Past Programs
Discrimination - 2008
Review of Northern Territory intervention
15/10/2008
It's more than a year now since the troops were sent into the Northern Territory to protect the children. Now, a review of the intervention has found any benefits outweighed by the lack of consultation and the suspension of individual rights. So how should the strategy be changed to deliver real change in Aboriginal communities?
Truancy and welfare
28/08/2008
Education Minister Julia Gillard says parents who don't send their children to school will have their welfare payments cut. Payments could be suspended for up to 13 weeks but would be re-paid in full once school attendances improved.
A system of welfare quarantining will be trialled in eight communities, mostly in the Northern Territory. The trial will be assessed in 2010 before a decision is made on its application nationally. So who would benefit from the scheme? The Minister says there could be up to 20,000 children of school age who do not regularly attend school. But is there a link between welfare and truancy? And how would the system be policed?
Disability services
03/06/2008
One in five Australians live with a disability of some kind. Currently, a range of disability reviews and projects are underway.
Federal and state governments have agreed on a cooperative overhaul of the Commonwealth State Territories Disability Agreement -- re-negotiating the funding of services for disabled people. The funding should be increased by 1.9 billion dollars. But is that enough and will it end the blame game between the public agencies?
A new National Disability Strategy of 7.7 million dollars over four years is intended to tackle the complex needs of disabled people and their carers. Is it a positive development for those affected?
What services do disabled people need and how can we provide them?
