From The Campaign Trail

Yesterday I asked where the Prime Minister has been for the past decade. Well once again he has stunned me. This time it is with his declaration that the abuse of children in indigenous communities is a national emergency. It has been an emergency every day he has been Prime Minister! It did not just happen! Anyone with the slightest interest in at-risk children knows that the abuse of children is just one of many horrendous situations that face indigenous communities across Australia. Those situations have persisted throughout the long decade of neglect of indigenous people by John Howard and his Government. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has repeatedly pointed to a national scandal in indigenous health. Its research shows that indigenous life expectancy is 17-years lower than other Australians; infant mortality is three times higher; and death rates for Indigenous Australians are twice as high across all age groups for all age groups. This is scandalous! Why was this not a national emergency before now? Those who have watched Howard in action for the past decade say this latest effort has all the smell of wedge politics. In the meantime if you want to read the report that sparked this go to: http://www.nt.gov.au/dcm/inquirysaac/pdf/bipacsa_final_report.pdf