Newsheet May 2009
NTCOSS NEWS SHEET – May 2009
This month saw both the Territory and the federal budgets handed down in a context of global economic crisis. In difficult times both levels of government went into deficit, spending money on infrastructure projects to keep people in jobs. While the federal budget saw a welcome increase in the level of the Age Pension, there were some troubling aspects, with single parents being denied the increase. Disappointingly, there was no increase for those on Newstart Allowance, who must now get by on $106 per week less than pensioners.
Visit to Alice Springs and Tennant Creek
During the last week of the month a crew from NTCOSS will visit Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. We will be introducing the community sector Workforce Toolkit and also running two transport forums. These forums will help us to better understand the difficulties faced by Territorians living in remote locations, who need to travel long distances to regional centres for medical care and other services. We will take the opportunity to seek advice from local people about how transport services could be improved. The NT Government’s recently announced ‘Working Future’ plan for remote Indigenous communities has a Remote Transport Strategy as one of its six key elements.
2030 Consultation
I attended a consultation on 2030 following the release this month of the Draft Strategy paper. NTCOSS sought to emphasis the importance of developing a cohesive public transport system for the Territory, both within regional centres, and between these centres and outlying communities.
In matters of justice, we encouraged policy makers to move beyond simplistic notions of ‘law and order’ by addressing the issues which bring people into conflict with the criminal justice system. We asked that the 2030 Strategy better reflect Australia’s commitment to human rights, and acknowledged the importance of government leading the way in encouraging more enlightened attitudes to disadvantaged groups such as Indigenous Territorians and people with a disability. NTCOSS suggested that the government consider adopting ‘social inclusion impact statements’ as a way to ensure that the most vulnerable people in our community are not left behind.
Central Australia
NTCOSS in Central Australia has continued to focus on the fact that the substantial increase in electricity prices announced in the recent NT budget has the potential to plunge more Territorians into poverty. The office is also undertaking a detailed analysis of the budget against the NTCOSS proposals in our pre-budget submission. Finally, Policy Officer Jonathan Pilbow has done some media around the importance of providing adequate public transport.
Media
NTCOSS enjoyed widespread media coverage in the run-up to the budget, particularly around the issue of the proposed price increases in the cost of electricity and water. We also sought to encourage Minister Gerry McCarthy’s initiative in respect to the provision of free public transport, with a letter which was published in the NT News. Currently we are seeking to engage the media in highlighting the importance of improving public transport, particularly in rural and remote areas.
regards
Wendy Morton
NTCOSS
