New permit system voted down in Senate

A federal government plan to restrict public access to Northern Territory Aboriginal communities has been blocked in the Senate.
Family First Senator Steve Fielding and independent Senator Nick Xenophon on Thursday sided with the opposition to vote down a section of a Labor bill that would have reinstated the controversial permit system.

The permit system, which gave Aborigines the right to exclude people from their
land, was scrapped by the former Howard government as part of its dramatic NT
intervention last year.
The Rudd government wants to bring it back, with some minor changes, arguing it
helps protect communities from grog and drug runners.
Labor pleaded with Senator Xenophon and Senator Fielding to support the provisions
of the bill relating to permits, but to no avail.
Senator Xenophon said he wrestled with the issue, but believed he had made the
correct decision.
Senator Fielding said he was unconvinced the permit system worked.
Debate on other parts of the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous
Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Emergency Response Consolidation) Bill 2008
is continuing.