Bligh won't budge on smacking code

The Queensland Government says it will not change a controversial section of the criminal code that allows "reasonable force" to be used when disciplining children.

The State Government reviewed 200 cases in response to concerns that parents were using discipline as a defence for abusing their children.

Premier Anna Bligh says the review showed parents who use excessive force are being charged and penalised accordingly.

Quote:"Reasonable force" by picking up a young child and moving them out of danger is okay but reasonable force by assaulting them is not. Anyone who assaults another person is committing a crime. Governments should not make crimes legal. Hence child abuse.

Related:

Children needing protection 'has tripled'
The biggest increase in the number of notifications was in NSW. New research shows state governments have failed to put in place appropriate child protection measures despite a sharp rise in the number of children needing protection from violent and sexual abuse in the last 10 years.

Criminal Code legtimises violence against kids: MP
A Queensland state Labor MP says new statistics showing the extent of child physical abuse by parents support his case for a review of the criminal code.

Child removal rate similar to Stolen Generations
A Queensland Government report shows Aboriginal children are being removed from their families at a rate similar to the Stolen Generations of the 1920s.

Parents lack life skills, means, time: Stanley
ONE in five Australian parents are poor caregivers because they don't have the means or life skills, child health expert Professor Fiona Stanley says.

Mental illness more prevalent among youth
A new report on children's health shows that young people's mental health may not be improving, as was previously thought.

Taking the scalpel to DOCS
Overloaded on one front, the state's child protection agency fails all. When the body of a boy was found in a suitcase last year, and a girl was later found starved to death, the State Government could no longer ignore the calls for a major inquiry into the state's child protection system.

Formal sorry to child abuse victims
The Mullighan Inquiry recently exposed hundreds of cases of abuse, some dating back to the 1960s. Commissioner Ted Mullighan called it a foul undercurrent of abuse in SA institutions.

Principals agree: cut out social subjects
"The curriculum is far too crowded and we know from our research that not all schools can do what is being asked of them," she said. "The social responsibilities being placed on primary schools are ever increasing, taking time and resources away from our core business."

NZ passes anti-smacking law
New Zealand's anti-smacking Bill will become law within weeks after winning overwhelming support in Parliament.

End Physical Punishment of Children
EPOCH-USA seeks to end corporal punishment of children in all settings including homes through education and legal reform. The following links provide useful information about effects of corporal punishment of children and alternatives. Questions?

States 'dreaming' over extra funding

'Won't bow to pressure': Kevin Rudd

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says he will not bow to pressure from states to provide billions of dollars in extra funding.

A report today says the states will demand $23 billion of extra funding before they sign up to new deals at the next COAG meeting in November.

Mr Rudd has described the report as one of the "larger try-ons of the century".

"We're engaged in a long negotiation with the states over the future of hospitals funding and on schools funding," he said.

"We're going to sort that out in the middle of November.

"I'm sure there will be a lot of argy bargy in the between time but what was that great line in The Castle? You've got to be dreaming."

The Federal Government has been pushing the states for federal reform in several areas and has threatened the states with a takeover of the hospital system if a national reform plan is not agreed to by mid 2009.

Around $33 billion is now allocated to the states each year from the Federal Government.

Related:

Budget worse than expected - Rees
NEW South Wales Premier Nathan Rees says the economic outlook for the state is more bleak than he expected, and difficult decisions will have to be made.

NSW illegally logging forests: report

The Federal Government has received a report that claims New South Wales is illegally logging river red gum forests.

The National Parks Association's report on internationally recognised wetlands on the Riverina says logging has intensified since the river red gums were listed on the international Ramsar convention.

Georgina Woods's analysis has found more than 6 percent of the trees are being illegally logged each year.

"The logging on the river red gums does not have an approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act," she said.

"We've written to the Federal Government to try and bring this issue to a head, to try and draw attention to the NSW Government before it's too late."

NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald says he is confident the report will be rejected.

"We believe we have been acting entirely within the law in NSW and complying with the biodiversity laws at a federal level," he said.

The state is performing the first ever environmental impact assessment on Riverina red gum logging.

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett says the Commonwealth has launched its own investigation.

"I expect to work collaboratively and cooperatively with the State Government," he said. "But I will take very seriously the responsibilities we have under the Act for matters of national environmental significance."

Mr Garrett says he expects a report back in a few weeks.

