Banjo, the practise of sub incision seems to have died out a couple of decades ago. I haven't heard of it happening for quite some time now.
But circumcision of boys without anaesthetic in the bush still happens as a part of initiation, although some mothers do request their sons get done in hospital under sterile conditions before the ceremony happens. I'm in two minds about this practise because although it's painful it's not mutilation in the sense that we know it and the end result is no different to millions of men around the world who were circumcised as babies and in the traditional communities initiation is a huge part of a boy's life. He cannot become an elder if he hasn't been initiated.
The only problem I have with it is the risk of infection which has increased due to the use of nonbiodegradable goods in the law ground, things like open tins of food left lying around, which attracts flies. If a boy does get infected he is not allowed to leave the lawground for treatment and if a male doctor can't be induced to travel to that law ground then the infected boy risks permanently distortion and damage to the penis and urethra.
I think if they wish to retain this practise there needs to be health education done by male nurses or doctors to address the infection issue.

The issue of underage wives is something the old men have fought to retain and it's still done, albeit as quietly as possible so as not to attract attention. They get away with it if the girl doesn't become pregnant. If a young teen does present with a pregnancy then child protection is supposed to investigate but there doesn't seem to be many questions if the girl is from a remote community. Suddenly the girl and her family can't speak English properly, the interpreter, who is always from a remote community herself, says what she thinks the authorities want to hear and nothing ever happens to the men.
Sexual abuse is different again. The women are all aware it happens, they don't like and a few do what they can in small ways to protect girls. Things like making young girls wear three layers of clothes below the waist. Underpants, topped by cycle shorts, topped by leggings or other shorts at night.
But they stop short of denouncing men or even discussing the issue. When I lived in the community it was a taboo topic even though a couple of women had put padlocks on their daughters bedroom doors.
Whilst people in the general community can't understand how this is allowed to happen, once you live in these places you learn how difficult it is for the women. If they say anything they are subject to violent payback, families end up with generations of feuding, especially if the man goes to prison.
If the man is from a powerful family then the accusers suffer ongoing disadvantage in the community by being ignored for any jobs, better housing etc.
The alternative is to move to a town, where they have to wait many years for housing, may not have any family support system and living on the fringes or in crowded houses, are still subjecting the girls to a very high risk of abuse from town men.
I don't have many answers. My heart breaks for these girls.

Below I have put an extract from an notes written by a woman who runs a sex education program in remote communities, funded by an NGO. I met her a couple of years ago and she was horrified by some of the events happening in these communities, as told her by women and children, once she had gained their trust. And technology is aiding the men now. For instance she told of how one man had been discovered using an iPad to groom children by showing them porn.
As you can see from this extract, it's not only aboriginal people covering up

"I attended the police station on the Tuesday morning to train the three officers there� The feedback from the officer in charge was a little disturbing� He informed me that he would never hear about any child abuse in the community� If there was anything going on, the community would deal with it their own way� He went on the say that there was a 13-year-old in the community who had a baby, but that it was OK because she had married the man she was promised to�
I was also disturbed by the attitude of the clinic manager, who was very defensive� He wanted to know whose permission I had to be there, had the program been approved by Aboriginal people? When
I brought up the subject of who was teaching the students about Respectful Relationship and Sex Education, he said it wasn’t their job� One of the doctors said that he had talked about STIs with the young men about three years ago� I also asked “Who is talking with the young adults about how they negotiate what they will and won’t do? For example – performing anal sex� “The clinic manager told me that I needed to understand that many of these girls were promised and that they would do as they were told�
The staff at the high school advised that the students were also not receiving this type of education at school as it was not included in the curriculum�

Big Nana

if you were in a position of power the Indigenous people would be much better off. Jacinta Price seems to be a treasure not afraid to call things as they are. Thank you.

I believe that sites such as the one mentioned earlier here, that seeks to embed a misleading narrative of a wonderful, idyllic, 'natural', 'preserved' Australia (very Disney-like), populated by a 'noble earth-caring people' who were ruthlessly 'invaded' by 'Whites', and that is where all of the problems began, a Paradise contaminated, destroyed and eventually lost, do far more HARM than good.

For starters, it perpetuates the power of those child abusers, men and women, but especially the bullying, child-abusing men who stand to lose most from children being educated and realising their full potential under the FULL protection of Australian law.

Secondly, the black armband narrative DISEMPOWERS Aboriginals.

I cannot even begin to imagine why any would want to put their stake in multiculturalism selfishly ahead of the present and future good of aboriginal infants (or any children for that matter, referring pointedly to Muslim girls).

Those men and the women who might have a stake in foul practices, cultural, traditional or recently invented by asserted as 'secret business' that go against in Australian law and infringe on the liberties of children in particular, MUST NOT be presented with ready-made rationalisations and excuses. They must be held accountable for their own choices and just to add, ignorance is no excuse for a crime.

So many indigenous with legal training from fine sandstone Australian universities and overseas as well. They are so adept and quick at finding a myriad of ways to use available Australian law to advantage themselves and the present indigenous power brokers.

But these clever, wigged 'rights' lawyers are so painfully slow to provide any encouragement and free community legal services or private pro bono, for victims to claim compensation from the indigenous perpetrators and the guardians who were supposed to be looking out for them.

That is what it will take, isn't it? For some victims to do to their indigenous persecutors what the victims of (say) Catholic priests and the RC Church are doing, which is to finally get some justice and improve the lot for children today and those not born yet.

Big Nana,
Thank you for your comments.

I am heartened by your comments about sub incision, I shudder to think about that being done. As for circumcision, I am neutral about its need but, if traditional, it may lead to it being done much earlier by medicos.

Having an interest in eliminating FGM, I can readily see the problems in getting convictions for underage marriages and sexual abuse in small communities. The state politicians feel smug about making FGM illegal but do nothing to enforce the laws. Then when a rare case comes along the judiciary hand out token sentences like 'home detention' and 'suspended' jail.

I am afraid that any progress will be a long, long process. We can just keep bringing it to public attention and the girls continue to suffer.

Thank you again for your comments and passing on your knowledge and experiences.