Belly ,
as I understand it Marion has indicated that she went a bit "overboard " with her criticsms and would on reflection have said things differently .

This is completely understandable .

Who doesn't get fired up over the huge problems Aboriginal People have to deal with .

I often say that if the Japanese had over-run Australia 60 years ago , it is fairly obvious that they would have dealt with us now cocky whites in a similar colonising way, as they mined our best land and that we could well be living in poverty down the creek or next to the tip ,with our culture decimated and our social and family cohesion and discipline under great pressure from no work ,racism ,ignorance ,sake and opium etc.

No 61 , Would you do much better with three families to a two bedroom falling down house provided by the Japanese , I don't think so !

Ps.Absolutely no offence intended to the Japanese , whom I respect .

Kartiya Jim, I have no idea what you're talking about.

I lived below the poverty line for more than a decade, and have also lived in a third world country.

I have had two children ravaged by sexual abuse, and I have witnessed firsthand the emotional, psychological and spiritual devastation of rape on young lives.

I am simply stating that if women and children can't live in safety they need help.

Can they walk down a street alone without fear? Do they wonder which member of their family is going to get their face bashed in tonight? How can mothers protect their children from the effects of drunken rage when they can't even save themselves?

Would you feel safe walking unescorted through those streets? Would you leave your kids there for a week?

The laws should serve the people not perpetuate their suffering. The existing system has not worked. It is failing Aboriginal children and failing their mothers.

These may turn out to be bad laws also, but to do nothing, to try nothing, is ridiculous and just plain wrong.

Jim behave your self friend, I am one of 16 kids 8 survived to grow up, sometimes the house had dirt floors always it was a hungry home.
Poverty has nothing to do with our actions.
Every day my parents told us get a job work hard buy a block of land learn to have a better life.
We did, almost every one of us from a start well below most we the brothers became most valued workers in every job we had.
The girls are mother and grand mothers of kids mostly doing well.
Do you know what the idiot child welfare did to our family?
because we often went hungry?
YES MARIAN SAID SHE WENT TOO FAR, SHE CRIMSON WELL DID TOO!
The position she holds must be used to progress her people or not at all.
None of my family feared rape, none feared mum being bashed .
Do you understand even in the worst home in the world parents must love the children more than themselves?
Saying sorry? ok get it over with I am sorry for the actions of people dead long ago, to every one who ever hurt an Aboriginal.
Who will say sorry to these women and kids Jim?
How truly childlike to demand I say sorry for others actions.
To think that will help in any way.
To refuse to understand some self help some action by those in need is not needed too.

CJ.... you said:

This "intervention" is little more than a political showpiece unveiled three months out from an election - as a nakedly obvious and desperate ploy

I quite agree.

But the closest you came to 'being on record' blah blah was:

[The appalling situation that is described in the "Little Children Are Sacred" report can be attributed squarely to the neglect by successive conservative governments, both federally and in the NT.]

So... I fail to understand why you would speak to defensively of Scrymgour?

The 'reaction' by NT Labor is as cynical as the 'intervention' of the Feds.

The seriously biggest tragedy of all this, is that the Aboriginal community is the political footy. So... a better approach would have been equal condemnation of Scrymgour AND the feds.

Boazy: "But the closest you came to 'being on record' blah blah was:..."

Unlike some people, I find it rather boring repeating myself time and again in this forum. Since joining OLO, I've made numerous comments that are generally critical of relations between governments of both persuasions and Indigenous people in Australia.

With respect to the NT 'Intervasion', I've expressed similar thoughts to Ms Scrymgour's ever since this obvious political stunt was first announced (e.g. at http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=6040#85214). Given that Ms Scrymgour's speech broke ranks in the Rudd "Me Too" Party line, it's unsurprising that she's been prevailed upon to get back in line. Such is the nature of Australian politics, and one reason why I support neither major party.

Mind you, I agree that the records of all recent governments in Australia have been pretty appalling with respect to the interests of Indigenous Australians.

So what do we do? remember I have got down on my knees and said sorry, a chance exists the father of my grand father hurt some Aboriginals I am sorry.
It may be the same idiot welfare people who tried so hard to take my siblings and self away did take some Aboriginal kids away, wrong and for that I am sorry.
But I am far more sorry any one yes any one ,needed to intervene in the NT, or in truth needs still to do so in every state.
I am sorry that true great men like Noel Pierson are not heard instead of such as Marion.
I am sorry that bleeding hearted liberals continue to do more harm than good .
And I know accountability and education for every AUSTRALIAN on this issue are much needed.
Our failure to fix it in over 200 years is shameful.
And those who blame only the white man for this shame are blind.