Mrs AAGAARD - 2004-08-26
What is the position of this government on protection of our children from sexual abuse or exploitation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this government has one law to protect children against sexual abuse and exploitation. It protects every child in the Northern Territory. This government believes every Territory child deserves protection against sexual assault and abuse.
This government respects customary marriage. We have moved to give legal recognition to customary marriage right across our statute books. However, the government believes it cannot be consummated before the child is 16 years of age. This is not a ban on customary or promised marriage, it is a ban on under-age sex. This government has a clear, unambiguous position on customary marriage, and on protecting children against sexual assault and exploitation.
I wish to compare that to the position of the Opposition Leader. On 9 December 2003, on ABC radio, the Leader of the Opposition said he would consider revoking the government’s law. In other words, he would reinstate the customary marriage defence for Aboriginal men, allowing them to have sex with under-age Aboriginal girls. He would have two laws: one for Aboriginal girls and one for other Territory children.
On 10 December 2003, the Leader of the Opposition appeared on television news, saying that he would never be part of repealing any legislation that exposes children. On the same day on ABC radio, the Leader of the Opposition said he would not support changing the law to expose young girls to sexual encounters with older men. Where is the opposition at?
On 11 December 2003, the NT News reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying the CLP might repeal the sex laws, particularly age of consent and customary marriage. So, we are back to two laws: one for Aboriginal girls and one for all other children.
On 12 December 2003, the Leader of the Opposition was reported in the Centralian Advocate as saying the CLP would consider repealing the whole package of laws, not just the age of consent and customary marriage parts. So, what does the CLP stand for when it comes to protecting our children from sexual assault, abuse and exploitation?
This government believes it has a responsibility to protect all Territory children, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances - Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal. We will not back away from that. Territorians can trust us to do what we can to protect all our children, with one law for all.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this government has one law to protect children against sexual abuse and exploitation. It protects every child in the Northern Territory. This government believes every Territory child deserves protection against sexual assault and abuse.
This government respects customary marriage. We have moved to give legal recognition to customary marriage right across our statute books. However, the government believes it cannot be consummated before the child is 16 years of age. This is not a ban on customary or promised marriage, it is a ban on under-age sex. This government has a clear, unambiguous position on customary marriage, and on protecting children against sexual assault and exploitation.
I wish to compare that to the position of the Opposition Leader. On 9 December 2003, on ABC radio, the Leader of the Opposition said he would consider revoking the government’s law. In other words, he would reinstate the customary marriage defence for Aboriginal men, allowing them to have sex with under-age Aboriginal girls. He would have two laws: one for Aboriginal girls and one for other Territory children.
On 10 December 2003, the Leader of the Opposition appeared on television news, saying that he would never be part of repealing any legislation that exposes children. On the same day on ABC radio, the Leader of the Opposition said he would not support changing the law to expose young girls to sexual encounters with older men. Where is the opposition at?
On 11 December 2003, the NT News reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying the CLP might repeal the sex laws, particularly age of consent and customary marriage. So, we are back to two laws: one for Aboriginal girls and one for all other children.
On 12 December 2003, the Leader of the Opposition was reported in the Centralian Advocate as saying the CLP would consider repealing the whole package of laws, not just the age of consent and customary marriage parts. So, what does the CLP stand for when it comes to protecting our children from sexual assault, abuse and exploitation?
This government believes it has a responsibility to protect all Territory children, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances - Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal. We will not back away from that. Territorians can trust us to do what we can to protect all our children, with one law for all.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016