LATEST NEWS

Latest Press Release
Congress Budget Statement

9 May 2012
Congress notes the $5.2 billion announced in the “Indigenous Budget Statement” as part of the 2012-13 Federal Budget.
The joint Ministerial announcement for employment, education, health, community development and community safety, identifies the Government’s funding commitments in their efforts to close the gap.
Congress and all of our peak Member organisations are analysing the detail of these announcements to gauge what is new investment by the Government and together will monitor the effectiveness of this investment.
Congress specifically welcomes the ten-year funding arrangements for the Northern Territory which will ensure greater certainty for Aboriginal community organisations to influence positive change.
This reform will deliver better outcomes including more serious and effective planning and viability and continuity of programs.
Congress has supported the pre-Budget funding boost for services and infrastructure for Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.
Congress’s call for specific governance and leadership programs has been delivered in this year’s Budget and we look forward to seeing the detail of these associated programs.
We know that investment in local decision-making strengthens our peoples and increases the viability of our communities.
Following the findings in the Department of Finance “Strategic Review of Indigenous Expenditure” released last year, Congress will work with the Government to cut red tape from the funding processes from application to reporting, and including implementation, delivery and evaluation.
We also know that blanket approaches and punitive measures do not increase long-term sustainability of our communities and we need to see more flexibility and working in equal partnerships with communities.
Download the pdf of the media release here
UNITY IS THE KEY: SPEECH TO ACTU CONGRESS 2012
May 16, 2012
Congress CEO, Lindon Coombes spoke to the ACTU Congress, the meeting of 1000 delegates from every industry and sector in Australia. He spoke about the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, about opposing the current legislation for the next phase of the NT Intervention and about supporting Constitutional reform. The ACTU Congress then passed a … Continue reading →



AUSTRALIA CHALLENGED AT UNITED NATIONS OVER NT LAWS
May 16, 2012
Statement of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander delegations to the United Nations The United Nations has heard significant criticisms from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander delegations over race-based laws currently being considered by the Australian Government. The delegations are rejecting the argument of the Australian Government that the race laws are ‘special measures’ … Continue reading →



CONGRESS STATEMENT ON THE FEDERAL BUDGET 2012-13
May 09, 2012
Congress notes the $5.2 billion announced in tonight’s “Indigenous Budget Statement” as part of the 2012-13 Federal Budget. The joint Ministerial announcement for employment, education, health, community development and community safety, identifies the Government’s funding commitments in their efforts to close the gap. Congress and all of our peak Member organisations are analysing the detail … Continue reading →



STOP, LISTEN & TEST NT LAWS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
May 04, 2012
Congress says Govt should stop, listen and test NT laws for human rights violations Congress says it will continue to oppose new Intervention laws because they have not been tested for human rights violations as part of its on-going support to Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. Congress Co-Chairs Jody Broun and Les Malezer said … Continue reading →



TWO YEARS ON – CONGRESS SAYS UNITY THE KEY TO SUCCESS
May 03, 2012
The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples highlighted two significant achievements this month as it celebrated its second birthday since its incorporation. Lindon Coombes, Congress CEO, says working with the elected Board to make real and lasting impacts on public policy and promoting Congress and its priorities is at the top of the list for … Continue reading →



JUSTICE IN PREVENTION, EARLY INTERVENTION AND DIVERSION
May 02, 2012
Today’s launch of the Justice Reinvestment Campaign for Aboriginal young people highlights again that prevention, early intervention and diversion are the keys to building safe communities and reducing over-representation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system. Congress Co-Chair Les Malezer said the failure to close the gap in the over-representation of Aboriginal people in … Continue reading →



FIRST PEOPLES MUST BE INVOLVED IN WATER MANAGEMENT
Apr 02, 2012
It is time for sustainable management of Australian water systems to value and incorporate Aboriginal peoples’ priorities and knowledge, Congress Co‐Chair Les Malezer told the First Peoples National Water Summit in Adelaide. “The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples clearly articulates Indigenous peoples’relationship with lands and waters and specifies actions that should be carried … Continue reading →



TEN-YEAR INVESTMENT IN THE NT MUST INVOLVE COMMUNITY CONTROL
Mar 29, 2012
Ten-Year Investment in the NT Must Involve Local and Community Control Congress Co-Chairs said today they support the recent announcements for long-term funding to Northern Territory organisations and communities. “We definitely see this as positive move and congratulate the Government for providing a much more stable arrangement from which communities and organisations can develop and … Continue reading →



CLOSE THE GAP DAY 2012
Mar 21, 2012
Thursday 22 March is the sixth annual National Close the Gap Day run by Oxfam. Around 120,000 people are expected to be involved in hundreds of events in homes, schools, workplaces, community halls, churches, public spaces, government departments and Aboriginal and mainstream health services to raise awareness about Indigenous health and urge further action by … Continue reading →



RESPONSE TO SENATE COMMITTEE REPORT ON NEW NT LAWS
Mar 15, 2012
Good faith has been “cherry picked” for continued Intervention The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples says much of the detailed content of many submissions to the NT laws inquiry has been ignored and disrespected in the Committee’s report. The Congress Co-Chairs say the Committee’s report contains minor and superficial recommendations but that many solutions … Continue reading →