Ms CARNEY - 2007-08-21
The authors of the Little Children are Sacred Report have reported that some Aboriginal people who suspect sexual abuse of children take their concerns to law and justice committees, that is at page 76 of the report; that others, ‘… consult about their options before going to the police’, at page 77; and, for some, ‘... it was best to go through the right people … within the alleged offender’s clan or family group’, at page 101.
Chief Minister, do you agree that any Territorian should take their suspicions of child sexual abuse to a committee; should consult about their options; or go through the right people rather than report to police? If so, given that these comments are contained in the report, what are you going to do to ensure that these excuses for not obeying the law are dealt with?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, everyone in this House would agree that anyone who suspected sexual abuse of children should report that to the appropriate authorities. That is exactly why some of the barriers to having that happen, and there are many described in the Wild/Anderson report, are one of the biggest impediments we have to protecting children in the Territory. It is why we have taken such comprehensive action with our plan, Closing the Gap, which is comprehensive and long term, to tackle the complex issues that need to be addressed to protect children and really make children in the Territory safe.
The inquiry had 97 recommendations. The inquiry team talked to many communities across the Territory. That discussion has been incredibly valuable. There are reports that some communities are now, probably for the first time, really starting to look at what child sexual abuse is and what needs to be done. That has been very successful from the inquiry’s point of view.
I am disappointed that, because of the complex issues about the veil of silence surrounding child sexual abuse, we did not get clear directions from the inquiry about what we could do. It is not easy. However, I was disappointed that there was not more direction for government in that key area of the 97 recommendations.
When I announced the Closing the Gap package, I said that government can only do so much. Layers of government can do so much when it comes to protecting children. When it comes to the abuse of Aboriginal children, it has to be Aboriginal people who are prepared to make the change. That is critical. We have a partnership here. I would have liked that to be more clearly spelled out in the recommendations of the Wild/Anderson report.
Yesterday, we stepped beyond the recommendations to a plan for generational change. I believe that this is the way forward.
Madam SPEAKER: Before we continue, I advise the media that there is not to be any panning. There is only filming of members who are on their feet, or of the Speaker.
Chief Minister, do you agree that any Territorian should take their suspicions of child sexual abuse to a committee; should consult about their options; or go through the right people rather than report to police? If so, given that these comments are contained in the report, what are you going to do to ensure that these excuses for not obeying the law are dealt with?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, everyone in this House would agree that anyone who suspected sexual abuse of children should report that to the appropriate authorities. That is exactly why some of the barriers to having that happen, and there are many described in the Wild/Anderson report, are one of the biggest impediments we have to protecting children in the Territory. It is why we have taken such comprehensive action with our plan, Closing the Gap, which is comprehensive and long term, to tackle the complex issues that need to be addressed to protect children and really make children in the Territory safe.
The inquiry had 97 recommendations. The inquiry team talked to many communities across the Territory. That discussion has been incredibly valuable. There are reports that some communities are now, probably for the first time, really starting to look at what child sexual abuse is and what needs to be done. That has been very successful from the inquiry’s point of view.
I am disappointed that, because of the complex issues about the veil of silence surrounding child sexual abuse, we did not get clear directions from the inquiry about what we could do. It is not easy. However, I was disappointed that there was not more direction for government in that key area of the 97 recommendations.
When I announced the Closing the Gap package, I said that government can only do so much. Layers of government can do so much when it comes to protecting children. When it comes to the abuse of Aboriginal children, it has to be Aboriginal people who are prepared to make the change. That is critical. We have a partnership here. I would have liked that to be more clearly spelled out in the recommendations of the Wild/Anderson report.
Yesterday, we stepped beyond the recommendations to a plan for generational change. I believe that this is the way forward.
Madam SPEAKER: Before we continue, I advise the media that there is not to be any panning. There is only filming of members who are on their feet, or of the Speaker.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016