Implementation and consultation

The Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) is a whole-of-government initiative involving six Australian Government portfolios, announced by the former Australian Government.

The Department of Families, Housing, Communities Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) is the lead coordination agency. An inter-agency Project Management Board, chaired by FaHCSIA, oversees implementation at the national level.

The NTER Operations Centre, based in Darwin, is currently responsible for the roll out of measures on the ground, under the leadership of Major General Dave Chalmers. The Operations Centre will continue until at least the end of 2008.

Government Business Managers have been appointed to communities (or groups of communities) to look after the coordination of NTER measures on the ground.

The Australian Government is committed to consultation and engagement with the people and communities involved in the NTER.

In December 2007 the Prime Minister and the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs met with a range of Indigenous leaders in Darwin to discuss the future of the NTER and committed to ongoing consultation with this 25-member Indigenous advisory group. The 2008 Budget provides funding to strengthen community engagement.

The Commonwealth Ombudsman is supporting the NTER and investigating complaints from people who believe they have been treated unfairly or unreasonably by an Australian Government agency.

The Australian Government is also committed to working cooperatively with the Northern Territory Government (NTG) in relation to the NTER and major investments in Indigenous housing.

The NTG has its own reform agenda, most notably the establishment from 1 July 2008 of a new system of shire councils, amalgamating many small Indigenous community councils running municipal services.