TRANSCRIPT
Labor has committed more than $800 million over the next six years to help close the gap in the Northern Territory.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese making the announcement during his first trip to the N-T this year.
"This is a great day for the territory, and it's particularly a great day for remote communities."
Services like policing, women’s safety, education, interpretation, oral health, and alcohol harm reduction will be funded under the Northern Territory Remote Aboriginal Investment.
Provisions to fund up to 12 Aboriginal community-controlled children and family centres, and to establish local groups to design and deliver services in community are also set out in the agreement.
"You can't keep staff and build up that social capital that you need if you don't have that certainty, and that is why this six year agreement is so important going forward, empowering indigenous communities, providing additional funding for police services, for health, for education, for community and family services."
Its been signed by the Federal Government, the N-T Government, as well as the Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory.
And it seeks to transition services from government to community control over time.
Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT convener John Paterson says community involvement has underpinned the plan.
"This outcome is probably one of the best and genuine, meaningful outcomes that I've experienced in my working career. And what made that, get this to this fruition with the funding envelope wrapped around is because, I personally believe it's because the involvement and participation by Aboriginal leaders here in the northern treasury to know their business, know their communities, know the issues on the ground, and getting that continual feedback from grassroots community and organisations."
NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro ((fin-ockey-are-oh)) also welcoming the agreement.
"A big portion of this $843 million is around police investment in remote communities, which supports all Territorians to live in a safer environment. We know that community safety is the number one priority of Territorians, no matter where they live, but this funding will go further than remote policing, which is critical. It will also support better health outcomes for Aboriginal people living in the bush, greater empowerment and decision making, and, of course, making sure that our remote communities are invested in."
Hoping to continue work with Labor on seven requests put forward by Ms Finocchiaro last year that she says will reduce crime in Alice Springs.
"It shows a good, strong working relationship between both governments and as we continue to work together to deliver the seven points that I've been working with the federal government on, we're really hopeful to secure more of that going forward."
They include changes to welfare payments, an audit of federally funded programs, changes to royalties, and exemptions to aviation laws to improve drone capability.
Labor has made changes to the aviation regulations to allow police to use drones, and have been working with the NT government on the proposed changes to Centrelink payments.
The Prime Minister says the Federal Government will continue working with the Territory on other points although a formal agreement has not been reached.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton agreed in principal to the requests last week during a trip to Alice Springs.
Opposition Child Protection and Prevention of Family Violence Spokeswoman Kerrynne Liddle telling the ABC there are other areas that need focus.
"Of course those things are important, but you've got the issue of front line services that need to improve their governance so that they can improve the service delivery. That's why we've been asking for an audit of these services, because we know some of these services aren't delivering as they should be."
