Save bookmark to...

Australia - Shame, humilation, anger the legacy of intervention: doctors

Updated - 29/8/2008 - abc news online.

The Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA) says the federal intervention has had a negative effect on the health and emotional wellbeing of people in the targeted communities.

The assessment came in a submission to the Northern Territory emergency response review board.

The association’s 18-page submission found that many people living in remote communities had feelings of shame, humiliation and a loss of dignity when the laws came in.

It also found Indigenous people have been left with a feeling of mistrust and anger towards Western culture, and the introduction of dry areas within regional centres has had no effect on stopping problem drinkers.

The organisation says it does not consider the child health checks brought in as part of the intervention to be anything more than the right of all Australians to have access to health care.

The study urges the Federal Government to consult more broadly with individual Indigenous communities in the future and says the blanket approach to Aboriginal policy is failing.

Intervention measures include the quarantining of welfare payments for those living in proscribed areas and alcohol restrictions.

The review board is due to report back to the Federal Government at the end of the month.

• Print this news
• E-mail this news to a friend

Advertisement