OZschwitz slave pen: Alcohol, porn laws in NT may be relaxed

WELFARE recipients could apply to be exempt from income quarantining and approved communities could have blanket bans on alcohol and pornography lifted under changes proposed for the second phase of the Northern Territory intervention.

The proposals are among amendments designed to bring aspects of the intervention in line with racial discrimination laws.

The federal and Northern Territory racial discrimination acts were suspended by the Howard government in 2007 to make way for elements of the intervention, but the Rudd Government has committed to reinstating them this year. Human rights groups, indigenous activists and elements of the Labor Party had agitated for the change.

The Government released a discussion paper yesterday outlining the changes it would consider to controversial measures such as compulsory welfare quarantining, alcohol and pornography bans and compulsory leases over townships.

Alcohol bans could be relaxed depending on a community's views, the level of alcohol-related harm in that community, and the development of a localised alcohol management plan.

Pornography bans would be continued where a resident of a community requested them. But they could be relaxed if the minister was satisfied there was no evidence of sexual abuse occurring in the past 12 months, or of children being exposed to pornography.

The requirement for licensees to record the details of anyone buying alcohol worth more than $100, which has frustrated Territorians and was open to abuse, will be scrapped.

"This has proven to be impractical and has not been as effective as intended," the paper said.

Compulsory five-year leases that the government acquired over townships could also be redrafted to allay fears they would be used to the advantage of mining interests and other developments, or could lead to the desecration of sacred sites, as has already occurred in some instances.

Community stores operating without a licence because they have resisted the intervention's licensing regime could also be penalised.

The Howard and Rudd governments have been criticised for not involving indigenous communities enough in the intervention.

The Indigenous Affairs Minister, Jenny Macklin, said the Government wanted to ensure measures would be effective in the long-term and would

stage consultation sessions from next month in more than 70 communities.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Tom Calma, said it was essential for all measures to comply with racial discrimination laws. He urged the Government to listen closely to the people's views.

LNK

OZschwitz slave pen: Alcohol, porn laws in NT may be relaxed

OZschwitz slave pen: Alcohol, porn laws in NT may be relaxed

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