The identity of the perpetrators is well known to police and others. My question to you, Stephen, and Noel Pearson, is: why haven't there been more arrests of these perpetrators? Of course I, and I assume many others, believe that education lies at the heart of changing this culture of dependency, abuse, violence, etc. but the problem has to be addressed in the here and now, not later when the effects of education will be seen. It seems to me that the problem can only be addressed in several phases, and over a long period of time. Of course the children have to be protected now. Having come from a background of (white) violence and abuse I do know the terror that children experience at the hands of perps. I also know the parapace of hopelessness one develops over time when nothing is done and the anger at the proffered excuses for not doing anything. But I have also looked at the underlying causes and wonder how they can be addressed adequately. I too admire Noel Pearson, but I have yet to see him address the underlying long-term issues, which unfortunately must be addressed in tandem.

Noel Pearson would have to be the most respected person in Australia. He is articulate, sincere and does not carry the shroud of victimhood with him.Unlike many of the so called activists, his priorities are for his people, not self aggrandisement.
Noel speaks, Australia listens.

I admire Noel's brain. I think that he has the most amazing brain in Australia today. He demonstrates how much Aboriginal people have to offer our community.

We don't talk enough about the things that Aboriginal people already contribute to our community. I'm thinking of the Aboriginal Centrelink staff who really care for you as an individual. And the Aboriginal Ergon employee who takes the time to talk to you about why you might be feeling dizzy. There are a lot of Aboriginal people out there in the community who are funtioning better than well. Some of them are pretty brilliant at the jobs that they do.

Noel Pearson demonstrates the way in which Aboriginal people have been able to side-step the constricted thoughts and limited vocabulary that most of us have been forced to adopt in our workplaces. The rest of us are being mentally strangled by the demands of the education and employment processes. Aboriginal people don't respond to these demands.

Aboriginal people are a valuable social resource of unconstricted, unapproved, original thoughts.

About time that some more Indigenous commentators were game to come out in support of Pearson, or at least to give him a fair go, rather than simply taking the easy path by playing to the peanut gallery with opportunistic denigration and orthodox left/radical dismissal of his arguments.

It is to Hagan's great credit that he has been game to stick his head up, as I am sure there will be plenty of lazy thinkers and self-satisfied brothers and sisters wheeling out the cannons to line up this black 'traitor' in their sights, whilst they thunder towards oblivion with the rest of the unthinking herd.

As for you, silly old arcticdog, maybe you should go take a dip in an icy fjord. It might cause you to wake up and start thinking more clearly.

The identities of the perpetrators may indeed be known as you allege. But pinning them down is not as easy as you imply.

The lessons from Mutitjulu are that when the victims are very young, impressionable, neglected and immature, and their minds are addled, and the perpetrator is clever and ept at emotional blackmail, and they haven't been getting much schooling, then obtaining evidence that will stand up to cross-examination in court is often next to impossible.

It is ridiculous to claim that Pearson hasn't been addressing the longterm underlying issues: hasn't he declared war on injustice, ignorance, laziness, child neglect, racism, poverty, irresponsibility, dependency, addictions, dispossession, under-development, illiteracy, exploitation, complacency and cant?

What more do you want from the man?

I would hope that no-one is suspicious of this great Australian's convictions. For decades he has carried a largely self-imposed burden of responsibility through an often unforgiving landscape. His task has been enormous and fought against inexorable difficulties; yet he has persevered.

The great shame of his life's work, is that it has yielded such little effect before Australian's (and their elected representatives) were made to suffer the indisputable horror of little children being ravaged as the catalyst for substantive change.

Noel Pearson is one of our most articulate Australians who has probably the most independent voice. On any subject. That's why when he speaks 'Australia listens'.

Hear, hear Stephen Hagan.

Having just spent time at an Aboriginal Medical Service in the NT, I can tell you that the views of Aboriginal Health Workers and doctors are much more aligned with Noel Pearson's views than the bleating and carping of the pie-in-the-sky sociologists and hand-wringing white commentariat that long for still more 'consultation.' As for the professional aboriginal industry that thrives on the public purse, while vociferously objecting to anyone's actually trying to DO something to fix the problems out there.. well it is beneath contempt. Hating John Howard (and by association, Noel Pearson) and reflexively naysaying anything he comes up with, is not the answer.

The time for consultation has come and gone and led nowhere. Howard certainly had political motivations behind this last move but it doesn't make the act itself wrong.

Respect and Recognition of our fellow citizens and peers (regardless of differences) is a big thing for Australia.

It is terrific to read one valuable person acknowledge the work of another, as you have here with Mr Noel Pearson, Stephan. I have watched your own forum papers, and I have often felt encouraged by you... and the ways you stimulate our thoughts on all sorts of things through your topics and many (do by :-) examples.

Thank You Stephan, Good Work and I agree with much of what you say, and especially the way you say it.

It is this kind of dialogue that matters the very very most.

http://www.miacat.com/
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About the only people that I know of that don't respect Noel Pearson is the loony left. He speaks to much truth for their liking.

It is good that Noel is speaking out loudly of late but the disgusting behaviour in aboriginal communities has been obvious for at least 20 years.
The real problems aren't going to be fixed until aborigines are subject to the same laws and expectations as other Australians and how is that going to happen?

I suppose Noel Pearson has long asked himself, "what must I do to extract even the most wretched concessions from this dominant culture?"

After years of frustration, he seems to have made the strategic adaptation from adversarial activism to dignified counsel. Perhaps his greatest accomplishments may have been to recognise and act upon the limitations of the Howard Government.

To this end, he has won a $48million pledge for welfare reform trials in Hopevale, Aurukun, Mossman Gorge and Coen. He has also managed to convince the federal government to adopt elements of his reform model, linking school attendance and welfare accessibility, into its own much publicised NT intervention.

Nevertheless, removing the freedom to expend welfare payments on vice might be something that should be applied throughout Australia, rather than solely within aboriginal communities, otherwise, it will surely encourage an influx of indigenous drinkers and gamblers to the fringes of non-indigenous communities, where such rigorous policing does not apply.

Perhaps Noel Pearson has very cleverly encouraged the federal government to take responsibility for the urgent protection of children, so that (it) must inevitably address the underlying conditions that have brought about such social decline through chronic inequity?

Well Steve, perhaps next time you see NP in the airport you should give him a big sloppy kiss instead.

I won't stand in your way.

Pearson has for the Present ,the PM's, Abbott's and Mal Brough's EARS - however, I fear for a quick wax build up !

All over Australia for black and white,Domestic violence and Child Abuse must go.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse must go.

In Central Australia, precious Indigenous Languages and Cultures must never be allowed to be whittled away by Howard and his Assimilation Proponents - black or white .

It is possible for both cultures to work happily and learn side by side .

It worries me I have heard nothing in the way of a Comprehensive Long Term Plan from Howard or the Health Minister Abbott about how they will help the Drug and Alcohol Addicts and the mentally ill that are in these communities ,many extremely sick and disabled.

THe Governments involved must not be allowed to hide the problems, give excuses for inaction, or refuse to give enough resources and expertise to address the tasks ahead.

To fail these people now is Government Abuse by those in charge of Australia of the highest order.