ABC News: Jano Gibson
)The Northern Territory government has delayed planned changes to the way it funds Aboriginal homelands after service providers criticised the process as rushed, ineffective and lacking consultation.
In January, the government released a review of policies affecting more than 500 small homelands across the NT, where up to 10,000 Territorians live during the year.
In response, the government committed to 11 of the review’s 13 recommendations, including revising the homelands grants program to "reduce red tape".
"We have prioritised the development of a new homelands policy which is fit-for-purpose and has input from key stakeholders," Remote Housing Minister Chansey Paech said at the time.
While funding levels would remain the same, the new policy would see one organisation, rather than several, manage the delivery of homeland services in each region across the NT.
A variety of grants — including for municipal and essential services, housing maintenance and homeland jobs — would also be streamlined into a single grant as part of the changes.
Supplied: Rachel Godley
)Last week, the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Community Development wrote to service providers to say the changes would take effect in just over three months, on July 1.
But the ABC understands a range of Aboriginal-controlled organisations voiced concerns about the speed at which the changes were being implemented, as well as the effect they would have on the ground.
Some warned of potential job losses in remote communities if they no longer had the funding to provide services.
Others feared trusted relationships developed in homelands over several years would be lost if larger regional bodies took control of local service delivery.
"The lack of consultation to date and the originally proposed timelines demonstrated a lack of understanding in the reality of delivering these services within our region and the level of complexity involved in a service transition."
Other groups said the rapid implementation was at odds with the government’s "Local Decision Making" policy, which is designed to give Indigenous Territorians greater control of their affairs.
On Thursday, the department said it would no longer proceed with the July 1 deadline.
"[The department] will continue to consult with the service sector, land councils, Aboriginal Housing NT and residents on the most appropriate service and funding model for our homelands."
Current contractual arrangements for homeland grants would remain in place while consultation continues, the spokesperson said.
Oliver Gordon
)However, separate contracts for property and tenancy management in remote communities, which are due to expire on June 30, will still go out to tender, they said.
Priority for those contracts will be given to Aboriginal-controlled corporations, organisations, and business enterprises.
Some non-Indigenous-owned companies have criticised the decision to restrict their access to some contracts.
But in parliament this week, Mr Paech stood by his government's approach.
"We must make sure that we work with Aboriginal business enterprises right across the Territory, to empower them and grow Indigenous employment — local Indigenous employment," he said.
