As a celebration of Aboriginal culture the 25th annual Garma Festival held over four days at Gulkula NT, home of the Yolnu people has been a complete success as it wraps up today.

Prime Minister Albanese used his fourth appearance at Garma as PM to deliver the keynote address. The PM unveiled the government's plan for "long-term prosperity" in Indigenous communities across the country. Following the set back of the Voice to Parliament referendum, some Aboriginal leaders have called for that failure to be put behind us as we look for a better way forward on indigenous issues. Other leaders are critical of the governments for its failure to tackle those critical issues, one saying; “There are no surprises (here), we are at the same place we were in in March. The status quo. No real progress.” The comments come after the latest 'Closing the Gap' data shows key targets, including youth and adult imprisonment rates, children in out-of-home care, suicide and childhood development continuing to worsen, and just four of 19 measures are on track to be met.

As some in politics continuing the culture wars on Aboriginal issues, like the conservative NT and Queensland governments with their, "lock em' up" philosophy, and "they deserve no better" attitude, can real progress be possible. There are some who are trying to find that better way forward, but still progress seems to be agonizingly slow.

"The comments come after the latest 'Closing the Gap' data shows key targets, including youth and adult imprisonment rates, children in out-of-home care, suicide and childhood development continuing to worsen, and just four of 19 measures are on track to be met."

I'm with Paul here. We need to do something about the aboriginal incarceration rates. I did some checking and it seems that 34% of all aboriginals in prison in the NT are there for domestic violence offences. So it seems clear that to dramatically reduce the aboriginal lockup rate we need to legalise, or at least decriminalise, aboriginal domestic violence.

Sure the aboriginal women will suffer big time, but they've been beaten up for millennia. So just a return to their cultural roots. A small price to pay to keep their men out of prison.

Now I know that some will say aboriginal men need to be punished for bashing their wives and kids, but we are never going to Close the Gap with that type of thinking.

Trunpster,

As per usual, your sarcastic comments when it comes to anything relating to Aboriginal Australians. No one condones domestic violence in any community, white or black. The lock em' up and throw away the key attitude helps no one. Very nasty on your part, but to be expected from an intolerant white supremacists. Agree?

"The lock em' up and throw away the key attitude helps no one.'

So you're in favour of a policy that doesn't lock up those who bash the wife and kids?

"The lock em' up and throw away the key attitude helps no one.'
It may not be the best way to go but show me a better way to live life at this time. Living behind copius amounts of barb wire, lights, cameras, alarms on all doors and windows, not going out of a night time, car vandalised, this is just me. Millions of dollars damage and vandalism over the last few years and to date very little done to curb these problems. At least when they are locked up they are not causing more problems on the outside. To all of those saying it is not right, just head outback and look after these kids as the parents wont, and I can guarantee you wont do it for long either. No sympathy from me.

mhaze,

There’s no satire in inventing a policy no one suggested and pretending others support it. That’s a straw man, not sarcasm.

No one here has argued for excusing domestic violence. The question is why Aboriginal communities are so over-incarcerated compared to non-Indigenous Australians, and why so little is invested in breaking cycles of violence before they reach prison walls.

A serious discussion would be about funding refuges, improving youth outreach, tackling alcohol abuse, and supporting education - not pretending the only two options are “lock them all up” or “legalise wife beating.”

That’s not debate. It’s bait.

John has put it clearly as to what's needed for breaking the never ending cycle of violence, antisocial behavior and petty crime in communities, gj123 situation is the end result of that cycle. I don't suggest that there shouldn't be consequences for violent behavior, but how to reduce that behavior in the first place is the question. mhaze starts from a position of hate for Aboriginal people, so there's not much chance of him favouring anything positive, only that which involve punishment.

BTW; Incarceration rates is only one problem, there are many others that also need to be addressed.

http://www.closingthegap.gov.au/national-agreement/targets

We have the usual ABBAriginal lobby simply calling out the government and Australian society for imprisoning so many natives and demanding a fall in that imprisonment rate, while never explaining how it would be done. The fact is that fully one-third of natives in NT gaols are there because of domestic violence. You either accept that they're there legitimately or demand that domestic violence perpetrators be let off.

Since neither one is palatable to the whingers in our midst, they avoid the issue all together. I just have fun pointing out their hypocrisy.

mhaze,

You’re not “having fun pointing out hypocrisy.” You’re ducking the discussion.

Nobody has argued for “letting off” domestic violence offenders. That’s a straw man you keep recycling because it’s easier than engaging with actual solutions.

Reducing incarceration means stopping the violence before it happens: rehab, outreach, culturally led programs. Those ideas get raised constantly, but you haven't touched them. You just hide behind this fake either/or - either we excuse wife bashers or we jail every Aboriginal man we can.

That isn’t debate. It’s performance to avoid admitting you’ve got nothing useful to add.

Trumster,

You say; "simply calling out the government and Australian society for imprisoning so many natives and demanding a fall in that imprisonment rate, while never explaining how it would be done."

John had said; "A serious discussion would be about funding refuges, improving youth outreach, tackling alcohol abuse, and supporting education"

So you had been given a solution but didn't recognise it, more likely don't want to recognise it, much prefer the, lock em' up, throw away the key solution, which incidentally doesn't work, and costs a lot of money and resources.

Anyone who feels the need to ask why indigenous Australians are overrepresented in jails should go & live in communities for a couple of years.
It's no different to the drug abuse in the cities.
National Service was sold off for votes in 1972 just like immigration is now.
The lack of foreseeing the consequences is solely down to ignorance by those clambering for official positions without having an ounce of merit yet overloaded with 'qualifications' !
The result being a screwed-up mentality for many & indifference to anything except money !
Indoctrinated racial hatred does the rest.
There really are too many stupid people now ! I wonder if there will be enough caring people left for the next federal election to stop the rot !

"The lock em' up and throw away the key attitude helps no one.'
I agree that that hasn't as yet & highly unlikely ever will help solve the crisis. The only method that will produce results is to work for & pay reparation to the victim plus compensation for loss of time associated stress !
No crims will ever take any notice of decency as long as idiotic Leftsts keep bailing them out & portray it as everyone else's fault !
Make a victim a member of the jury will help !

Even the puny Community Service had some impact but the containing them in 4 Star motels will all mod cons is as stupid as the psychologists who designed that idiotic system with the assistance of just as idiotic social experts !