Annual Report 2006-2007 Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission
Tabled paper 1144
Tabled papers for 10th Assembly 2005 - 2008; Tabled papers; ParliamentNT
2007-10-18
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https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/283518
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/410855
Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission 2006/2007 Annual Report 6 As I write this report the Intervention continues to unfold. The NT as a community can only hope that intelligence received by the Federal government from personnel posted to various locations will convince it that the only way forward is collaboration with locals, funding for long-term placements of personnel and funding for significant infrastructure (schools, houses) and development. OPERATION OF THE ADC As some readers will be aware the principal areas of ADC activity, as prescribed under the Act, are the promotion in the Territory of an understanding and acceptance of the purposes and principles of equal opportunity; investigation, conciliation and hearing of complaints; the provision of public education and training; examination of existing and proposed legislation; provision of advice to government, the private sector and the general public; and production of educational materials. We take our policy advice and public education and training roles very seriously because of their proactive effect in preventing disputes and promoting the principles of tolerance, respect and equal opportunity. We view this aspect of our work as being equally as important and necessary as our complaint handling function. STAFFING The approved staffing level for the Commission is eight including the Commissioner, the Director of Conciliation, Policy and Law, two conciliator/complaints officers, an educator/trainer, two administrative assistants and an office/finance manager. In addition to these eight staff members, the Community Visitor Program Manager also works out of the ADC office and assists with ADC matters. As in previous years my tireless and talented staff deserve high praise for their continued ability to achieve outstanding results within a modest budget, and to maintain a high profile in the community through innovation and competence. I thank them again for their energy and skill. (See next pages for staff organisation chart and photographs.) Our co-location with the Information Commissioner and the Community Justice Centre continues to result in some cost efficiencies and facilitates the referral of disputes which fall outside the ambit of the Act to the Community Justice Centre. The Commission has still not succeeded in obtaining funding to staff an office in Alice Springs, or to set up an outreach office at Casuarina. We remain convinced that the establishment of these two offices would better enable us to perform our functions of promoting recognition and acceptance of equal opportunity within the community and effectively handling complaints of discrimination. Funding for the Community Visitor Program (CVP), which is administered through this office and established pursuant to the Mental Health and Related Services Act (NT) 1998, was increased to $120,000 recurrent from this financial year 2006/07. This level of funding accommodates a higher demand from consumers and enables Community Visitors and Community Visitors Panels to more adequately discharge their statutory