The Wire

There are reports today of confidential Cabinet plans requiring Indigenous people to make behaviour changes in order to qualify for government assistance. The brief says parents should have to ensure children go to school and have regular health checks in order to get family payments. Another proposal would provide people with a so-called “Smart Card”, setting electronic limitations on how Indigenous people can spend their government payments. With the traditional balance of power parties floundering in the Senate, the Opposition will have the major role in questioning the government on this and other plans for intervention into the lives of Indigenous people. Following the election, the Labor party appointed it’s sixth new shadow minister for Indigenous Affairs in two years. This time, the job has gone to Victorian Senator Kim Carr. A very public discussion in the media this week has had people on all sides of Indigenous affairs commenting on the establishment of the new National Indigenous Council. Valma Garra asks Indigenous Affairs Minister Amanda Vanstone to clarify what role the Council will play.