Indigenous communities are often the worst hit when major disasters strike. The recent floods across the Northern Territory are a case in point.
Last week, residents in the regional centre of Katherine were either evacuated or sought shelter at relief centres after the worst flooding in 28 years. Meanwhile, the remote Indigenous communities of Wugularr, Jilkminggan, Daly River and Palumpa were evacuated to Darwin. But the support provided to Indigenous communities appears to be different to that available to non-Indigenous residents.
The Northern Land Council has described how remote communities were left behind in the disaster response. And the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency has criticised the federal and NT governments for providing unequal support to Aboriginal people affected by the floods.
