Compulsory Income Management and Indigenous Australians: Delivering Social Justice or Furthering Colonial Domination?

Shelley Bielefeld, ‘Compulsory Income Management and Indigenous Australians: Delivering Social Justice or Furthering Colonial Domination?’ (2012) 35(2) University of New South Wales Law Journal, 522-562

41 Pages Posted: 6 Jan 2014

See all articles by Shelley Bielefeld

Shelley Bielefeld

School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet); Griffith University - Griffith Law School

Date Written: January 5, 2014

Abstract

Early colonial attitudes about the desirability of placing limitations on access to money for Indigenous Australians have been resuscitated in recent years. The contemporary compulsory income management laws were originally developed as part of the 2007 Northern Territory Emergency Response (the 'Intervention'). The 2010 modifications to the income management scheme extended income management to a range of categories, many of which detrimentally and disproportionately affect Indigenous peoples, arguably amounting to a form of indirect discrimination. Further legislative changes were introduced to the compulsory income management scheme in 2012 as part of the Stronger Futures legislative package, which are likely to broaden the net further still to cover more Indigenous Australians. There is evidence that compulsory income management has negative consequences for many Indigenous peoples. Law and policy of this type has no place in contemporary Australia, as it is contrary to a robust form of social justice that promotes human freedom, dignity, and autonomy.

Keywords: Indigenous peoples, Compulsory Income Management, Social Justice, Colonial Violence, Civilising Mission

Suggested Citation

Bielefeld, Shelley and Bielefeld, Shelley, Compulsory Income Management and Indigenous Australians: Delivering Social Justice or Furthering Colonial Domination? (January 5, 2014). Shelley Bielefeld, ‘Compulsory Income Management and Indigenous Australians: Delivering Social Justice or Furthering Colonial Domination?’ (2012) 35(2) University of New South Wales Law Journal, 522-562 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2374994

Shelley Bielefeld (Contact Author)

Griffith University - Griffith Law School ( email )

Nathan Campus, GU
Nathan 4111
Australia

School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet) ( email )

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601
Australia

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