Amnesty International Australia is renewing its call for restoration of the permit system for access to Northern Territory Aboriginal communities, after the Senate voted down parts of a Government Bill that would have reinstated it.

The permit system, which gave Aboriginal communities the right to exclude people from their land, was scrapped by the Howard government as part of its Northern Territory intervention last year.

Amnesty International’s consultations in the Northern Territory found the permit system to be something Indigenous communities want in order to protect culture and land.

Removing the system contrary to the wishes of an Indigenous community violates the rights of community members, except where it is necessary for a legitimate public purpose such as public health or national security.

A strong body of research on Indigenous communities has not identified the permit system as a risk factor in child abuse in such communities.

Amnesty International believes there is no conflict between adopting a rights-based approach and providing the strongest possible protection for women and children in Indigenous communities.

The organisation believes that providing the services and support required to address known risk factors for child abuse in such communities would improve access to basic human rights.

The Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Emergency Response Consolidation) Bill 2008 has now been sent back to the House of Representatives.