Dear Belly,

Criticising the actions and behaviors of some within
the police force - is not
meant to denigrate the actions and behaviors of all
police officers. However, when investigating suspected
inappropriate actions - it is better to be done by an
independent body rather than for it to be done by one
of their own. That has been proven to be the case over
and over again.

An independent body's findings will be more readily
accepted to an internal investigation - which will
usually be suspect - especially by family members
involved.

G'day BELLY ol' friend...

You're (I think) referring to that maggot Warren LANFRANCHIE if memory serves me right. Mate, of course, there're bad coppers in the force, which makes it so much harder for the rest of us to do our job. Whenever there's a 'power' conferred upon an individual, there's always a potential and temptation to abuse that power. I myself have had that happen to me.

I was with the CIB for nearly twenty odd years, and I was attached to the Vice & Gaming. So you can imagine the temptation for some to be lured into accepting favours from both Vice and Gaming in turn (the worst sin, being gaming by far). So human nature being as it is, temptation occasionally reigns supreme.

What stops you from slipping into that abyss of corruption, is everything you'll lose. And I mean everything Belly. Your job, your good fame and character, your marriage, respect from your colleagues so, so much more. You've been around, you know what I mean. And in some areas, you've got to exhibit some toughness, especially when dealing with street hoodlums. I'll make no secret, you give me a slap, it'll be returned in kind. As I'm sure you'd do the same. Good on ya BELLY ol' mate.

Belly, you are wrong. The number of literate aboriginal children far outnumber the illiterate ones.
The vast majority of aboriginal children live in cities or large towns and they they are generally all literate, just as the white children in those places are generally literate.
Even in the northern towns, places like Katherine, Broome, Kununurra, Mt Isa etc, most aboriginal kids get a basic education. They may not top classes but they are educated enough to go on to TAFE or get a job. A small percentage are actually top students and go onto a Uni.
The severely illiterate are those living in remote communities or town kids with drug/alcohol dependant parents. But these are a small percentage of the whole, it’s just they are given far more publicity.
That’s not to say strong efforts should not be made to get these kids educated but in the same way we need to educate the neglected white kids.

Big Nana if only if only you got that right, not going to mention towns but they exist
Kids near here can not read and write their mum and dad can not they live outside town in houses we call the mission
One such place has had 5 domestic murders in my time here one a woman killing her husband
A teacher from my party and an ex work mate [holding a teacher's assistant roll] both cry constantly over this

Belly & Big Nana,

You're both right, that there are two Indigenous populations -

* one, the majority, usually urban, seizing opportunities and going on to trades and university graduation, and into employment, with the same life expectancy and opportunities (although I should qualify that heavily for those who 'tick the box') as non-Indigenous Australians; and

* the other, usually remote, rural and outer suburban, locked into a closed circle [called 'community'] - partly of their own making - of pensions for life (a.k.a. CDP etc.), no work or attempt to work, so no perceived (I stress that word) need for education for their kids, who will do the same. What my wife Maria called 'an embedded population' or 'encapsulated population'. And with noticeably less healthy, shorter and more brutal lives.

So, for one population there is enormous hope. For the other, none.

Joe

Loudmouth knew you would know that and hope you understand why I say the following
Not native to the NSW Mid north coast, but by chance have lived half my life here
Decades ago, a police officer bashed a kid from the mission, then a very active activist I took the kids side
It was one of a dozen maybe a hundred such things, even while on police radio, calling those on the mission filthy names
It got too much for that mission they marched on the town demanding better
Bloke this is true, an idiot, white business man, in another town, put an explosive device on a flag pole on his roof
To be, his words, the signal to get out on the street with guns in hand
I remind others it was in the 1980,s but not far away the only town in this country to vote against recognition can be found and that vote? could be the same today in that place, we must do better