Compulsory income management in the Northern Territory has failed

In its submission to a Senate inquiry, the Human Rights Law Centre has called on Parliament to reject the permanent expansion of the Cashless Debit Card scheme into the Northern Territory. The attempted expansion is yet another top-down policy the Australian Government seeks to forcibly impose on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Territory without genuine consultation and despite significant opposition. Instead of expanding this racist and coercive system, the Australian Government should respect the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to self-determination and transition away from blanket, compulsory income control.