Hello SCMers
At our ASCM National Conference in Perth the first week of July we discussed
with some concern the Federal Government's proposed intervention in the Northern
Territory in response to the 'Little Children are Sacred' report, which had been
announced in the weeks immediately prior to our conference. The overall
responses of the SCMers gathered for conference were (1) horror at the situation
that was being reported in indigenous communities, (2) scepticism about the
timing and motivation of the Federal response, and (3) concern at the apparently
heavy-handed and short-term 'solutions' being proposed.
ASCM subsequently wrote to a number of senior politicians expressing our
concerns and urging them to work with indigenous communities to implement the
recommendations of the Report. We also drafted a letter for individual SCMers to
consider sending to their local Federal member and candidates for the next
election. A copy of this draft letter is attached. [I was interested to read in
yesterdays 'Australian' that the authors of the report believe not one of the 97
recommendations they made is in line with what is now being proposed]
As a gathering of urban (mostly) white people from the coastal fringes of our
country, we were aware that our understanding of the situation was limited. I
was asked to follow up with a couple of people I have contact with, who live and
work in and from Darwin and Alice Springs, to see what their on-the-ground
perspective was, and particularly to ask 'what is really going on?' and 'what
can we as ASCM do?'. Unfortunately neither of my contacts are indigenous people,
so the perspective remains a white one (although both work closely with
indigenous locals). However, they sent me some thoughtful comments and also
articles to provide background on the issues. Both were concerned at many
aspects of the Federal response, but were seeking ways to live positively with
what was already underway and work with it to also implement long-term
approaches that work with indigenous people. Both asked that ASCM pray for the
situation.
What to pray? They suggest: 'for individuals, children, families, communities;
those who abuse children and those who abuse the system; for our PM and for Mal Brough that they will appreciate the complexities and the shame and that we can
all work together to build a culture of integrity and respect', also for
Christians in the communities, for the many organisations involved and how they
work together, for commitment beyond the short-term, for positive reception of
changes rather than a further build-up of resentment and dysfunction, for good
people to take on the hard work that is needed, and above all that whatever the
mixed motives of the intervention, that good would come out of it for the most
vulnerable.
If anyone would like to read the articles and comments that I was sent, please
let me know. None of this claims to be a definitive overview of the issues, but
they are the thoughts of some good quality local people, so I am passing them on
to the wider SCM community as requested by National Conference. I was also sent
two links to on-line comments that may be of interest:
http://www.acoss.org.au/News.aspx?displayID=1 - Australian Council of Social
Service letter to Mal Brough 26 June and statement following meeting 27 June
http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=3032 - Fr Frank Brennan in
Eureka Street
I realise that it is a little late and there are likely many more recent
articles that are worth accessing. However, what I have is a start and has been
helpful for me in considering the issues.
Also at conference we had the privilege of sharing a meal at the Christian
Centre for Social Action that happened to include three Nyoongar people (that's
Southwest WA people, for those in other parts of the country). The two Nyoongar
men present spoke in terms of the Federal intervention taking away indigenous
rights, stripping what little dignity they had, and being an invasion. The
woman, who is something of a local matriarch, was exploding with anger at those
who were opposing the intervention. She spoke in terms of 'thank God someone is
doing something at long last', as neither the indigenous nor the white
communities have known what to do. Her experience was 30 years of looking after
damaged women and children in her home, and no-one being interested in doing
anything to stop the abuse. Her comment that sticks with me was 'at least the
men will keep their flies zipped if there's coppers around with guns'.
Hopefully some of this is helpful.
Clare Menck
ASCM WA Staff Worker
Email
Clare
Letter to Candidate pdf (52kB)
Letter to Candidate doc (28kB)
Response from Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard pdf (175kB) NEW!
Response from Leader of the Opposition, Kevin Rudd MP pdf (536kB) NEW!
Response from Premier of WA, Alan Carpenter MLA pdf (361kB) NEW!
This page is maintained by the webweaver and hosted by Ilisys.
