A new publication by Menzies School of Health Research raises questions about the effectiveness of income management on improving Indigenous health outcomes.

Welfare quarantining was introduced as part of the Commonwealth intervention into the Northern Territory’s remote Aboriginal communities.

Menzies’ Researchers examined store sales data from 10 remote Indigenous communities from the 18 months before the legislation was introduced and for 18 months after it was brought in.

Lead author and Research Fellow Julie Brimblecombe said in terms of improving sales of good food and reducing tobacco sales the research found welfare quarantining appeared not to be effective.

“This is a serious issue. Poor nutrition is a growing problem in remote communities.  As with tobacco it is a key contributor to the health gap between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians. It’s vital that we address this issue.”

The research found that income management was not associated with a sustained change in the sales of healthy food, soft drink or tobacco.

During the brief period in 2008 when additional lump-sum payments of $1000 per child were paid to families (the “government stimulus” payment) all store sales increased, including soft drinks, tobacco, and fruit and vegetables.

These findings suggest that, without an actual increase in income (as occurred with the government stimulus payment), income management may not modify people’s spending habits in a positive way.

“This is an important finding. What we know from past research is that increasing the availability and affordability of healthy food in remote communities, together with community-wide education does improve nutrition.” Dr Brimblecombe said.

Menzies’ Director Professor Jonathan Carapetis said the research findings begin to provide the solid data needed to evaluate the effectiveness of intervention initiatives.

“This is what we’ve been pushing for. To date, evaluation of the Commonwealth intervention has relied too much on anecdote, instead of high quality evidence about what works and what doesn’t. We need empirical data, not just opinion.”

Media contact: Victoria Close, Communications Officer
T: 08 89435039 |M: 0447 275 415| email: victoria.close@menzies.edu.au |

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Click here to read the media release.