Earlier this year a report titled 'Little Children are Sacred' emerged and made headlines as it detailed widespread child sexual abuse in aboriginal communities.
The government's response was swift and decisive. It rolled police and troops into the communities, enforced child heath checks, took back land from communities, withheld welfare and, controversially, lifted anti-discrimination laws. The legislation was rammed through parliament yesterday with little debate in the chamber, but furious voices of outrage outside.
The government has known about these indigenous problems for eleven years and has only taken decisive action in the lead up to an election when its leader fears looking old and withered. Is it overly cynical to see this, as many in the media have, as a wedge issue designed to bolster the governments electoral chances?
Well who cares, as long as its good for the children, right? Then why are the reports authors so 'pissed off' with the government's response? This radical intervention deserves greater scrutiny. Yet Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough says that all criticism does is support child abuse.
Criticism and scrutiny are essential for democracy, the minister should grow up.
