Absolutely Joe! Obviously best and safest situation for any child is with 2 biological parents who are loving, responsible and committed to raising their offspring well. If that fails due to parental behavioural issues which cannot be modified despite assistance and support, the child should be permanently removed and allowed to be adopted into another family.

I say adopted because children need to belong. Taking them out of terrible situations, placing them with foster families who will usually keep them safe but cannot afford too much emotional attachment, returning them to their abusers to then have the cycle begin all over again is not good enough! Give them to people who want to commit to the nurturing of a child unto adulthood and beyond.

If the child can be placed with adoptive parents of similar cultural background or extended family - fine but it isn't the most pressing concern by a long shot. Most adoptions in Australia over the past 30 years have been from other countries, often disadvantaged children from totally different racial and cultural backgrounds to the parents. It seems to work well enough. Many will be curious and wish to explore their biological heritage - which is fine and should be supported when the child is mature enough.

As a society we are guilty of genocide by failing to protect children of Aboriginal blood from their own people.

In 20 years time there will be more uproar, more investigations, more Inquiries and demands for compensation because of the current social injustice of leaving the little ones to suffer.

Thank you, Divine Ms M., I agree with you 101 % !

What is best for the child ? Yes, with their own parents if possible, of course, and with other relations if that can't work out, and with people from similar social/cultural/historical backgrounds if THAT doesn't work out, and with good loving people if THAT doesn't work out - and yes, adopted out rather than ring-a-rosey fostering which seems to really screw up kids.

Kids are not property, or possessions, like a dog or a motor-bike. They are entitled to be treated better, as well as parents can manage.

Regards,

Joe

I respectfully urge all readers to have a good look at an article by Nicolas Rothwell in today's Australian:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/genes-key-to-health-gone-awry/story-e6frg6z6-1226654732515

to get a better understanding of what preventative measures may be necessary in remote and welfare-oriented Indigenous populations.

Joe

LETTER TO THE EDITOR "THE AUSTRALIAN" newspaper

I have had a lot to do with Rehabs over the years. I even ran one in the early eighties as Senior Counsellor / Assistant Administrator. ( with my brand new Corona, the administrator had a Corolla, new of course This was at Jodaro Aboriginal Hostel and run by Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Alcohol Services. ( QAIAS ).

Like all Indigenous Specific Services there was, and is, almost unlimited government funding available. And taken advantage of. But no-one was giving up the grog. So to keep the “Gravy Train” rolling, the Rehab had to be seen to be delivering some sort of “outcome.” So, some-one came up with the brilliant idea of offering ( and delivering, still ! ) a Disability Support Pension to the clients as a strategy and incentive to attract and to keep people there !

This was, is, also occurring at Namitjara Haven in Lismore as well as Benelong Haven at Kempsey. Both Indigenous Specific rehabs in NSW. And over Many Years ! So what we have is, Many Thousands of Aboriginal people on D.S.Ps for nothing more that Alcohol Abuse. Yet in general good health. Just won't give the grog up. Pissed and partying every pension day curtsey of the Australian government. An issue not discussed in the public domain. Nor will it Ever Be.

Because of “Political Correctness” And the Aboriginal Victim Industry ( AVI ) would refer to it as “Attacking the Victims” Victims of Colonisation, and of course, Dispossession ! What a Good Lurk ! I can tell you what it is worth these days as I am on it ! ( DSP ) $700 a Fortnight ! Much better than the Dole ! With More Sympathy ! And Support ! ( if you're Aboriginal that is.)

Arthur. Bell. ( Aborigina

interesting I agree with those saying that all children who are not cared for by parents/guardians at a basic level need to be removed. The problem however is that Docs already has numerous aborignal kids that they can't find homes for. Many of them have been caring for themselves from a very young age by stealing and learning how to hate authority. Not a very easy task and you are likley to find that future academics will again demonise the genuine ones trying to help. A situation created by leftist dogma.