Greens introduce territories euthanasia bill

Greens leader Bob Brown says he is confident Federal Parliament will pass a bill he is introducing in the Senate today to give the territories the right to make euthanasia laws.

Senator Brown has called on the major parties to allow a conscience vote but he says it is not yet clear if that will happen.

The bill would not restore the original Northern Territory euthanasia law but instead give the NT and ACT the power to make new legislation if they choose.

Senator Brown is calling for the major parties to allow a conscience vote.

"I think Kevin Rudd may be inclined that way but that's not clear yet and we have a new leader of the Opposition, Malcolm Turnbull so I'll be approaching [him], so that we have the legislation hopefully pass the Senate and then go to the House of Representatives," he said.

Senator Brown says that would restore the territories' democracy.

"It's constitutionally sound, it's democratically right, and it may have very very profound positive social outcomes," he said.

"I feel confident that this will get through the Senate and am very hopeful it will also get through the House of Representatives before Christmas."

Related:

Group calls for further study of euthanasia bill
The group Dying with Dignity, says Victorian Parliament has gone against public sentiment, in voting against the Physician-Assisted Dying bill.

Euthanasia bill may go to conscience vote
A Senate inquiry has recommended parliamentarians get a conscience vote on a private member's bill designed to revive the Northern Territory's euthanasia legislation.

Mercy killing verdicts reignite euthanasia debate
A euthanasia advocate is appealing for changes to the law after two women were yesterday found guilty of the manslaughter of an Alzheimer's disease sufferer. Shirley Justins, 59, was found guilty of the manslaughter of her partner Graeme Wiley, who died from an overdose of the euthanasia drug Nembutal in his northern Sydney home in 2006.

Safework Australia bill goes to Parliament

Legislation setting up a national body to oversee occupational health and safety and workers compensation has been introduced to federal Parliament.

Safework Australia will develop legislation to be adopted uniformly in all states and territories.

The body will have an independent chairman and representatives from the Commonwealth, the states, employers and unions.

Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard says it is an important step.

"This bill ushers in a new era of cooperation and collaboration between the Commonwealth and the states and territories in this important area of work," she said.

"A collaboration which will improve the health and safety of workers across Australia and reduce the complexity of regulation for businesses."

Planned phone-tapping laws in Qld

Council for Civil Liberties..These new laws involve a considerable intrusion into the privacy of people's lives.

Queensland Council for Civil Liberties says the public has a lot be concerned about.

Law enforcement bodies have repeatedly called on the Queensland Government to allow telephone interceptions, but the Government has been reluctant to agree without privacy safeguards.

[However law enforcement bodies are not the instigators of a police state the crown is the instigator. These plans are a part of the New World Order or spelt backwoods, OWN.]

Premier Anna Bligh says Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has now agreed to change the necessary federal legislation to allow a Public Interest Monitor to be set up.

She told State Parliament that Queensland has been asking for federal changes since 2003.

"[Prime Minister] Kevin Rudd understands the legal system in Queensland and he has acted to ensure our legitimate concerns about privacy can be addressed, while appropriately supporting law enforcement activities," he said.

"Queensland Government officials will meet their federal counterparts next week to work through the complexities of the relevant state and federal legislation."

She says Queensland will start work immediately to give police and the CMC the phone-tapping powers they want.

Terry O'Gorman from the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties says the public has a lot be concerned about.

"These new laws involve a considerable intrusion into the privacy of people's lives," he said.

"You can have a mobile tap on a particular mobile phone or a particular landline operating for 30 or 60 days straight; there can be an enormous amount of non-criminal conversation.

"Criminal cases will be compromised, police and prosecutors will get access to the private conversations of lawyers and their clients when they are preparing cases," he added.

Related:

Cameron Murphy NSW Council for Civil Liberties...a massive reduction in police accountability to the community.



Australia: Concerns of a police state
Cameron Murphy...a massive reduction in police accountability to the community. NSW police now have special emergency powers to bug or track people for up to four days without a warrant. Under the biggest shake-up to the state's surveillance laws, police will have up to four days to monitor people before needing to apply retrospectively for an emergency warrant from a Supreme Court judge. NSW Attorney-General John Hatzistergos said the new police powers flowed from an inter-governmental Australian terrorism summit in 2002.

