Arabic version: مجموعات السكان الأصليين تطالب بمساءلة تمويل الإقليم الشمالي

According to ABC News, Northern Territory Aboriginal groups have renewed calls for the Commonwealth to change funding arrangements and hold the NT government accountable over Closing the Gap commitments. The groups accuse the Country Liberal Party government of abandoning partnership principles and using federal funding linked to Indigenous disadvantage against Aboriginal Territorians.

The calls follow the passage of sweeping NT child protection law changes last week, despite criticism and requests for the Finocchiaro government to pause the bill for consultation with Aboriginal groups. The government’s refusal to pause preceded the resignation of NT children’s commissioner Shahleena Musk. Aboriginal health executive Rob McPhee also said he would step down as co-chair of the NT Children and Families Tripartite Forum.

Mr McPhee said it had become “increasingly evident” the Finocchiaro government was not committed to genuine partnership with the forum. He said parts of the government were not interested in shared decision-making and argued that pushing through legislation regardless of expert and community views worked against the National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap. Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT chair Theresa Roe said the Commonwealth urgently needed to hold the NT government accountable for its treatment of Aboriginal people and children.

The latest Closing the Gap annual compilation report is due late tonight. Last year’s data showed four of 19 national targets were on track, while the NT was the worst-performing jurisdiction, with gaps worsening on eight targets. Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said in October that financial penalties for jurisdictions failing to meet commitments were on the table. Her spokesperson said all options remained available. NT Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington said the CLP remained committed to the agreement and argued that reducing Commonwealth investment would not solve the Territory’s high levels of disadvantage.