In response to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s allegations of increased sexual assault and abuse in Alice Springs, non-governmental organizations have come out supporting top organizations.
Secretariat of National Aboriginal & Islander Child Care (SNAICC) and NSW Child, Family and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation (AbSec) have made statements calling for a greater emphasis on First Nations self-determination rights. These organizations are The Benevolent Society, Mission Australia, Rise, Brotherhood of St Laurence, and Uniting NSW and ACT.
Sharon Callister, the executive officer of Mission Australia, stated that they support SNAICC and AbSec.
In the Northern Territory, she added, “We support SNAICC and AbSec’s calls for self-determination and community-driven solutions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
We must support and build on the capabilities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for them to lead the work that impacts them. Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people, families, and communities have the answers.
According to Rise executive officer Justine Colyer, the organization recognizes the need for First Nation self-determination to help reduce the gap nationally.
Despite its headquarters in Western Australia, Rise acknowledges the value of promoting self-determination in other States and Territories as essential to bridging the gap nationally.
It comes after executive officer Catherine Liddle of the SNAICC addressed Mr Dutton’s previous April charges that sexual and domestic abuse was widespread in the Alice Springs neighbourhood.
“The mandatory process is to make a report to the authorities if Mr Dutton, any politician, or any community member has evidence about sexual abuse of children,” she added.
“The allegations of ‘rampant’ abuse are unsupported by the facts. According to information from Territory Families, there hasn’t been a rise in inquiries into sexual abuse or exploitation.
“SNAICC invites Mr Dutton and Senator Price to a meeting with SNAICC and community people to discuss the issue of child sexual abuse and overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in child protection system in a deliberate, evidence-based manner.
They were invited to contact SNAICC last year, but they have yet to do so to learn more or to hear about community-led solutions.
John Leha, the executive director of AbSec, agreed with Ms Liddle that sexual assault is not a “political football”.
“In support of SNAICC, AbSec urge the opposition leader to participate in a conversation based on facts. The speaker asserted that Aboriginal people have fostered robust, healthy offspring for millennia.
“Our communities are specialists at bringing up content, resilient, and healthy kids, and our kids are made stronger by the diversity of their cultures.
“Safe and supported communities are NOT an “ideological agenda” or a political football, but rather a human right.”
The NGOs also asserted that First Nations people in the Territory had a right to be involved in discussions about changes to laws and policies that may affect their rights and interests.
