Porn and ‘grog’ ban to tackle child abuse

AUSTRALIA will ban alcohol and pornography in Aboriginal communities across the country’s vast Northern Territory to combat widespread child sexual abuse, Prime Minister John Howard said yesterday.

Describing the plight of Aboriginal children as “a national emergency”, Mr Howard said he was taking control of indigenous communities from the Northern Territory government because it had not addressed the problem.

He is introducing the unprecedented measures in response to a Northern Territory government report released last week that found rampant child abuse fuelled by a “river of grog (alcohol)”.

“This is a national emergency, there is no greater obligation this parliament has than caring for all the vulnerable and young in our community,” Mr Howard told parliament.

He told Australian Broadcasting Corp television yesterday: “We’re dealing with a group of young Australians for whom the concept of childhood innocence has never been present.

“And there is nothing worse than to see little children denied just a few years of childhood innocence and that essentially is what happens in these communities,”

Mr Howard said once the federal government took over the administration of Aboriginal communities, it would enforce sweeping changes including a six- month ban on the sale, possession and transportation of alcohol.

The child abuse report said alcohol was a key contributor to the neglect of children and paedophilia.

Hardcore pornography, which the report found was rife in Aboriginal communities and available to children will also be banned.

Mr Howard said up to 50% of welfare payments would be earmarked for food and essentials. Police patrols in Aboriginal communities would increase and health checks would be carried out on all Territory children aged 16 or under.

“This is another attack on Aboriginal people,” said Aboriginal leader Charlie King, who chairs a committee that advises the Northern Territory government on child welfare issues.

Some leaders and opposition MPs warned that such a system — applied only to Aborigines — could breach federal discrimination laws.

“This is an outrageous, authoritarian crackdown — it’s a jackboot approach,” said Lyn Allison, leader of the Australian Democrats.

Mr Howard did not specify when the changes would take place but said that, if needed, he would recall parliament from an upcoming break to pass the necessary legislation.