Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues says the third anniversary of the Northern Territory intervention offers no cause for celebration.

“The Intervention it punitive and discriminatory,” Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

“There is no evidence that the Northern Territory Intervention is working. Rather, the evidence to date shows its negative effect,” Senator Siewert said.

“The Government continues to take a misleading approach to this issue, claiming to be restoring the operation of the Racial Discrimination Act when the Bills before the Senate do not fully achieve this.

“They claim this is for the good of the Aboriginal community when in fact the intervention measures are being retained and expanded, and paternalistic income management powers being extended across Australia.

“A Bill proposed by the Australian Greens fully restores the operation of the RDA. If the Government was serious with its claims, it would support that Bill,” Senator Siewert concluded.