Indigenous intervention may need 15 years: Australia opposition
Updated
Australia's federal opposition says the intervention program in the Northern Territory might have to continue for the next 10 to 15 years, if it's to achieve real outcomes for Aboriginal people.
The intervention program was brought in by the previous Howard government, and aimed to arrest an apparent epidemic in child sex abuse in aboriginal communities, in the Northern Territory.
One year on and the opposition's spokesman on Aboriginal Affairs Tony Abbott, says there's still a lack of data available about truancy rates and work absenteeism.
Mr Abbott says the Government also needs to attract the very best doctors, nurses, teachers and police to work in remote indigenous townships.
"There needs to be appropriate pay and there needs to be an understanding that this is for the long term," he said.
"It's the public statement that this is important and that this is special and that the people who are doing this are the best of the best."
