Jesuit Social Services believes all children should live in safe environments, connected to family, community and culture, and be supported to thrive. The most effective way to keep children safe is to invest in strengthening families and communities, increase access to services, and support at-risk families earlier.
Rather than supporting families to keep their children safe, this Bill penalises them for systemic failures. The Bill unfairly targets – and will disproportionately harm – Aboriginal children, families and communities, who are already vastly overrepresented in the NT child protection and out-of-home care systems. It will likely increase removals of Aboriginal children from their families and communities. Increasing the rate of removal of Aboriginal children from their families and communities risks repeating mistakes of the past and causing intergenerational harm.
We call on the Committee to recommend the NT Government withdraw the Bill, immediately invest in Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations to support at-risk families, and call an independent inquiry into the NT child protection and out-of-home care systems led by the NT and national Children’s Commissioners.
