Stephen, it may well be that the colour of Delmah's skin may have proffered an excuse for some to ignore her plight. I would like to think not but the human condition comes complete with more than its fair share of unpalatable faults.

I think that Delmah's situation probably has as much to do with complacency than ignorance. The community is no longer an instrument that seems to have the power to discipline the socially unacceptable or to act as defacto parents, teachers and protectors. The community no longer considers discipline and justice to be a part of their whole. Justice and morality is now a separate identity and dictates political economy rather than restoring social fabric by reflecting community in a holistic sense.

What has that to do with the essence of the article? Perhaps a long bow but many people now just "don't want to become involved." Too much trouble, too much angst, too much adversarial day to day living.
It is difficult not to feel Delmah's fear at being vulnerable, especially at being Aboriginal and defenceless.

It is a sad indictment on our society but colour is becoming less of an issue, I think, because people are becoming less caring of just about everyone but themselves.

I've a lot of sympathy for the aboriginals and their welfare - however this piece seems all over the place.

First up - I feel strongly that people should provide assistance to anybody who has clearly collapsed.

Secondly, I think it ok for them to leave others (who appear to be sleeping) at peace. It's a tough call, but I see homeless people (mostly white) all the time. I'm sure they need sleep like the rest of us.

But back to the key issue - what is the point of this article really? The rest of it is unrelated...

And to be totally honest - if you want aboriginals to have a truly traditional life, and you are against washing of kids faces, how can you expect others to pay for followup medical costs. Eye care. Skin care.

And what is this about air-conditioners?

I'm happy to help aboriginals - but not if you expect to sit in traditional environments while selected luxury conveniences are trucked out.

In the emerging modern nanny state, the nanny does not just seek to ensure that all her children are fed and clothed (and yes, it may even insist they wash their faces), it seems to demand full control of all interaction between those charges. Most are now starting to believe that unless there is a specific directive from her to compel them to do anything in particular, doing so undirected, risks her ire.

Yes, there is some sadness in this story, but being a Nannyist while at the same time relying on individual compassion from all other children, is as incompatible as it is unrealistic.

The indigenous culture is at its deepest core different and eschews the accumulative and deferral way of the white culture. They are different, and clearly despite the billions of dollars, concessions and favours thrown their way, choose to remain different. The white culture has tried but the blaming and externalisation of their problem remains.

Should we remain sorry for a culture that even abuses their own children to such a degree that at Hall's Creek, there is movement to in fact promote a 'stolen generation'?

Where special grades of petrol have to be used to reduce sniffing?

Where shops in their own communities have to be managed by whites?

Yes it is sad the lady lay neglected. The problem, the odds for someone lying so, sadly dont favour illness. The odds are for possible abuse of any good Samaritan instead as I have experienced.

Too long the issue of their estrangement has been transferred to the whites, but isn’t it time they finally took responsibility for themselves?

Isnt time they acknowledged the poor old ill lady was a victim of her own culture. A culture that is different and we should stop trying to compare them to the whites?

I do have compassion on this lady left for dead and I do feel for her ,but it is not an indigenous issue as it would also happen to white people as well,you can blame it on the so many drunk Aboriginals in our society ,stealing in broad daylight,demanding money all the time thinking this will fix it .

I have been to and with these people and been to their communities as a Christian who loves them , my wife and I.

BUT ,they will not help themselves even trashing homes and leaving them like in Hall's Creek, to livein the bush they have been taught hygiene for the past 150 years at least, and still don't know how to handle it .Sad,who can they blame? They can't handle money either (most)

All they ask for is money ,money ,money and most just fill in their days drinking and gambling we have seen it.
Money is not the issue ,it is teaching them a new culture as their old one has to do with giving another Aboriginal anything that they ask for, and can just take anything they see in another persons home or pocket.

If they bring 20 other visitors to your home you HAVE to put them up and give them everything they want or take. True or not?
Please forgive the ignorant people for thinking you were drunk.

I pray that you will get completely healed in The Name of Jesus Christ.

I don't know what makes me feel sicker - the original tragic story of callous indifference or the kick 'em while they're down rat pack who have responded so far to Stephn Hagan's article. Where is our compassion? Where is our sensitivity? Where is our decency?