Long Road

One part of the government’s intervention that is causing anxiety and fear in communities across the NT is the scrapping of the CDEP program. CDEP programs have allowed remote communities to create employment programs in everything from land management to art and language centers (CAEPR has several papers on CDEP policy and programs over the years).

In Tennant Creek CDEP is a community asset that employs hundreds of people. The ‘problem’ with CDEP for government is that CDEP comes through DEWR (Department of employment and workplace relations) not Centrelink–so under CDEP government cannot quarantine payments. So CDEP is being scrapped not because there are problems in the program that cannot be overcome, but so that government can monitor, track and control Aboriginal people’s incomes through Centerlink.

By 30 September 2007 CDEP will be abolished. A ‘transition’ period will go until 30 June 2008 while people are given training on how to ‘manage’ the lower work-for-the-dole payments they will receive. But in the DEWR presentation here in Tennant they did say that many people will be ‘fast-tracked’ and with their ‘transition’ process ending as of 30 December this year. Many people who have worked in organizations for years (including in administration and management positions) are on “top up’– that is, their regular CDEP wage (for the standard 4 day work week of 16 hours) is ‘topped up’ to increase their wage based on the extra hours they work each week. If there are no ‘work-for-the-dole,’ STEP jobs or ‘real’ jobs for these people to ‘transition’ into then their income will be severely cut. But the government is going to give these folks ‘money management’ training so they can learn to live on less, the ‘transition’ period is all about transitioning people to live on less, figure out what to do about car payments, furniture payments etc.

Julalikari Arts (known locally as the Pink Palace) is one CDEP activity that is fully run on CDEP monies, and therefore the future of the program is uncertain. With 30 September looming, the question remains: what will happen to Julaikari Arts, the women who work there (including the 7 on top up), and the children who attend the childcare centre that the women run? I sat down with Alan Murn, the manager of Julalikari Arts to discuss the current situation.

Julalikari Arts is a women’s arts centre–and has been very successful with a number of national and internationally known artists coming out of the Centre–including Peggy Nappangarti Jones, Flora Holt, and Susan Nelson. Currently there are 25 women working there producing art, training in various art practices as well as in : computer training, childcare training and numeracy and literacy as well. The managerial and administration jobs at Julalikari Arts are held by the women who work there. The policy of the Centre has always been to distribute the work and responsibility–therefore several women are on ‘top-up.’

The uncertainty comes from the fact that DEWR has not made it clear at a national or local level which CDEP programs will continue on in a different form or under new conditions. As Alan put it, “The assurance is that ‘essential activities’ will continue until something else can be put into place–the obvious question is, what counts as ‘essential?’ Indeed.

Alan and the women that work at and run Julalikari Arts are putting up the Centre as a model of what can be achieved through community programs that engage locals, divide responsibility, and integrate cultural protocols and practices in their programs. Alan listed four reasons why Julalikari Arts is a model for government. As it is now and has been for many, many years, Julalikari focuses on: training, the arts market, jobs, and childcare for Aboriginal children–all with full Aboriginal involvement at every level. Julalikari Corporation Aboriginal Council (JCAC -the parent organization) supports creating successful Aboriginal businesses–and Pink Palace has several: in addition to the women’s art sales, 40% of which goes back into the community CDEP pot and thus benefits the entire community, there is a print-making business, and the childcare centre (which at the moment is part of a Shared Responsibility Agreement to build the program into a fully licensed Centre for 25 Aboriginal children and jobs and training for the childcare workers. Incidentally this has already been funded by FACSIA–Mal Brough’s office–to complete a feasibility study and three year business plan). All of these are viable, working businesses and community programs that fall under what government says it wants to uphold: jobs, childcare and training.

Right now JCAC is working to secure a place for Julalikari Arts along with other CDEP programs. The Papulu Apparr-kari Language Centre and the Ranger program at Central Land Council are also funded by CDEP. With the new 99-year lease of town camps and an MOU pending, JCAC is in a good position to negotiate with government. Yesterday after the Consent Determination and ILUA singing I was out at Kunjarra with a large group lead by the rangers and included Local Member Elliot McAdam. In his impromptu speech in the shelter built by the Rangers–and thus funded by CDEP–in consultation with the senior women in the community, McAdam said: “I don’t want to make this political, and I can’t speak for Mr. Rudd, but it is fair to say that a Labor government will give more thought to the future of CDEP because we know what these programs mean to small bush communities, especially like this one, that brings young and old together to work.” Then turning to the 6 Rangers, including 2 who now have jobs with NT Parks, McAdam said, “You are an inspiration to us all in these hard times.”

Alan and other Art Centre managers, directors, academics, commentators, DESART and others have formed a national ‘CDEP Arts Centre Action Group’ to lobby government to oppose the abolition of CDEP. They are working now. Right now is a critical time, JCAC, this new national group, politicians like Elliot McAdam and others in Tennant Creek and around the nation are working to maintain these programs–even as Mal Brough holds fast to his goal of scrapping CDEP. The more of these stories that get out the better…pass this on and link in if you are inclined.

For another local take on what CDEP means see the Munanga linguist here