Both Labor and Liberal governments are responsible for all the deep-rooted social deprivation in Aboriginal communities. Including two hundred years of genocide behind which lie deffinite economic resources and land grabbing. The accompanying genocide was to remove any future claims. In conjunction, was the hideous and terrifying plan to breed out the aboriginal component through the forced removal of their children known as the "stolen generation."

I thought this writers thoughts N. Beams far better than I could answer. "The demands for police-military intervention and harsher punishments to deal with the crisis in remote Aboriginal communities is the surest sign that the days when the capitalist order could meet social problems with reforms, however limited, have long gone. The repressive measures being prepared for impoverished Aboriginal communities will be utilised elsewhere, as the social ills generated by the current social order continue to escalate." "All the lessons of history—from the murder and dispossession that accompanied colonisation to the era of the “stolen generations”, when children were forcibly separated from their parents, through to the spate of deaths in custody in more recent times, the late Aboriginal worker and Socialist Equality Party member Yabu Bilyana would constantly warn that without the fight for a socialist program, Aboriginal people faced the prospect of a future more terrible than their past. That warning is, already, being tragically vindicated."

Both Labor and Liberal governments are responsible for all the deep-rooted social deprivation in Aboriginal communities. Including two hundred years of genocide behind which lie deffinite economic resources and land grabbing. The accompanying genocide was the way the politicians chose to remove any future claims served on the land. In conjunction, was the hideous and terrifying plan to breed out the aboriginal component through the forced removal of their children known as the "stolen generation."

I thought this writers thoughts N. Beams far better than I could answer. "The demands for police-military intervention and harsher punishments to deal with the crisis in remote Aboriginal communities is the surest sign that the days when the capitalist order could meet social problems with reforms, however limited, have long gone. The repressive measures being prepared for impoverished Aboriginal communities will be utilised elsewhere, as the social ills generated by the current social order continue to escalate." "All the lessons of history—from the murder and dispossession that accompanied colonisation to the era of the “stolen generations”, when children were forcibly separated from their parents, through to the spate of deaths in custody in more recent times, the late Aboriginal worker and Socialist Equality Party member Yabu Bilyana would constantly warn that without the fight for a socialist program, Aboriginal people faced the prospect of a future more terrible than their past. That warning is, already, being tragically vindicated."

I applaud the Kirsten Story posted on 27/12/07 - thank you.

I certainly agree with article and points of view.

The welfare and safety of children MUST be paramount - it doesn't matter what colour or creed they belong to.

The rape of the little ten year old girl from Aurukun (and previous rapes on her) demonstrates a system in total NEGLECT in protection of "our" children - whether white or coloured.

My question being - why are black children treated any different than white children?

I cannot believe the criminal justice system in QLD has a rule for "black" and "white" children in sentencing.

Noel Pearson (Indigenous Leader) told the ABC's 7.30 Report, judicial leniency towards indigenous offenders contributes to the breakdown of social norms in indigenous communities. He argued that, we will need to have a low tolerance towards crime if we want to lower the number of indigenous offenders in our prisons.

My comment to Mr Noel Pearson - it's called ZERO TOLERANCE to rape and abuse against any child within your communities is what most decent Australians demand.

Crown Prosecutor Nanette Rogers advised ABC's Lateline that the levels of sexual violence were much higher than reported.

My question being - Why are cases of rape and abuse of children falling through the gaps within the system. Why are witnesses and victims refusing to give evidence?

The Valentin Audit of policing in remote communities - says it all.....there is no level of policing provided by Government.

Unless we have more "experienced" police presence in remote communities the situation will not change.

Our current government has the chance now to "make a change" for children - our children - of indigenous communities.

I respectfully request our new government - to seek ways of fostering youth, care and protection for our young children within these communities - our leaders of tomorrow

Every aspect of the Aurukun rape case was disquieting but one aspect that I found quite disturbing and seemed to illustrate a worrying PC (if not racist) attitude in the Queensland Dept of Child Safety arose from the comments made on the ABC by the former Child Safety Officer who had been assigned to Aurukun. He said, and I'm going from memory, that the dept told him to: quote " if anybody asks you,tell them you are aboriginal - as the position is reserved for aboriginal applicants as a reserved position".
In fact, the gentleman in question was of European/Maori descent so he "looked right" in the eyes of the department and could pass as an aboriginal man.
It could be implied from this that qualifications and ability to perform in the position were not as important as skin tinting and that whilst we may acknowledge that some positions should ideally be reserved for aboriginal people of ability is it, in fact, the department's position that only white Australians need not apply no matter their qualifications and experience in areas of child safety?

