Aboriginal Child Abuse - Proposed Reform Posting I

Here is the NSW Reconciliation media release concerning what more and more Aboriginal people and their supporters are calling 'John Howard and the Liberal Party's guise to Aboriginal land grabbing for their uranium waste dumps'...

NSW Reconciliation Council calls on State Government to oppose
opportunistic Federal approach to addressing child abuse

The Federal Government’s overdue response to child abuse is a shameful example of political opportunism and will not achieve long term positive outcomes for Indigenous communities, according to the NSW Reconciliation Council.

‘The welfare of Aboriginal children should never be used for political purposes. Mr Howard’s behaviour is shameful. I will not stand silent while he uses the welfare of Aboriginal children for his own political gain,’ Mr Greg Davison, Chairperson of the NSW Reconciliation Council said. ‘Genuine action is necessary; we have seen government inaction on this issue for decades.’

The Council is calling on the NSW Government to lead the way on this issue by funding the implementation of the Breaking the Silence Report recommendations of its own Aboriginal Child Sexual Assault Taskforce. ‘In contrast to the Federal Government’s imposed, discriminatory, knee-jerk approach, these recommendations were developed in partnership with Aboriginal communities in NSW through the Aboriginal Child Sexual Assault Taskforce,’ explained Renee Williamson, Deputy Chairperson of the NSW Reconciliation Council.

The Council believes the Federal Government’s response fails to address the underlying systemic issues, which have caused many of the problems facing Indigenous communities today.’ Ms Williamson stated ‘history has shown us that complex problems such as abuse are not solved through punitive and paternalistic measures…This is protectionism all over again.

‘Trust is a precious commodity in Aboriginal communities. Coercion and fear will only exacerbate problems in the Northern Territory as they have done for so long in NSW,’ said NSW Reconciliation Council Board member Sally Fitzpatrick.

Child abuse is an issue requiring urgent action not only in Aboriginal communities, and not only in the Northern Territory. For Aboriginal communities in NSW, the Council believes that the NSW Government has the opportunity to take a different approach to the Federal Government. By funding the implementation of the NSW Interagency Plan based on the Breaking the Silence Report, the NSW Government will work together with Aboriginal communities to effectively address the issue in partnership.

‘Real solutions can only be found at the local level and only when the system provides trust and support’ explained David Crew, NSW Reconciliation Board member.

Media Enquiries
For all media enquiries please contact Greg Davison (Chair) on 0418 969 022 or Renee Williamson (Deputy Chair) on 0409 410 285.