Amnesty International has welcomed a UN expert’s recommendation that the Australian Government “fully purge” the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) of its racially discriminatory character.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of Indigenous people, James Anaya, released his observations on the NTER this week.

He remains unconvinced that aspects of the intervention that limit or impair rights are justified by, or proportional to, the legitimate aims of the Emergency Response.

At the Australian Government’s invitation, the Special Rapporteur carried out a 12-day visit to Australia last year to investigate and report on the challenges faced by Indigenous people in this country.

Amnesty International Australia’s Campaign Coordinator Sarah Marland said:

“Given the Government’s own admission that the way the Northern Territory Emergency Response was rolled out left Aboriginal people feeling hurt, betrayed and less worthy than other Australians, it’s alarming to find discriminatory measures continuing.”

“The UN Special Rapporteur firmly emphasises that meaningful participation of affected communities has to be the central component of any government approach.”

“The Special Rapporteur has got it right - what’s needed immediately is a holistic approach that not only respects the rights of women and children in the Northern Territory but secures respect for all human rights of all people.”

“Sadly, the Australian Government’s claims that its proposed new laws will reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act in the Northern Territory are misleading. The Bills debated in the House of Representatives on 25 February do not propose an immediate halt to race-based welfare quarantining, will not reverse racially-discriminatory actions already initiated under the intervention, and offer no redress for discrimination already suffered.”

Amnesty International urges the government to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into Australian public policy, law and practice in order to enable Indigenous people to fully participate in the development of policies that impact on their lives.

Read the UN Special Rapporteur’s observations