The Secret Rulers of the World – New Link 

12.The Secret Rulers of the World - The Cult of Amen [12/29]

13. The Secret Rulers of the World - Committee of 300 [13/29]

New abortion laws

The Victorian Government is expected to introduce a bill to Parliament today which would decriminalise abortion.

The bill is expected to legalise abortions for women in the first 24 weeks of their pregnancy, and after that time if the woman is at risk of harm.

All major parties will allow their M-Ps a conscience vote.

The Premier, John Brumby says the bill will bring the law in line with current practices.

China coal rights above climate change fears

The giant state-owned China Shenhua Energy group has won the right to explore for coal in a northern New South Wales section of the Murray-Darling river system.

The $600 million tender, which will cover 190 square kilometres of the Gunnedah Basin, has fuelled concerns about the effects of mining on rich farmland and groundwater reserves [and climate change fears.]

The area, south-east of Gunnedah, is next to BHP Billiton's Caroona coal exploration site - the focus of a battle with farmers over the effects of a potential mine.

NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald says he is not concerned that the company is owned by the Chinese Government.

"I'm not worried about state-owned companies like some people are," he said.

"Many of the major corporations in South Korea that already have investments in Australia are state-owned.

"Over many years, we've had many countries invest in Australia that are essentially state-owned."

Mr Macdonald says money was a key factor in the Government's decision.

"But also, there's a number of other factors relating to the mining - the strength of the company, which is the world's largest and clearly, a very solid foundation."

Both the state and federal governments have rejected a call from local communities for an independent study on the effects of mining on groundwater reserves.

The federal MP for New England, independent Tony Windsor, says the Gunnedah basin decision is a sign of hypocrisy the over future of the Murray-Darling river system[ and climate change fears.]

"We have the Federal Government in South Australia saying, 'Oh, we made short-term decisions without long-term knowledge in terms of water resources and now we're going to have to rectify that,'" he said.

"I think the real motivation here is both the state and the Commonwealth have refused to be part of an independent study because they're more interested in the short-term cash."

Related:

Dying river leaving mark on family budget
FAMILIES will suffer hip-pocket pain with the revelation food prices are heading only one way - up.

Climate change fight needs political ardour: Greenpeace
Greenpeace says the only thing Australia lacks in the fight against climate change is political will.

Greenpeace protesters scale 140m chimney
Greenpeace protesters have scaled a 140 metre power station chimney in southeast Queensland in protest against coal-fired energy.

Child protection system wait too long

Child protection workers say six months is too long to wait for a national information sharing system on child protection.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced at today's Coalition of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting that a working party will be formed to explore an information system on children at risk.

It follows concerns that children are slipping through the cracks of community services departments when they move states.

Child Wise CEO Bernadette McMenamin says faster action is needed.

"We have reached a national emergency, and while we're very glad to see that COAG has actually addressed child protection, referring it to a committee for six months when there is such an urgent need to take action now at a national level is a bit poor," she said.

Related:

Starving Adelaide children yet another sign of national child abuse crisis The shocking revelation of starving children in Adelaide is yet another sign of a national child abuse crisis needing immediate action, according to NAPCAN, the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.

“The cases are now mounting up throughout Australia , and the ones that are coming to light are just the tip of the iceberg,” said NAPCAN CEO Maree Faulkner . “ Hundreds of Australian children are dying every year – one every two days – and thousands more are being seriously damaged because of personal, community and government inaction.”

Ms Faulkner said Australia needs a three-pronged approach of personal, community and government responsibility -focussed squarely on prevention - if Australia 's spiralling rates of child abuse and neglect are to be stopped.

“What we need is universal post-natal support for all parents, particularly in those first vulnerable years of a child's life. We need parenting and conflict management skills taught to vulnerable families and young people, affordable and accessible childcare, adequate mental health services, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation, services that focus on the children involved.

“Crucially, we also need communities to be educated about being alert to children who are being neglected and parents who are stressed, and then intervening. It's everyone's responsibility help and care for our most vulnerable.

Ms Faulkner said focussing resources on treating abuse after the fact is clearly not working.

“Intervention after the fact is rarely successful. Child protection agencies have had their budgets doubled in some states and still the situation gets worse,” said Ms Faulkner.

“Every notification has to be investigated, meaning serious cases of neglect are often unable to be given the attention they deserve. Continuing to put all our resources into statutory intervention once a child is abused makes absolutely no sense.

“How shocking does it have to get before authorities realise that what's been done in the past isn't working? Preventing abuse before it happens is the only way we are going to halt the burgeoning numbers of children being killed and abused in Australia.

