"Northern Territory National Emergency Response" in Australia in 2007: Assessments and Interpretations

Abstract

The paper focuses on different approaches to the actions undertaken by the Australian government in 2007, known as the “Northern Territory National Emergency Response” or “Northern Territory Intervention”, in order to “normalize” the acute social crisis in remote communities where thousands of Indigenous Australians live. The reasons for the intervention, the implemented actions and their efficiency are discussed in detail. The author argues that, in the emergency situation, the Australian government resorted to using the methods of intrusive administration and control similar to those already used in the past. This significantly diminished the efficiency of the measures and might have various long-term consequences such as aggravating paternalistic dependencies. The author further argues that the case of “Northern Territory Intervention” may influence the international “soft laws” regarding indigenous people.