The Member for Mulka, Yiŋiya Guyula, has called on the Northern Territory government to immediately commit to genuine partnerships and shared decision-making with Aboriginal communities, warning that continued failure will cost lives.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Mr Guyula moved a motion calling for the recognition and resourcing of Aboriginal governance systems, grounded in Aboriginal law, culture and authority.
"I move that the Legislative Assembly recognise the urgent need for Government to begin the work of creating genuine partnerships and shared decision making with all Aboriginal communities on all issues that affect Aboriginal people. This work must begin by providing support for the development of community groups that represent all clan and family groups within a community and have authority to make decisions for the people of the community, in accordance with Aboriginal law."
The motion was supported by both sides of parliament.
"For too long, decisions about our lives have been made without us," Mr Guyula said.
"I have stood in this Parliament for nine years, and while governments talk about progress, what I see in my communities is poverty, heartbreak and hopelessness - not empowerment."
Mr Guyula said successive governments, regardless of political party, have failed to genuinely engage with Aboriginal constituents as equal decision-makers, leading to ongoing disempowerment and harm.
"This system keeps saying, 'we know what's best for you', but the outcomes speak for themselves," he said.
"Our Elders and leaders are being ignored, our authority is being broken down, and the result is suffering in our communities.
"The breakdown of our Aboriginal authority by the Balanda [white] system is cultural genocide.
"What is happening is not leadership. It is about power and control, about winning elections, while our people continue to die early and avoidable deaths."
The Member for Mulka highlighted the long-term impacts of past government policies, including the 2007 Intervention, forced centralisation into hub towns, and the removal of Aboriginal people from jobs and decision-making roles in their own communities.
"When people are pushed off homelands and away from country, culture weakens," Mr Guyula said.
"We see loss of ceremony, loss of discipline for young people, rising health problems, and growing disengagement. No one in our communities is untouched by this.
"We need Elders and leaders on the ground with real resources, working alongside police and services as equals. I can only help keep peace because I have access to resources - our Elders deserve the same support."
He also called for a shift in housing policy to support new housing in homelands, alongside addressing overcrowding in hub towns.
"Hub towns are not safe for everyone," Mr Guyula said.
"Homelands keep people connected to Country, culture and ceremony. We know what works - governments just need to listen."
Mr Guyula urged all Members of the Legislative Assembly to move beyond blame and take immediate action.
"There is no more time for excuses. It's time to give the power back that you have taken away from us," he said.
"If we do not invest properly in shared decision-making now, more people will die. That is the reality.
"This motion is a call to work with us - not for us - in genuine partnership, with respect for our different Aboriginal Nations and governance systems."