“The Government response must include a stronger emphasis on early intervention and prevention. We have to break this cycle now. Child abuse and neglect is linked to alcohol abuse, mental illness, homelessness and domestic violence. Specific targeted services for the most vulnerable families and children are essential. Global experience shows these things make a huge difference to stopping kids being hurt and killed.”

PREVENTION - THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE AUSTRALIA'S CHILDREN ARE SAFE AND WELL Mon 26th May 2008 "Governments and community organisations must focus on prevention if Australia's spiralling rates of child abuse and neglect are to be addressed, according to NAPCAN, the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.

NAPCAN was responding to the release of the draft National Child Protection Framework by the Federal Government.

“We congratulate Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin for making child abuse a priority. The release of the Framework is strong acknowledgement by the Commonwealth that child abuse and neglect is everyone's problem and that a national response is required,” said NAPCAN CEO Maree Faulkner.

“But this response must include a stronger emphasis on early intervention and prevention. Continuing to put all our resources into statutory intervention once a child is abused makes no sense.

“We have seen the numbers of child abuse notifications continue to burgeon across the country – there are now over 309,500 notifications per year - 50,000 of which are subsequently substantiated. This means that hundreds of our children die and tens of thousands are seriously damaged every year. We must act to stop this now.”

International and Australian research confirms that community-wide measures such as maternity leave, post-natal home visiting, family support services and quality child care are crucial in building a child friendly society.

In addition to these universal measures, specific targeted services for the most vulnerable families and children are essential. Child abuse and neglect is linked to other major social issues such as alcohol abuse, mental illness, homelessness and domestic violence.

“NAPCAN is urging the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments to adequately resource services which support families and protect children in these situations,” said Ms Faulkner.

“The development of the National Child Protection Framework is an historic opportunity to make a real difference to the future of our most vulnerable children. For the sake of Australian kids, I urge Governments to make prevention a priority.”

Make your kids top priority before it's too late: NAPCAN National Families Week 2008, 11-17 May
Many Australian children are being pushed to the bottom of parents' to-do lists at the expense of their kids' long-term wellbeing and development, according to the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN).

Speaking on the eve of National Families Week (11-17 May), NAPCAN Chief Executive Officer Maree Faulkner urged Australian parents to make their kids a priority before it's too late. “The longer and longer hours worked by many Australian parents is taking a heavy toll on the emotional and often physical needs of children,” said Ms Faulkner. “Continued absence of both parents results in long-term damage to not only family relationships, but also to the wellbeing and resilience of children.”

More than 1.7 million Australians work 50 hours or more per week, twice as many as 1982. (Australian Social Trends 2003). More than 60% of Australian workers work on weekends or between 7am and 7pm (ABS). The hours that parents spend with their children have been shown to impact the emotional and intellectual development of a child. In addition, a recent national survey of children aged between 10 and 14 years found that feeling positively connected to family and friends is a key determinant of happiness and wellbeing for children. (Australian Childhood Foundation 2007)

This year's National Families Week is focussed on urging parents to spend quality time with their children every day and more effectively balancing work and family responsibilities. Employers are equally encouraged to take actions to improve work-family balance for their employees.

“Children deserve to have daily quality time with their most trusted adults, from having breakfast and dinner together to reading and playing in the evening. Families and employers who commit to a sensible balance of work and play will help ensure the wellbeing of Australia 's future generations,” said Ms Faulkner.

Housing dept under scrutiny over neglect
Questions have been raised about the role of public housing authorities in a case of alleged child neglect in Canberra.

Government must do more to support families
The Government needs to do much more to support familles so parents can afford to feed their children and to prevent children from neglect.

DOCS insiders blow whistle on tragedy
DOCS workers have detailed a catalogue of failures that have left at-risk children in unsafe families and put staff in danger, as officers struggle with crippling vacancies in a department top-heavy with managers and with a dysfunctional records system.

Ten years for beating infant to death
A 31-year-old West Australian man has been jailed for 10 years for bashing a three-year-old boy to death after inflicting injuries described by a judge as "almost beyond belief".

Criminal Code legtimises violence against kids: MP
A Queensland state Labor MP says new statistics showing the extent of child physical abuse by parents support his case for a review of the criminal code. Dean Wells says figures compiled by a parliamentary intern found almost 700 assault charges were laid against parents disciplining their children in the 2005/06 financial year.

