| Australian Aboriginal communities |
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| World Affairs Talk | |
| Wednesday, 27 June 2007 | |
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There are about 470,000 Aborigines in Australia's 20 million population. They are the country's most impoverished community, with life expectancy more than 17 years lower than their compatriots and higher rates of heart disease, infant mortality and domestic violence. Prime Minister John Howard described the plight of Aboriginal children as "a national emergency", and said, he was taking control of indigenous communities from the Northern Territory government because it had not addressed the problem. The prime minister introduced the unprecedented measures in response to a Northern Territory government report released earlier this month ( June 2007) that found rampant child abuse fuelled by a ‘river of grog’ (alcohol) in indigenous communities. In the parliament session, Howard said, “this is a national emergency; there is no greater obligation this parliament has than caring for all the vulnerable and young in our community”. Once the federal government took over the administration of Aboriginal communities, it will enforce sweeping changes including a six-month ban on the sale, possession and transportation of alcohol. Hardcore pornography would also be barred from the communities once they came under Canberra's control. Police patrols in Aboriginal communities would be immediately stepped up and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) would carry out health checks on all Territory children aged 16 or under. The Prime Minister plans to provide up to 50 percent of welfare payments for food and other essentials to ensure the money was not spent on alcohol, with the payment of some benefits linked to children's attendance at school. Share & Bookmark             |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 29 June 2007 ) |
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