Who Knew ?

Sexual violence against women is often considered a weapon of war. In aboriginal Australia, sexual violence against children is often considered secret men’s business,

ABORIGINAL culture was to blame for endemic levels of sexual violence against children in central Australia, according to a Northern Territory prosecutor who cited a case in which a four-year-old was drowned while being anally raped.

How then does one truly classify sexual violence against children and babies ? It’s so depressing to contemplate, it’s taken me twenty-four hours just to pose the question. In short, it's inhuman.

To ponder any form of abuse against minors is akin to putting one’s head in a bucket full of shit. Yet given the choice most would readily do that, if only to save one child.

This is the unenviable task now facing concerned Australians, with the overnight news paedophile rings are operating amongst rural aboriginal communities. So claimed the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough last night on ABC’s Lateline,

...there are examples of people who've been operating at a very senior level within Indigenous communities that have such power over those communities and use children at their own whim and they've been dealt with in some cases.

This, after the previous evening’s sensational news of widespread sexual violence perpetrated by aboriginal men against aboriginal children and babies.

Even more telling is the media’s apparent reluctance to report and expose this deplorable issue, which has been prevalent for years across aboriginal Australia.

In a general media policy, I know of one regional television network which routinely ‘spikes’ submitted news items detrimental to aboriginals. Whether this is the result of mis-guided, reverse discrimination or pure squeamishness, such censorship must end.

That aboriginal women and children are in a perpetual state of domestic ‘war’ - black on black - is a shameful indictment of Australian society. That’s all I can say on the matter. Now I'm returning to bed and putting a pillow over my head. How bloody depressing.

UPDATE : Beyond belief; Blind eye 'shameful'; Crusader's battle; Send in the troops;

UPDATE 2 : Herald finally reacts, tangentially. Age does better, marginally. Tele on time.

Comments

[Ian]

I'm with you 100% on this one. The feeling of helplessness arising from being unable to do any whatsoever to affect the situation positively, is depressing in the extreme. Belongum may be able to suggest something that those of us so concerned about this can do in some practical way to help. It's a bit akin to the systemic problems in many war torn starving African contries - but so close to home, and so, so tragic and soul destroying to witness first hand. Maaan, Adrian, ya sure know how to cheer people up! But you're so, so right - Belongum - sorry to pressure you - but - gaaaah - help!

[Ex-Territorian]

Anyone who has been involved in Aboriginal Affairs policy in recent decades has known.
It was known in the NT in the 1980's. In Queensland in the 1990's.
Unfortunately people in Aboriginal affairs policy turn over quickly as Governments play with service delivery organisations and structures. Look at the history of Federal Government policies, initiatives, and agencies. The average live of a policy and delivery system is 5 years.
Like all services to Aboriginal people it is lie that Governments spend a lot of money. How Government's count expenditure should be looked at. For instance if 30% or 30% of people in gaol are Aboriginal then 30 or 70% of the cost of the system is a service to Aboriginal people.
Generally Governments spend less on Aboriginal citizens than the average for the Australian citizen (check health and housing per capita)
Remote area infrastructure collapsed 10 years ago due to reduced funding, population growth and just pressure on insufficient resources.
Means tested public housing dried up in 1993 and the stock of Aboriginal public housing has reduced not grown.
In 1993 the average number of persons per house in NT settlements was 16 and population growth up to 3%.
Ask any knowledgeable police official - they will tell you that crime cannot be controlled in such overcrowded conditions.
"Crime is manageable when everyone has a bed to sleep in."

[Major Anya]

What can one say?

It's a huge issue, and not one that is going to be solved by pontificating from the cities.

[lg]

And it's an issue that isn't going to be solved with words. Action has to be taken...quickly and firmly.

[bron]

I think the most telling comments were with regard to the use of drugs and alcohol within aboriginal communities and the comparison made between the transient aboriginal population on the outskirts of Alice and the shanty towns in South Africa. Of course there is high levels of violent crimes when education levels are so low, health is extremely poor and there are extremely high levels of drug and alcohol abuse. I'm not suggesting that it is right, but that until the standard of living in Aboriginal communities is improved I doubt there is little that can be done.

The situation won't be improved by a government that just throws a little more money at it, rather a holistic solution has to be found, one that allows the aboriginal communities to find a balance between traditional life and western culture. Australia is not the only country in the world where there are problems with indigenous communities finding the best balance, but we do seem to be the best at burying our heads in the sand over it.

Thanks for yet another thoughtful and insightful post. I have my doubts at to the ability of the current government to deal with this in any meaningful, longterm solutions but i really hope to be proven wrong.

[Currently Overseas]

A friend of mine owned a shop on the Gold Coast and had trouble with drug addicts buying and selling heroin out the front of her shop, when she called the police to tell them and ask them to do something about it, they were prepared to do so - until she described who it was - a black man... they told her, flat out, that they couldn't do anything as they would get done for discrimination...

Makes you wonder...

[Belongum]

My comment was far too big to place here, the situation is far too complex. As such it has now become a new blog entry on my site... my apologies Adrian... I wish I could do a simple reply the justice it deserves, but I've had my ears bashed far to much over this subject of late... please return the favour. Cheers ;-)

(Belongum is part aboriginal and works in indigenous communities. A.)