Rainer
Be it sheep or children we believe in humane treatment. What you fail to understand is that the dogooders "insisted" that we allowed them to handle their own affairs.
They were always treated differently as the rest of Australians.
There has been so much money thrown at them and waisted- by their "own leaders".
Which is why the Government closed it down.
You would think for once you mmight put the kids first.
I cant see a problem with mines or farms being established Rainer.
So long as its THEIR mines and THEIR farms.

I know the public well enough to believe they would stop any Government trying to take their land back off them.
What we need to look at is the fact the Government have stopped them from selling.
There are many people who own land rich in possibilties but unable to put up infrustration to do anything with.
That MUST change. We the Australian people must help them to fund their own ventures and plants.
That is all they need - Hope!
I have enough faith in the Australian public to make sure that happens.
Every person and company I know are willing to help the aboriginal people.
We need a register as to who wishes to donate what and get cracking.
At last everybody is working to help our first Australians.
Support it or but out.

Sorry, ludwig, in that case i was referring to PALE. Perhaps you missed the quote. PALE reiterated the same words anyway, despite my question. If you treat Aboriginals indifferently then they can't have native title claims, tribal law, etc...

kartiya jim:"If Howard was handed the letter on Aboriginal problems that needed adressing ,and one would assume a brief idea of it's contents -- What did he say ?"
Huh? I presume he ignored it, since nothing was done. Howard was made aware of abuse then and there was no apparent, visible federal action, or if there was it may have been insufficient, a token gesture. Then several months before this election when a report makes the government potentially look negligent, there is suddenly loud federal action and beating of the drums. Howard has a history of politicising events before every election, so it is very credible that he is presenting an image of leadership, in the place of questions about what was known and when.

"That ANY PERSON ANY PARTY, who uses the pain ,some of it very much self inflicted of this community to score political points is a GRUB!"
You are the grub and a dirty little one at that. No one is scoring "political points". Even Howard, who is twisting this to deflect potential blame, using it to grab power and implement policy normally tucked away in the extreme back corner of his party, is not "scoring political points"...well, maybe he is...it depends what Belly means and to whom his coment was referred.

There are legitimate questions into the motives of the government to react so loudly and quickly, where before there was distance and coldness.
Is this a power gain? I don't know.
Is it being used as a gateway for extreme policy? Yes.
Is there a credible political benefit in light of the election? Yes.

And questions of culpability. I think we all agree that the Territory has some of blame at the least. But it's not a State, though. So how much of the blame rests at the feet of the federal government?
Prior federal awareness of the abuse? Yes.
What action was taken? Mystery to me...unknown
Was the action clearly insufficient, or a token gesture? Unknown. At a guess, likely. Since the Howard government has been consistently extremely cold to the Aboriginal issue in the past.

And questions about cost.

Will it cost taxpayers a lot of money? Yes. Scores of costly police have already been sent up to put Aboriginals in costly prisons.

Was this done without the direct consultation of the abused and abusers, to see if there is a more immediate, low key and less costly solution? My guess is, yes. I have not heard any voices, except those of so-called leaders and the government.

Steel

“I don't know.”

“Mystery to me...unknown”

“Unknown. At a guess, likely”

“My guess is, yes”

With this lack of knowledge of the whole subject (and I’m not knocking you for that), how can you possibly say;

“Is it being used as a gateway for extreme policy? Yes.”

What extreme policy do you envisage?

Steel

You are incorrect. Howard "wanted to act 7 years ago" but he was stopped.
That is a fact.
You really need to see whats going on to fully understand.
Nothing short of the Army and many many police and health Services and others will even go close to touch this.
It really is a national emergency.
You ought to be pleased Labour and Liberal are working united on this at last.

"What extreme policy do you envisage?"
None at present, but sending police in before asking any questions is something that resembles a police state. You have a problem? Send the police! It's an all too perfect situation for Howard to implement his party's extreme policies for the Aboriginal people. Already to question the Howard government over this is apparently a negative thing. Actually there are no questions being asked. No opposition. Universal support. Draconian measures are 'necessary'.

"You are either with us, or are with the terrorists." etc... except , it's, "You are either with us, or against the Aborignals."