At the NCCA
Racial Discrimination Act
Reinstatement of the RDA
The RDA changes, as amended in the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform and Reinstatement of the Racial Discrimination) Act 2010, will come into effect in December 2010. However, NATSIEC considers this legislation to be incomplete and that we can not leave such vital aspects of the NTER as “special measures”. The Act as it stands will not provide protection against racial discrimination and seemingly actively promotes racial discrimination. Amendments to the legislation “reinstating” the RDA are urgently needed.
NATSIEC calls on the Government to urgently address the discriminatory nature of the legislation and to introduce amendments which will ensure the rights of Aboriginal peoples are protected and respected.
In particular we urge the Government to:
- Introduce amendments to reinstate the RDA in full;
- Ensure that any welfare reform is just, non-discriminatory and does not impinge on the rights of any recipients;
- Review the NTER measures to ensure that they fully comply with the RDA and our obligations under human rights standards such as the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Download a briefing note on the RDA 
Briefing_Note_on_RDA_Dec_2010.pdf
Write to, or phone, the Prime Minister
PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 7700 or 03 9742 5800
Fax: (02) 6273 4100
Contact Julia Gillard via http://www.pm.gov.au/PM_connect
Write to your Member of Parliament http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/index.htm
NATSIEC Statement on the RDA Statement_on_RDA_and_constitutional_recognition.pdf