Funding to support policing, women’s safety, and Aboriginal-led services

The federal government has pledged $842.6 million over six years to support Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, marking what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calls the “largest investment in remote communities we have seen.”

Speaking in Alice Springs, Albanese admitted past governments had failed Indigenous Australians. “We know we are frankly not doing well enough, and no governments have done well enough,” he said. The funding, delivered through the NT Remote Aboriginal Investment (NTRAI) programme, aims to ensure First Nations people ‘are not left behind.’

The package includes funding for:
✔ Policing, women’s safety, and alcohol harm reduction
✔ Aboriginal interpreter services and mediation initiatives
✔ Community-led services to transition away from government control
✔ 12 Aboriginal-run family centres focused on child development

The funding guarantees more than 570 jobs, including 278 roles for First Nations people, bringing much-needed stability to local services. John Paterson, of Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT, praised the move as a “step in the right direction”, saying Indigenous leaders “know their business” and will ensure the money is used effectively.

The investment follows alarming Closing the Gap data showing only 5 out of 19 targets are on track. With the report set for release on Monday, many are asking—will this funding be enough to turn the tide?