The Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee have heard of a stunning lack of consultation with key stakeholders in the NT on the expansion of the Cashless Debit Card in the Northern Territory.

“The issues that the Government is trying to address through compulsory income management were meant to have been “fixed”  through the controversial Intervention over a decade ago”, Senator Rachel Siewert, Greens spokesperson on First Nations issues said.

The Greens are calling on the Parliament to reject the Government’s attempt to introduce the Cashless Debit Card to the Northern Territory with legislation introduced into the House today.
 
“The Intervention and income management was a failure that caused harm to communities in the NT, and did not meet its objectives”, Australian Greens spokesperson on First Nations issues Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
 

The Greens are totally “puzzled” that Mr Morrison is pursing drug testing measures despite overwhelming evidence to two senate inquiries by drug and alcohol experts that the measure would not meet any desired objectives and could have adverse impacts.
 
“The drug testing legislation was sent to committee twice during the last Parliament and the evidence from experts was clear, this approach does not work, that drug addiction is a health issue and should be treated as such”, Greens spokesperson on Family and Community Services Senator Rachel Siewert said.
 

The Greens have called Mr Morrison’s plans to expand the Cashless Debit Card ideologically motivated and discriminatory.
 
“There is no evidence to support the expansion of the Cashless Debit Card so the Government relies on spin and fudged figures to tell us about how great the card is”, Australian Greens spokesperson on Family and Community Services Senator Rachel Siewert said.
 

The Greens have said the Prime Minister’s refusal to meet with Alwyn Doolan and accept the message sticks he carried for 8,500km is out of touch.

“It’s disheartening that the Prime Minister continues to show just how out of touch he is with First Nations peoples, most recently when he refused to meet with Alwyn Doolan," Australian Greens spokesperson on First Nations issues Senator Rachel Siewert said.

The Australian Greens have expressed deep concern on Minister Wyatt’s comments regarding the movement away from a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.
 
“It is clear from the First Nations Regional Dialogues and the Statement from the Heart that there is a lot of support for a Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution,” Greens spokesperson on First Nations issues Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
 

The Senate has today voted down Senator Siewert and Senator Dodson’s joint motion calling on the Government to urgently legislate to raise the criminal age of responsibility to a minimum of 14 years old.
 

The Australian Greens are today urging the Coalition to implement the Uluru Statement of the Heart in its entirety. This includes the establishment of a First Nations Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution, a truth-telling process and Treaty/Treaties.
 
"We are deeply disappointed that some members of the Coalition want to shut down and limit debate on the Voice to Parliament," Australian Greens spokesperson on First Nations issues Senator Rachel Siewert said.
 

Minister Wyatt’s National Press Club address today provided little clarity on his vision for constitutional recognition.
 
“It is clear from the First Nations Regional Dialogues and Uluru Statement from the Heart that the community wants a Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution,” Australian Greens spokesperson on First Nations issues Senator Rachel Siewert said.
 

The Australian Greens have expressed concern for the people of Ceduna, East Kimberley, the Goldfields and Hinkler regions who were given false hope that it would become easier to get an exemption from the Cashless Debit Card from today.

“Unfortunately, the concerns I raised regarding the exemption process back in April have come to pass and there are a lot of people who are very frustrated right now,” Australian Greens spokesperson on Family and Community Services Senator Rachel Siewert said.