The Wire

The Federal Government has today proposed reforming the Northern Territory intervention welfare policy to link parents’ welfare payments to their childrens’ school attendance. Jenny Macklin, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs will try to pass the legislation through Parliament before Christmas despite existing policy measures that have increased school attendance in the NT. Jenny Macklin claims she is making these welfare reforms based on widespread support from the local communities involved, but Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTAR) believe the proposed reforms are draconian and do not express the wishes of the entire community.