Australia grappling with child abuse 'epidemic'
A child protection organisation says the rate of child abuse in Australia has reached epidemic levels. Child Wise has collated research showing one in four girls and one in seven boys experience some form of sexual abuse.

Smacking children 'allowable': minister
NSW Community Services Minister Kevin Greene has defended himself against accusations of hypocrisy for smacking his children and then supporting his department taking a six-year-old boy away from a grandmother who smacked the child.

Man jailed for bashing girl to death
The ACT Supreme Court has sentenced a man to 15 years in jail for the manslaughter of a four-year-old girl in Canberra more than two years ago. Darren Lee Cassidy pleaded guilty to killing South Australian girl Trinaty Monique Howarth with a saucepan and walking stick on November 26, 2005.

SA row over smacking children
South Australian Democrat MP Sandra Kanck has criticised a move in State Parliament to legally endorse the smacking of children. Family First Upper House member Dennis Hood has introduced a bill seeking to endorse the legality of "reasonable chastisement" of children.

NZ passes anti-smacking law
New Zealand's anti-smacking Bill will become law within weeks after winning overwhelming support in Parliament. The country joins only a handful of European nations to legislate against the use of unreasonable force in disciplining children.

Funding fall 'locks workers out of housing'

People who cannot afford to rent or buy suitable homes have been locked out of public housing because of a drastic fall in national funding, a Sydney conference has heard.

The conference, organised by affordable housing lobby group Shelter New South Wales, is focusing much of its attention on the State Government's plan to reform public housing in the wake of the funding drop.

The amount spent on Commonwealth-State Housing Agreements fell from a peak of about $1.1 billion in 1994-95 to $955 million in 2006-07, according to Federal Government and Parliamentary Library figures.

Inflation and rapidly increasing land prices have made this fall in funding much larger in real terms.

Shelter NSW executive officer Mary Perkins says the drop has barred many low-income working households from public housing.

"Over the last 10 years plus, our public housing system has been, by process of attrition, constrained of funds considerably," she said.

"In response to that, our governments have basically rationed it and targeted who's eligible and who's not eligible. Now we have a situation where only the most needy of the most needy are eligible for public housing."

Ms Perkins says this leaves many low-income earners ineligible for public housing but unable to afford to buy or rent suitable homes.

"We've created a new middle ground of people - people who were too poor to get into home ownership and who are too rich now to get into public housing, people who 20 years ago would have expected to have assistance in the public sector," she said.

"Those people are now struggling like mad in the private rental market in quite desperate circumstances."

'Targeting resources'

Housing NSW director-general Mike Allen says the department has to target its limited resources into areas that seem to be most in need.

"We are principally here to help those people who are on low income," he said. "That's our first and foremost priority."

Mr Allen says the department is trying to encourage the development of more affordable rental housing by other groups, including private industry, community groups and local government.

"We do have a role to also try and be a catalyst or a facilitator for other people to establish affordable rental housing that takes the pressure off the public and community housing system," he said.

He says he hopes federal funding will soon increase to facilitate a broader role for Housing NSW and fund more public and community housing.

"We've begun very positive negotiations with the new Australian Government around replacing our current Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement with a new national affordable housing agreement," he said.

"Those discussions and negotiations are only in their very early stages, but I'm very hopeful that they will lead to increased resources for us in NSW."

Unsafe corporations, unsafe sex, drugs, binge drinking 'normal' for teens: study

Researchers say the tax on alcopops will do little to curb binge drinking which is seen as 'normal' (Get Images)

A university study has found binge drinking is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to teenage risk-taking behaviour.

Education researchers at the University of Tasmania surveyed 1,000 parents and 1,000 high school students over five years about their perception of risky behaviours.

Thirteen per cent of students surveyed said they got "blind drunk" regularly while 43 per cent said they did so occasionally.

Education researcher, Professor Joan Abbott-Chapman, says she was surprised to find that many young people do not regard binge drinking as high-risk.

"Teenagers seem to think that normal teenage behaviour includes drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes and to a certain degree smoking marijuana and also to a lesser extent unsafe sex," she said.

Professor Abbott-Chapman says parental involvement in setting standards can reduce teenage risk-taking behaviour.

"And it's the teenagers who rely only on peer groups for support or feel isolated and have no one to turn to these are the ones that tend to drink more and we also found that school engagement was also involved," she said.

