At last. A High Court challenge to NT intervention

A High Court challenge to the Howard Government's Northern Territory 'intervention' is now proceeding.

 

"THE constitutional challenge that former indigenous affairs minister Mal Brough warned could destroy the emergency intervention in the Northern Territory is expected to go before the full bench of the High Court in March.

Traditional owner Reggie Wurridjal and the Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation will challenge the legality of the Commonwealth's five-year acquisition of land under the intervention and question its ability to seize assets of indigenous corporations.

They will also challenge the scrapping of the permit system, which allows indigenous communities to decide who comes in and out."

The Age yesterday:
 http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/high-court-challenge-to-nt-intervention/2007/12/07/1196813026893.html

 

It is noteworthy that this attempt to redress wrongs being done in the name of emergency social intervention is not being undertaken by the new Rudd Government (which has only promised a review of some aspects of the supporting legislation) but by some of the indigenous people most affected.

It is to be hoped that the applicants are able to focus the full attention of the High Court on these matters, for Parliament had certainly lost its wits when these measures were allowed to come into existence.