Angst

Gigglewick has written an excellent post regarding the Aboriginal Child Abuse issue. If you want a reasoned and impassioned analysis then go here.

I have a couple of points to add however...

From today's SMH:

...Some families have already fled the first community to be targeted, Mutitjulu at Uluru, but the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, blames "liars" who have something to hide from police and military personnel for terrorising people and spreading hysteria... (My emphasis)

... Marion Scrymgour, a Northern Territory Government minister, said: "There's a lot of fear, particularly among elder woman. Not so long ago - 30 to 40 years - children were being taken out of the arms of Aboriginal mothers. There is real fear that is going to happen again."...

A real fear that it will happen again I would say... especially when Howard has vocally and consistently refused to apologise for the Stolen Generation. Not his problem he says, not part of the 'solution', he wasn't responsible etc etc. But an apology isn't just an expression of regret for something - it's also an implicit promise to try not to re-offend. And Howard's refusal to apologise is something that will be at the front of these women's minds, especially coming so soon after the 10 year anniversary of the publication of the 'Bringing them Home' report.

... Professor Scott joined other experts in calling for a federal response to the plight of all children at risk because of parental alcohol and drug abuse. "This is not just an 'Aboriginal problem' - one in 10 Australian children are in this situation," she said, "and what is needed is a ban on alcohol advertising and improved funding for treatment services."

Two leading child protection organisations yesterday released a 12-point plan urging the Federal Government to adopt to better protect all children.

Joe Tucci, chief executive of the Australian Childhood Foundation, said that with 266,000 annual reports of child abuse and neglect, 50,000 of which were substantiated, "child abuse is a national emergency, but not only for children in indigenous communities"...

This is what exactly what MrB and I said to each other when we heard Howard's announcement. We have close friends who have worked out in the Western Suburbs - in Bidwell and Oakhurst (and I'm not saying child abuse only happens in low socio-economic groups) - and the effort teachers put in in the schools out there - getting there early to give the kids breakfast, making sure there was always food for lunches, jumpers for when it gets cold - because these kids have NOTHING. And I have not heard Howard saying that he's going to quarantine half of their parents' Centrelink payments for food.

Parents are neglecting their children all over this country, yet the narrow focus of this policy means that is IS racist - it focus solely on the Black community.

I have no problem whatsoever with making parents accountable for the income they receive from the Government. None. Whatsoever. The welfare state is a two-way street - with responsibilities on both sides. Monies received for child support should never be spent on anything other household expenses - food, accommodation, utilities, clothes etc. If you want to drink or smoke, you make sure your children's needs are met first. Simple.


Look, I'm not just indulging in useless hand-wringing - I want something to be done. But surely Howard recognises that, as GW points out, communities that already distrust and fear the Government aren't going to be won over by a bunch of soldiers and cops striding into town uninvited. But then, if their plight has never moved him to an apology, they are never going to be given his respect.