FrankGol, multigenerational farmers tend to feel the same sort of connection to the land. It goes beyond a business and even beyond a way of life. For many there is a deep emotional connection that tears apart those that are forced to leave. Yet, as a society we recognise that where these farms/farmers become unsustainable they should not be supported (a slightly different story if they look like being sustainable in the long term). Why should remote aboriginal communities be seen as any different? If they are sustainable, or have the chance of becoming so, then great, lets pour resources in to help them achieve this. But where not, are we really doing them a favour by keeping them out there (yes on their land) in a second-class world, forever separated from the other opportunities within this country? Its a hard question, yes, but we need to ask the hard questions in order to actually achieve any outcomes.

The best and only way to deal with child protection matters is have a complaint handling process that is fair, consistant and that works. At the moment the complaint/allegation 'handling system' used by our Government is corrupted and children are as a result not protected and at risk of harm.

This intervention is a joke. All they would need to do is to process and deal properly with complaints and allegations of child abuse and one by one the child abusers would be outed and as a result stopped. They avoid focusing on the problem and that is those who are doing the crime and those who are turning a blind eye.

It makes you wonder who they are protecting?

Education - Keeping them Honest
http://jolandachallita.typepad.com/education/
Our children deserve better

Frank Gol and Country Gal.
Thank you for illuminating responses.

Frank, with respect to your second point about the opportunities for people whose attachments to old ways of life no longer seem viable, I think it is a Commonwealth responsibility, for all people who are structurally displaced, to create pathways to a new way of life. The means available are pensions, education, positive discriminations. That we have not done very well at this is a shame, and new policies need to be implemented - and for textile workers, car industry people, as well as indigenous folk. That doesn't imply trying to prop up things that are no longer practical though.

On the your first point, about attachment and responsibility to the land, that is a deep, emotional, and religious matter. But does it follow that those who are so committed have a right to all the basic infrastructures of a westernised society, especially when the deleterious aspects of the latest culture, porn, grog, quick food, consumerism seem to be diametrically opposed to stewardship over the land? I think Country Gal made a useful connection with other landholders who have farmed for generations.

I am sick and tired of hearing this rubbish about keeping children in situations where the child is in physical/moral danger and is not removed because of the childs Indigenous culture.

Muriel has remained unchallenged on this issue for far too long, and it seems both major political parties have avoided the issue for fear of being labelled racist. Muriel has been very succesfull in claiming that the situation of forced removal of a child "on the basis of neglect" can somehow be compared with the forced removal of half white children in the so called stolen generation.

This has made mostly Labor governments very nervous for fear of being labeled racists and the children in our communities have been the ones that have paid the price.

This second stolen generation nonsence she is peddling in the media and on her VACCA web page is a disgrace, because she and the rest of her mob continue to be paid by the taxpayer without having to answer to anyone on their activities.

Its high time she and people like her were closed down and the matter of Indigenous children in danger given over to "qualified" trained social workers. Many people that I know have looked after children for VACCA and been horified by the incompetence of the agency that Muriel runs in Victoria.

Imagine raising a baby for two years as a foster parent with no children and being the only parents that the child knows, then have VACCA remove the child from you because your white and then watch as the childs parents or extended family get hold of the baby. These extended families Muries talks about usally have up to ten people living in a house can hardly afford to feed themselves let alone a baby with needs and mostly live on the dole. Yeah makes real sense Muriel.

Yindin,
qualified 'real' social workers are not immune from incompetence. The latest fiasco in NQ was caused by real proper qualified social workers. Like any profession some social workers are better than others and some people who have not jumped through the western education system have considerable ability as social and welfare workers.

I suggest that if you have a personal issue with Muriel and or the organisation she is part of, that you put your view forward and maybe become involved. I am sure that they will appreciate learned and heartfelt support.

I believe that child welfare needs to keep the needs of the child as central to the whole practice. At the moment 'a child centred approach' is merely empty rhetoric, where as Muriel offers a model that keeps as central the wellbeing of the child.

NQ Indigenous Grandmother

Yindin,

You are obviously nursing grievances that do not relate to Muriel Bamblett's article.

Your characterisation of her position is quite different from what she wrote in her article.

You call for Muriel Bamblett to be sacked and her organisation closed down. This is a very serious matter to raise on OLO without the appropriate evidence or rational argument.

I presume you have a documented case that you have presented to Ms Bamblett and to her organisation, so that they may know the full particulars of your complaint against her and so that she may have a reasonable chance to respond to your allegations.

Those are the basic requirements of natural justice or procedural fairness.

I presume that "Yindin" is a pseudonym and that, therefore, your character and reputation have not been attacked publicly on OLO in the same manner as you have attacked Ms Bamblett's character and reputation.