Long Road

This media release just in from the Central Land Council:

Award winning Tjuwanpa rangers lose CDEP

Despite winning a Merit Award at the recent NT Landcare Awards for their land management achievements, the Tjuwanpa Rangers from Hermannsburg, west of Alice Springs face an uncertain future.

CDEP support was withdrawn from the group on October 26 and morale in the group has plummeted. Central Land Council director David Ross says the CLC helped set up the ranger group after traditional owners called for more work opportunities to be created
for their young people.

“The abolition of CDEP has severely impacted on these young people.” “This group which once worked, are now on Work for the Dole. They are embarrassed and humiliated. They have to register with Centrelink , register with a Job Network Provider, have their hours restricted and have their hard earned income reduced and quarantined.”

“These are young people who want to work. Like most other Australians, they have aspirations for a better standard of living and enjoying the benefits that stable employment brings. It’s a complete disgrace to play with people’s lives like this.”

“Constant funding difficulties and these types of short-sighted actions make it extremely difficult to maintain the positive momentum that has been built up over a number of years.” The Rangers have been put on transitional payments until next year when new funding arrangements will have to be made to enable them to continue.

The Tjuwanpa (TCHEW-um-PAH) Rangers were set up by the Central Land Council in collaboration with the Tjuwanpa Outstation Resource Centre and have the support of the NT Government, the Indigenous Land Corporation, the Aboriginal Benefits Account and the Natural Heritage Trust.

The Rangers have completed a number of contracts with Parks and Wildlife including fauna surveys, walking track maintenance, fencing, weed control and recording traditional plant use.They have completed $70,000 worth of commercial contracts since their beginnings in 2005.The pool of about 25 workers is drawn from outstations in the area surrounding the community of Hermannsburg west of Alice Springs.

“This group has provided vital and meaningful activity for a lot of young people in that area and are significant role models in the community and losing CDEP is a bitter blow for them.

5 November 2007 Jane Hodson 0417877579 89516217

How many more of these programs will be cut under the strategy to get people into “real jobs.” What is happening is getting people on Work-for-the-dole. I know Kevin Rudd says Labor backs the intervention. But has he mentioned specifics? Anyone know if he’s said anything about CDEP? There was the announcement from Garrett and Macklin in October, but will he stick to this?