CLC site navigation search the CLC website links jobs at the CLC CLC home permits to visit CLC land media contact the CLC our culture our land about the CLC

Central Land Council

in this section

CLC Press Releases

18 December 2008
Senate see sense over waste dump ›› more
28 October 2008
Devils Marbles handed back to traditional owners ›› more
27 October 2008
Tanami Regional Partnership Agreement ›› more
27 October 2008
Warlpiri use royalties to build Yuendumu Pool ›› more
15 October 2008
Minister looks for distraction  ›› more
14 October 2008
CLC response to NTER review  ›› more
14 August 2008 2008
Communities have their say on intervention  ›› more
31 July 2008 2008
Fairfax news in bad taste  ›› more
24 July 2008 2008
election: accountability needed  ›› more
17 July 2008 2008
Royal commission needed into NT funding ›› more
11 July 2008 2008
Simpson Desert: the last land rights claim under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act  ›› more
8 July 2008 2008
Sacred site damage at Wilora  ›› more
30 May 2008
Seal the Mereenie Loop Road Now  ›› more
27 May 2008
Angela Pamela Negotiations  ›› more
9 May 2008
Angela Pamela and the native title process  ›› more
18 February 2008
Coalition should support permit system  ›› more
15 February 2008
Politicians threaten to derail fresh start  ›› more
22 January 2008
Police ignorance upsets Lajamanu community  ›› more
26 November 2007
Optimism for a fresh consensual approach on Aboriginal affairs  ›› more
21 November 2007
Concerns over Central Petroleum tactics  ›› more
 
>

Land Rights News

 

Tangentyere CEO Willie Tilmouth

BANKING RIP OFFS MAKE THE POOR POORER

Money management is becoming more and more difficult for Aboriginal people, says Tangentyere Council boss Willie Tilmouth.
Some of the problem appears to lie in the Federal Government’s move several years ago to do away with cheques and to pay all Centrelink payments into bank accounts.
”

 
“Now, not only do people have to have a bank account, but many of those who use keycards access the account up to 10 times a day to see if their Centrelink payment has gone in,” Mr Tilmouth said.
These ATM account balance inquiries often attract a fee and customers can end up with a hefty debit to their account.
Tangentyere Council ran a pilot program to help improve people’s knowledge of banking and financial literacy but, despite its successes, the program didn’t receive further funding although the Council still has its own banking agency on its site in Alice Springs.
“One of the good things about the bank pilot project was getting people to learn about using electronic fund transfers.
“The sad thing about it is that now they’ve learnt that, (the funds) can disappear into the ethos of corruption and we can’t track them or find them,” Mr Timouth said.
“The system now is less accountable, and while Aboriginal people have the right to know how to use these things, there are people out there who are preying on them and having them misuse accounts to their own detriment.
“So Aboriginal people are a lot poorer because of it.
“The banks, taxi drivers, and other people are encouraging Aboriginal people to give PIN numbers or keycards away.
“What’s needed now is more of an awareness program that teaches people the pitfalls as well as the literacy that comes with it.
“At Tangentyere they can leave their card here at the agency and the staff know them and won’t allow anyone else to use it.
“Our staff know who’s related and they know where there’s abuse happening .
“But really, the banks should be funding a program. They should be supporting local Indigenous employment, to employ people that know families and communities.
“If we can do it here at Tangentyere – and we are only an agency, not a full branch – then they can do it,” Mr Tilmouth said.
Alice Springs-based youth service Reconnect coordinator Antoinette Carroll deals with banks on a daily basis assisting clients.
She agrees that the banks and Centrelink should be doing more.
“There are systems in place in some European countries whereby welfare recipients receive a card with an ID number which they can ring to check if a payment has gone in,” she said.
“This would avoid accessing the bank all the time and running up debts.

 

BACK