Ministerial Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs working group on family violence as the Territory pilot community for the national indigenous family violence strategy. This support and recognition from the Commonwealth government is welcomed by the Northern Territory government and we look forward to the outcomes of this initiative.
My Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs, and indeed the whole of this government, will continue to enhance empowerment of community decision-making and dispute resolution systems. It is only with the involvement of this kind of whole-of-government/whole-of-community approach that we can work towards resolving these issues.
In conclusion, a pat on the back to Peter Ryan and Jackie Antoun, who are to be congratulated for the hard work they put in over the years on this project to ensure its success. Congratulations should also be extended to the Ali Curung and Lajamanu Councils and their members who have worked very hard to obtain, at this stage, excellent results. We certainly hope that that success will continue.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to inform this House that law and order concerns at Ali Curung have decreased significantly over the past six years, especially in the area of family and community violence. My Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs continues to assist the community in implementing local strategies to address law and order concerns, as outlined in the Lajamanu Law and Justice Plan which commenced in November 2000.
A grant of $40 000 has also been provided by the Northern Territory government to help establish a women’s safe house at Lajamanu and, given the support for your motion in the House last night, Madam Speaker, I am sure this initiative will be welcomed by all, although we get some heckling from the members opposite. The establishment of the safe house is one of a number of strategies being developed by the community as part of its community law and order plan. Lajamanu has also been chosen by the Ministerial Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs working group on family violence as the Territory pilot community for the national indigenous family violence strategy. This support and recognition from the Commonwealth government is welcomed by the Northern Territory government and we look forward to the outcomes of this initiative.
My Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs, and indeed the whole of this government, will continue to enhance empowerment of community decision-making and dispute resolution systems. It is only with the involvement of this kind of whole-of-government/whole-of-community approach that we can work towards resolving these issues.
In conclusion, a pat on the back to Peter Ryan and Jackie Antoun, who are to be congratulated for the hard work they put in over the years on this project to ensure its success. Congratulations should also be extended to the Ali Curung and Lajamanu Councils and their members who have worked very hard to obtain, at this stage, excellent results. We certainly hope that that success will continue.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016