Fed: Extending NT intervention without review 'wrong': Rudd

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2007
Fed: Extending NT intervention without review 'wrong': Rudd

BRISBANE, Dec 16 AAP - Extending the Northern Territory's indigenous intervention program
into other states would be wrong until a review determines its effectiveness, Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd says.

National outrage over the gang rape of a 10-year-old Aboriginal girl on Queensland's
Cape York has triggered debate about whether the government should extend elements of
the intervention into Queensland.

But federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin has ruled out extending the program
elsewhere at this stage.

Mr Rudd, who yesterday met Aboriginal leaders in Darwin to discuss their concerns over
the reforms intended to combat child sex abuse, today reiterated his support for the intervention,
put in place by the former coalition government.

But he stood by an election promise to review the program after 12 months, despite
national outrage over the gang-rape case.

"We'll review it at the 12-month point and make an assessment of its effectiveness,"

Mr Rudd told reporters in Brisbane today.

"Therefore in response to any suggestion that it be applied elsewhere, that is a wrong
approach until such time as we've actually concluded our assessment of its effectiveness.

"My approach therefore with states and territories long term, and in the immediate
term, is to work cooperatively."

Mr Rudd said he would talk with the states and territories during the week about placing
indigenous affairs on the agenda at Thursday's Council of Australian Governments (COAG)
meeting in Melbourne.

The Queensland government has resisted calls to extend the intervention into the state's
indigenous communities.

AAP rm/jt/bwl

KEYWORD: INDIGENOUS RUDD

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