THE Federal Government’s offer of $130 million to states to combat the problems of abuse and violence in indigenous communities was a “good beginning”, Australian Catholic Social Justice Council chairman Bishop Christopher Saunders said on June 27.
The Federal Government has offered the states the funding to combat violence and abuse, but only if they agree to match some of the funding, restore law and order and boost policing.
The bulk of the federal money would go towards drug and alcohol rehabilitation services, new police stations and a national intelligence unit to investigate sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities.
Bishop Saunders of Broome said more police in Aboriginal communities would help address some of the law and order problems.
But he said more blue or khaki police uniforms would not solve all the violence or abuse.
“A lot of the violence happens behind closed doors,” said Bishop Saunders, who has been working in Aboriginal communities for 30 years.
Under the plan, the Federal Government also plans to remove from federal laws any provisions requiring courts to consider cultural backgrounds, under a “one law for all Australians” policy.
The Government wants the states to do the same and the issue will be taken to the next meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General.
Bishop Saunders said some cultural laws did need to be removed, but he said care needed to be taken not to create two extraordinary sets of different standards.