I really believe that the only way we can move forward is to put previous mistakes and wrongful actions of governments and people behind us and focus on the issues with an objective constructive direction. We all know that generations before us dealt with the aboriginal problems with ill infromed and ignorant attitudes. We are now educated and informed and we need to simply get on with it without the constant reminder of the sins of our ancestors...Im not sure if saying 'sorry' is enough - if we are truely sorry we need to help by actually creating a safe enviroment for our aborignal children to grow and become positive contributors to our future society. We cannot be motivated by guilt if we are to constructively sort through these issues.

We now know that throwing money and land at the aboriginal people doesnt work - the Aboriginal people have a completely different value system to that of people of European descent. Ownership of land or material objects is not considered a priority - this is an example of many fundamental differences.

However, there is one very important value that all races hold as a prority and that is the safety of our children. The aboriginal people are in crisis and their children are in danger. We all know why the aboriginal people have allowed this to happen but we now need to start implimenting strong leadership to help rehabilitate the aboriginal culture.

The time has come where we must say that yes, our past mistakes have contributed to this appaling situation however this is not an excuse anymore. The aboriginal people and every other australian must be held responsible for their actions - regardless of any previous generational ill treatment.

Teejay
What you have described is one of the many ridiculous problems we have. Aboriginality does not guarrantee ability or qualifications....

Dear izzo,

'We now know that throwing money and land at the aboriginal people doesnt work - the Aboriginal people have a completely different value system to that of people of European descent. Ownership of land or material objects is not considered a priority - this is an example of many fundamental differences.'

I'm intrigued, no truely I'm intrigued.

Please can you point me in the direction of the surveys and scientific data that confirm these opinions.

You see I'm writing an article on just this proposition and all the material I have seen tends to indicate Indigenous people of Australia do want to own their own land, many have shown they do want houses, (in fact I've even found home ownership is a priority of many), computers, laptops (ask Kevin he'll tell you every kid needs one or two) cars, large flat screen TV's, boats, wrist watches, and even designer clothing. It might surprise you I've found information that shows many even want work. In this regard I think it an outstanding achievement many Indigenous now obtain University Degrees and are gainfully employed in many diverse areas.

So once again please lead me to the font of your knowledge. I'd love to enlighten it.

Lots of love Keith.

ps Have you ever heard of Eddie Mabo?

Keith, Id love to 'enlighten' you...

My "font" of information comes from living and breathing with the result of past government stuff ups everyday - living in a small regional town is the best education anyone can receive when understanding aboriginal issues. I have been involved in various government programs where I have taught art in 'mission' preschools and primary schools. I have recently finished a term at the local high school as an aid for a girl who had behavioural problems - the teachers refused to have the girl in their classes however she was to young for the school to legally expel.

Your questioning of my statement about ownership simply highlights the problem that exists amoungst previous governments and welfare agencies. It is because we didnt understand how their culture operated that we thought that throwing money and land would be the answer. The aboriginal people simply didnt have the skills to manage these assets - ATSIC is a very good example. Money and land was the whitemans answer not the aboriginal. Isnt it better that there are guidelines and infrastructure so that they can be used in a positive manner enabling aboriginal people access to education, healthcare etc etc. If the management of these assets is by a white person because they are better qualified than a aboriginal person than so be it.

Im sure if you asked every australian they would say they want a job, designer clothes, plasma teles etc however, we shouldnt think that people are entitled to these things because we stuffed up years ago. These people are entitled education, healthcare etc etc like everyone else, but, because we failed to understand their concepts we forced upon them our values...a value system completely foreign to their own and one that failed to meet their needs for coping with the demands of modern Australia.

Could you please enlighten me on what your qualifications are which enables you to write about everyday issues affecting the majority of aboriginal people?

hello izzo,

Your experiences are based on functions in non-indigenous organisations and non-indigenous arranged assistance programs all helping Indigenous people?

You have formed an opinion of how Indigenous culture works from you own observations in these programs?

Just to show I do understand a little ... I am at a loss as to where we have thrown land at Indigenous. That was the reason I raised Eddie Mabo. He didn't have land ownership benevolently thrown at him. I don't know of any Indigenous who has been such beneficiary. But maybe living and breathing in non-indigenous Australia I might have missed that.

You are slightly wrong in saying we forced our values onto the Indigenous. We did destroy their value system but replaced it with one that is at odds with our own philosophical traditions and practises.

Yep ADSIC was a mistake. Obviously it was flawed as a non-indigenous style of Government and I believe didn't adequately involve sufficient appropriate Indigenous input in its inception. That's often been the case in the past and if it was such with ADSIC then that's hardly the 'fault' of Indigenous people.

I think you will find, especially in studies in Canada and NZ, land ownership and self government are among six important factors in producing an identity of belonging among Indigenous people. That importantly seems to raise self-esteem and overcome hopelessness. Surprise surprise ... eh? We in the west from Hobbes and Locke through to Jefferson and Mill have all come to similar conclusions and organised ourselves accordingly... and our thoughts precluded a system of soul-destroying benevolent handouts.

