Synopsis

John Howard introduced the Intervention legislation in July 2007. Two years later, an official United Nations rapporteur on human rights described the policy as an “extraordinary measure which infringes on the rights and determinations of Indigenous People”.

In Intervention – 2 Years On, two Aboriginal spokespersons – Barbara Shaw from the Mount Nancy Town Camp, Alice Springs, and Richard Downs from the Alyawarr Nation – give their views on the effect of the legislation over its first two years of operation. Their stories are accompanied by archival footage and news broadcasts of key moments in the history of the Intervention.

Richard Downs speaks especially of the shame and humiliation that came with Howard’s unsupported allegations of child abuse in Aboriginal communities, and of the disillusionment that came with the Rudd government’s continuation of Howard’s policies.

Barbara Shaw talks eloquently of the insult to the elders of Aboriginal communities who had fought for progress and basic human rights.

The failure of the Intervention to improve housing and basic services, to reduce over-crowding and to minimise the influx of people from remote communities into Alice Springs, have become the focus of protests against the legislation. Richard Downs calls for compassion and consultation, the abandonment of the legislation, and a fresh start in planning development in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.

Intervention – 2 Years On was rejected for broadcast by ABC TV as “biased” and lacking “balance”.