Alcopop tax little use [to corporations]


The Federal Government's tax on so called 'alcopops' is likely to have only a minimal impact on teenage binge drinking according the researchers [from the business association?]

Taxes on pre-mixed alcoholic drinks have increased by around 70 per cent, making them to $1.30 more expensive, in a bid to curb binge drinking.

Professor Abbott-Chapman says more needs to be done to address the problem.

"The effects are likely to be marginal unless they are linked to a widespread range of community and family programs which tackle some of the problems of social and educational engagement or disengagement rather," she said.

Updaedt 350:pm (AEST)

Greens want alco-pops tax revenue spent on alcohol education

Greens leader Bob Brown says his party will not be inclined to support the Government's increased tax on pre-mixed drinks unless the money is put aside to combat alcohol abuse.

The Coalition says it will block the legislation to approve the 70 per cent tax increase, which is expected to give the government $3 billion in revenue.

Senator Brown says the Greens do support the tax and believe it will reduce consumption of so-called alco-pops.

But he says the revenue raised must be spent on education and health programs.

"We're not inclined to support this legislation unless there's a program for re-mediating the impact of alcohol abuse goes with it, in other words unless a sizeable part of this money goes to tackling the big problem of alcohol abuse in our communities" he said.

Related:

Calls for binge warnings on alcohol packaging
The Public Health Association (PHA) says warnings about the dangers of binge drinking should be pasted on all forms of packaged alcoholic drinks.

Support for booze public education
A SURVEY of 1000 Australians found more than three-quarters of those questioned about attitudes to drinking said there was not enough public education about the dangers of alcohol, despite the Rudd Government's promise of a multimillion-dollar binge-drinking strategy

Conference told drinking needs to be 'denormalised'
A conference in Brisbane has been told that society needs to change the way it thinks about alcohol before there will be a reduction in binge drinking. The Alcohol and Drug Foundation organised the conference to discuss ways to tackle the problem, with organisations and researchers from across the country attending the event.

Alcohol boosts cancer risks: experts
A new study has found that drinking just two standard alcoholic drinks a day significantly increases the risks of developing breast, bowel, throat and mouth cancer.

Balmain hotels fill as young mourn pub mates
Many of those involved in the accident were from Balmain. Friends gathered, embraced and cried openly on Darling Street, and soon after were intoxicated with alcohol as well as grief. Balmain bar staff described the incident as a pub staff night gone wrong.

Union urges PM to act on Stolen Generations promise

The Australian Education Union (AEU) wants the Federal Government to follow Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology to the Stolen Generations with a significant funding boost for Indigenous education in the Northern Territory.

AEU president Angelo Gavrielatos says despite the intentions of the Federal and Territory governments to improve the standards, funding is still inadequate.

"Kevin Rudd's sentiment in terms of what he decides for Indigenous students and all students is correct," he said.

"The sentiment expressed by the Northern Territory Government in terms of Indigenous educational outcomes is also correct but it falls in the absence of adequate resourcing and adequate funding."

In his apology to Indigenous Stolen Generations, Mr Rudd resolved over the next five years to have every Indigenous 4-year-old child attending an early childhood facility.

The AEU argues this will not happen under current funding.

"It's now time to give substance to the education revolution and it's also time to give substance to what needs to happen beyond the national apology - it's time for the Rudd Government to invest dramatically in education and invest dramatically in Indigenous education," Mr Gavrielatos said.

The AEU will meet in Darwin today to reiterate its call for $1.7 billion to be invested in the Territory over the next five years to improve the poor education standards of Aboriginal children.

Mr Gavrielatos says the Commonwealth must significantly increase funding for an extra 14,000 teachers.

"It requires a dramatic investment in teachers and it requires a dramatic investment in infrastructure,'' he said.

NT Eduction Minister Marion Scrymgour says there has been an increase in funding from the Territory Government.

"None of it's easy - if we found an easy solution for this many years ago it would have been implemented,'' she said.

The AEU estimates 7,500 Indigenous children in the Territory are not getting an education.

Related:

Union calls for $2.9b to fund education shortfall
The Education Union is calling on the Federal Government to provide an extra $2.9 billion in funding for public schools

Govt, union defend remote community schooling
The Centre for Independent Studies says Aboriginal students in the Northern Territory are finishing school with the numeracy and literacy skills of five-year-olds.