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Researcher calls for scrapping of 'racist' interventions policy

27 November 2007 - An Indigenous economic policy researcher has urged the new Labor Government to do away with what it describes as the "racist" elements of the Commonwealth intervention.

The new Government is expected to reinstate the Community Development Employment Project (CDEP) and keep the permits system the previous government planned to scrap.

John Altman from the Australian National University's Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research says it needs to go even further.

"I think the compulsory acquisition of townships shouldn't be allowed, but I think also it's important that the quarantining of people's welfare shouldn't be allowed to happen," he said.

"This is being introduced in a non-discretionary way, so it's assuming people don't know how to deal with their incomes where in fact we know that most Indigenous people do."

Source: ABC

Further information: NT intervention issues page - includes news index and external links

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