The differences you allude to, but don't specifically state, apart from saying Indigenous don’t have the skills to manage land and the patently wrong ‘Ownership of land or material objects is not considered a priority’, are merely and probably a generalised non-indigenous assessment of Indigenous culture, aspirations and relationships. I found Shakespeare's masterpiece 'The Tempest' quite reflective of many of today’s Non-Indigenous attitudes toward Indigenous. These regarding skill and ownership are two examples.

That play was written a few centuries ago and I wonder why, given our now greater knowledge, attitudes haven't changed since that time.

I read quite extensively of the writings of Indigenous leadership people and absorb their messages. Currently, as a brief outline only, my understanding from what I have read, it seems to me there is an acceptance of change, including of values, but that Aboriginality can be retained during and after that change. It strikes me Indigenous leaders are tending to adopt very similar ideas we have followed for centuries but are intent on retaining the essences of their Aboriginality... oh and that includes land ownership, some form of self government and an intent to see their affairs managed by Indigenous experts rather than well meaning benevolent and from past experiences, transitory non-Indigenous... Modern studies of First Nations people across the Tasman, in the Pacific and notably Canada seem to lend great support to these ideas.

I have no tertiary training ... thank god and my mother. She, as was her God, a liberal who never voted, and both oversaw and guided my reading for many years. Most of the books I've read and which adorn my personal library, don't figure in the 'normal' Australian Education System. They do however appear in the Traditional Classical Education and the English Liberal Education.

As for the topic of Aboriginality ... well it's simple really. Despite cultural differences Indigenous are people and throughout eons all people in functioning societies have had similar expectations of security. Ownership and rules pertaining to ownership may be culturally different but they exist and no matter what the culture they are a huge part of a common security.

On colonisation we changed many things including Land Tenure and lately we’ve savagely and with the very best of intentions destroyed the culture of sharing, which was on demand and not, as most Non-Indigenous think, out of benevolence.

As a consequence ... well we're still doing those silly sorts of things and today’s dysfunction is basically the result.

Kind regards Keith

The Child Protection Services in all states have serious issues, but in Indiana, children and women are in the greatest danger and are ignored. I hope your government can do better than ours.

Governor of Indiana, Mitch Daniels, who campaigned to have an open door policy, fails and ignores to do so, regarding the crimes and negligence of Child Protection Services, now called Dept of Children, of which is a large money making business of human trafficking and literally defaming parents without regards for the Constitutional, Civil, or Human Rights.

Be cautious of what any Child Protection Agency says in any state, as what the Child Protections Agency, DCS of Indiana says and does, it not what is really happening, as they function in secrecy and conspire with each other to hide the truth. The compaign promise of Mitch Daniels, "I will have an open door policy regarding Child Protection Services". That is a laugh. When an agency of the government is given full reign without over sight, human trafficking, child laundrying business, and money laudrying, will become the only factor of the focus, not to protect. Mitch Daniels has failed to respond to many Indiana Citizens with his 'open door'. We, the citizens of Indiana and the United States know the truth of corruption, violation of Civil, Constitutional, and Human Rights, as we have be terrorized and victimized by the largest terrorist group in the world, The U.S. Child Protection Services, government agency

In the US, more children are abused, raped, and murdered, under state care, than the total of children harmed by parents. We, the tax payers get to pay for this government agency, that is not accountable for their negligence.

Perpetrators of Maltreatment IN the USA is:
Child Protection "Predator" Services CPS commits un-punished crimes against innocent parents and children and destroy families for Federal $$$Funds

Physical Abuse – 59 by parents 160 by CPS
Sexual Abuse – 13 by parents 112 by CPS
Neglect – 241 by parents 410 by CPS
Medical Neglect – 12 by parents 14 by CPS
Fatalities – 1.5 by parents 6.4 by CPS
FACT: Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the United States . These numbers come from The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN) in Washington .

One in four children, under state care WILL die.

This is an issue all over the nation in the US.

However, there is one very important value that all races hold as a prority and that is the safety of our children. The aboriginal people are in crisis and their children are in danger. We all know(?) why the aboriginal people have allowed this to happen but we now need to start implimenting strong leadership to help rehabilitate the aboriginal culture.
IZZO would you care to enlighten us on what we all know? Also while you're at it, what is, implementing strong leadership?

In this regard I think it an outstanding achievement many Indigenous now obtain University Degrees and are gainfully employed in many diverse areas.
keith, unfortunately this is not true. Most are employed in the indigenous unit at the local uni or T.A.F.E. For further info on this subject www.whitc.info/

Revealtruth

Your statistics are HORRIFIC.

Can you please give more details. I have been researching the issue of child abuse for the last six years.