The Facts

Special Measures is a program, plan or arrangement designed to promote equality of opportunity (EEO). As stated on the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment (OCPE) website:

"Special measures are a form of "positive" discrimination in favour of groups, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) persons or persons with a disability, who have not yet achieved equality in employment."

The Special Measures Employment Instruction Number 15 llows the NT Public Sector (NTPS) to conduct interviews in a way that prioritizes applicants based on race and disability. For example, some employment opportunities priority is given to ATSI and disabled people to be considered first as per the OCPE website. The Special Measures webpage states: 

"The two main types of special measures plans used in NTPS selections are:

Designated Positions is where an agency specifically designates a vacancy for a person from an EEO group and it cannot be filled by any person from outside that group

* Priority Consideration and Preference in Selection Plans under which applicants from the equal employment opportunity (EEO) target group will be considered first before all other applicants, and given preference in selection if they meet all the criteria and are suitable at level.

* In the discretion of the agency, priority plans can apply to specific vacancies or to all vacancies ("blanket plans"). Under priority plans applicants who belong to the plan's EEO group will be considered for employment before other applicants, and, if suitable at the level required, will be selected, and the selection process finalised at that stage without assessment of other applicants being required."

Situation

Many people in the Northern Territory have been overlooked, not considered and lost the opportunity to be interviewed for jobs in the Northern Territory as a direct result of Special Measures. 

For example, Non-ATSI applicants are not considered at the same time against their ATSI counterparts for NTPS employment.

What we want

Please sign this petition if you want the following things to happen:

We want the Attorney General and Human Rights Commission to act in the following ways:

• To remove and abolish ‘Special measure’ provisions under the Racial Discrimination Act, Disability Discrimination Act, Sex Discrimination Act and the Age Discrimination Act.

We want Commissioner of the Office for Public Employment in the Northern Territory to act in the following ways:

• To remove/abolish the Special Measures Employment Instruction Number 15 
• To remove/ abolish policies, guidelines regarding special measures
• To ensure that any documents relating to Special Measures are properly recorded and archived as per the Information Act.

Why you should sign the petition

We believe saying no to special measures is not saying no to giving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and disabled people opportunities for employment. We value these people and their contributions to Australia and the NT community.

Say no to - treating people differently or "positive discrimination" in terms of considering them for jobs in Australia and the Northern Territory. 

Saying no means every candidate is examined and considered equally, at the same time and there is no preferential treatment for any race, disability, age, sex, etc.

You just want the best person for the job based solely on merit and ability. 

Thank you for your support.