The Australian Greens today welcomed the release of observations by the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples on the Northern Territory emergency response (NTER), noting that the Rudd Government is failing to comply with its calls to fully and unconditionally reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA).

"Professor Anaya's analysis of the way in which the NT intervention tramples the rights of Indigenous Australians, discriminates unfairly against them and fails to comply with Australia's international human rights commitments is both compelling and comprehensive," said Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal issues Senator Rachel Siewert today.

"The Special Rapporteur's report also clearly sets out what the Minister needs to do to properly reform the intervention so that it protects human rights and engages Aboriginal communities in developing effective community-based solutions."

"It is very clear from the evidence this week to the Senate Inquiry into the so-called 'reforms' of the NTER laws that these new laws will not deliver on the Prime Minister's promise to restore the RDA or change the day-to-day impacts of the intervention on Aboriginal people within the Northern Territory."

"The Greens are calling on Kevin Rudd to take up the strong recommendation of the UN rapporteur and, as he says in the closing words of the report - 'fully purge the NTER of its racially discriminatory character and conform it to relevant international standards, through a process genuinely driven by the voice of the affected indigenous people'," said Senator Siewert.

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