Consultations continue on building stronger futures

The Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, and the Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, travelled to Maningrida today for a community meeting to discuss the next steps in building stronger futures for Indigenous people in the Northern Territory.

Ms Macklin and Mr Snowdon were accompanied to Maningrida, 350km east of Darwin, by the Northern Territory’s Minister for Indigenous Development, Malarndirri McCarthy.

Tomorrow, the group will visit Angurugu on Groote Eylandt, and Ngukurr, some 500km south-east of Darwin, for further community meetings.

The visits are part of a six-week consultation process that includes one-on-one and community meetings with Indigenous people in remote communities, regional centres and town camps across the Northern Territory.

Last month, the Australian Government launched the discussion paper, Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory, to guide the conversations at these meetings.

Since then, community meetings have been held in Tennant Creek, Elliott, Lajamanu, Minjilang, Numbulwar, Willowra, Finke, Ti Tree, Wallace Rockhole, Wilora, Yuendumu, Areyonga, Jilkminggan, Imangara, Nyrippi, Titjikala, Haasts Bluff, Mataranka, Warruwi, Gunbalanya, Katherine and Timber Creek.

We are pleased with the number of community members who have attended the meetings to date, and appreciate the honesty and insight of their contributions.

Indigenous people in the Northern Territory are taking the opportunity to have a genuine say about how we can work together to address disadvantage and build stronger futures for families and communities.

We want to hear local suggestions to tackle the unacceptable level of disadvantage for Indigenous people in the NT, with a particular focus on improved education for children, expanded employment opportunities and tackling alcohol abuse.

We know that a stronger future can only be built in partnership with Indigenous people and communities because the issues we want to tackle are the same issues that many Indigenous people face every day.

We will not succeed in tackling these issues if people do not feel respected to take responsibility for their own lives.

Through the consultation process, the Government will also be talking to leaders and organisations which support Indigenous people, to non-Indigenous Territorians and to the Northern Territory Government.

To view a full list of the consultation locations and dates, visit: http://www.indigenous.gov.au/index.php/no-category/the-consultations/

To view a copy of the discussion paper, visit: http://www.indigenous.gov.au/index.php/stronger-futures-in-the-northern-territory