Howard has already given the game away with his comment on compensating the aboriginals for any changes in land title. He is using this true national emergency (about which he has done bugger all until now) as a smokescreen to rapidly open up the vast area of the NT under aboriginal control to easy mining exploration and development. The cynicism of this move can only be appropriately labelled with the term "scumbag".

Howard's grand plan around Aboriginal child welfare seems like a combination of a lot of tough talk, some tough action but precious little to address a serious problem. If alcohol is a major contributing factor regarding child abuse then a national restriction on its sale would be more practical than in select areas. The same goes for pornography. And how much funding will go into refuges for women and children wanting to escape domestic violence and rape? What about more funding for community housing? It's hard enough to get emergency accommodation in the cities - how much more so in remote areas?

The Commonwealth can direct funding via the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program and the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement. They could also try a more co-operatve approach with states and territories instead of grand standing. But I guess these approaches are not very interesting media-wise.

So glad you noticed - Jennifer Clarke - and so clearly and well-explained!
Of course Howard needs to do something about the aborigines land rights in the NT. After all, it's the one place where uranium mining, and nuclear waste dumping could go ahead, without the State governments kicking up a fuss. And, conveniently, it's the place with lots of uranium and lots of space, and fewer white people to make a fuss, too.

Removing the permit system is good, too. Howard's white mining mates can go in there and get started with exploration, and whatever else they might like to do. How about sexual abuse, for example?

While not denying the terrible problems that do exist amongst some remote aboriginal communities - it's very convenient also to get the picture across to the electorate - a picture of how incompetent etc the aboriginal people must be. Therefore - if that's the case - well, we don't need to give any credibility to their opinions.

Very handy, seeing that a group of traditional owners are travelling around - they'll be in Fremantle on July 9th - with a very clear and informative program on aboriginal opposition to the nuclear industry.
Christina Macpherson www.antinuclearaustralia.com

A cogent and well reasoned article. Thank you Jennifer Clarke. I trust and hope Australian voters will ask themselves the same pertinent questions that are raised here - but why am I so nervous about this 'mean and tricky' discovery of a 'crisis' that governments have known about for years?

Michael in Adelaide
"He is using this true national emergency (about which he has done bugger all until now)".

All you bleeding hearts are half the reason the Indigenous people can't move ahead. Everytime someone does something to help them people like scream racism or attack the Prime Minister again.

The bottom line is there needs to be tough action and the Indigenous people also need to take action. I don't know if you have ever visited communities in the NT, but it's sickening to see people sitting around all day on welfare, playing cards, and abusing drugs and alcohol. If they want a traditional lifestyle, they should start living traditional - go hunting and gathering. If they don't want a traditional lifestyle and want to live in a modern society and receive government money, they need to start trying to fit into society. Send their kids to school, clean their houses and clean their communities. If they want society to help them, well they have to start helping themselves.

Jackson - of course aboriginals should help themselves - as we all should.
Yes, it's a good idea to respond to the "Little Children are Sacred" report. However - an effective response would be to carry out the recommendations of that report. And - as one myself, who has worked for many years in the drug-alcohol rehabilitation service - I am sure that the first step is to get the co-operation of the people involved.

Put yourself in that position - a family, a neighbourhood, where there are abuse/addiction problems. the first step is to consult with the community, and work in partnership.

Coming in heavy-handed with coppers and troops is unlikely to win the co-operation of the people concerned.
I'm afraid that it all does look like John Howard - looking for the votes of people like you, and for helping his mining mates.
Christina Macoherson www.antinuclearaustralia.com