School attendance and Centrelink payment suspension in the NT

The Federal Government has introduced legislation to extend a scheme which suspends key Centrelink payments to parents whose children are not regularly attending school.

It has failed to explain how families affected by the policy will meet basic living costs for food, rent, clothing and medicines. ANTaR is concerned that this policy is likely to put more pressure on families doing it tough and place them at risk of serious harm.

The school attendance scheme, introduced on a limited basis in 2009 to specific areas in Queensland and the NT, can suspend primary payments for up to thirteen weeks.

There is no evidence to suggest the scheme has been successful.

In fact, recorded school enrolment and attendance has declined from 64.5% in February 2009 to 62.7% in February 2011 despite rapid population growth.

The Government claims its payment suspension policy is widely supported by Aboriginal communities. However, ANTaR is concerned that the many and diverse views expressed during the 'Stronger Fututres' consultations have been misrepresented and that the policy is likely to cause serious harm to children.

Recently the Co-Chair of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (the peak representative body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), Ms Jody Broun, said she would be concerned if the Gillard Government only adopted those ideas raised in the consultation process that suited its agenda.

The Consultation Report shows that communities are very concerned about school attendance rates and want to take action. However, they advanced a broad range of constructive and positive measures to achieve this, including:

•engaging parents and Elders in schools; •ensuring school is an interesting and positive experience for children; and •recruiting and retaining good teachers.

Tell the Government that you do not support suspending key Centrelink payments to improve school attendance. Show your support for a comprehensive strategy to get kids to school, drawing on a broad range of solutions advanced by communities themselves, not just those which align with the Government’s agenda.