Legal and child advocates have condemned the Northern Territory government's proposed changes to the child protection system, warning they will worsen the crisis for Indigenous children. The draft legislation, released alongside details of a major review, removes protections designed to prevent a repeat of the Stolen Generations.
The changes erode the Aboriginal child placement principle, a national framework enshrined in law since the 1980s in response to the forced removal of Indigenous children. It will be replaced with a new universal principle. A coalition of 330 First Nations and justice organisations described the government's narrative as 'dangerous, ignorant and wrong'.
The reforms come after the death of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby in Alice Springs, which prompted nationwide mourning. A 47-year-old man has been charged with murder but has yet to enter a plea. NT Child Protection Minister Robyn Cahill said she had worked on the changes for a year, aiming to protect children from ongoing harm and provide stability.
Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory and SNAICC, the peak body for First Nations children, said the amendments lower the threshold for removing children and fast-track long-term placements, deepening an already devastating crisis. They accused the government of blaming Aboriginal families for conditions created by government failure.
The draft legislation removes sections stating an Aboriginal child has the right to be brought up within their own family and community, replacing it with a general principle that children should be removed only if there is a significant and likely risk of harm. Cahill insisted the changes are necessary to break the cycle of harm and uncertainty.
