Australia to ban alcohol for Aborigines

[kfrost06]

CANBERRA, Australia - Australia's prime minister announced plans Thursday to ban pornography and alcohol for Aborigines in northern areas and tighten control over their welfare benefits to fight child sex abuse among them.

Some Aboriginal leaders rejected the plan as paternalistic and said the measures were discriminatory and would violate the civil rights of the country's original inhabitants. But others applauded the initiative and recommended extending the welfare restrictions to Aborigines in other parts of the country.

Prime Minister John Howard was responding to a report last week that found sexual abuse of children to be rampant in indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. The report said the abuse was fueled by endemic alcohol abuse, unemployment, poverty and other factors causing a breakdown in traditional society.

"This is a national emergency," Howard told Parliament. "We're dealing with a group of young Australians for whom the concept of childhood innocence has never been present."

Howard announced the measures for the Northern Territory, an Outback region where the federal government retains powers it doesn't have over Australia's six states. He urged state leaders to apply similar tough rules in their jurisdictions.

The federal government can change laws in the territory with an act of Parliament, where Howard has a majority that ensures he can implement his policy.

Australia is home to about 400,000 Aborigines. About 60,000 live in the Northern Territory, often in isolated, impoverished communities where jobs are scarce and substance abuse is widespread. The land was returned to them over the past 30 years and accounts for about half the Northern Territory, which is about twice the size of Texas.

The plan angered some Aboriginal leaders, who said it was the kind of government behavior that has disenfranchised Aborigines and created the problems in the first place. They also complained they had not been consulted; the government had not previously indicated it was considering such action.

"I'm absolutely disgusted by this patronizing government control," said Mitch, a member of a government board helping Aborigines who were taken from their parents under past assimilation laws who uses one name. "And tying drinking with welfare payments is just disgusting."

"If they're going to do that, they're going to have to do that with every single person in Australia, not just black people," she said.

Howard said the sale, possession and transportation of alcohol would be banned for six months on the Aboriginal-owned land, after which the policy would be reviewed. The child abuse report found drinking was a key factor in the collapse of Aboriginal culture, contributing to neglect of children and creating opportunities for pedophiles.

Hardcore pornography also would be banned, and publicly funded computers would be audited to ensure that they had not downloaded such images. The report said pornography was rife in Aboriginal communities and that children often were exposed to it.

Under Howard's plan, new restrictions would be placed on welfare payments for Aborigines living on the land to prevent the money from being spent on alcohol and gambling. Parents would be required to spend at least half their welfare on essentials such as food, and payments also would be linked to a child's school attendance.

Howard also called on state governments to send police to the Northern Territory to address a shortage on Aboriginal land there and offered to pay their expenses.

The child abuse report was commissioned by the Northern Territory government and is widely regarded as credible although it attracted some critics. It was unable to quantify the extent of the sexual abuse problem, since anecdotal evidence suggested much of it went unreported.

Conducted by an indigenous health worker and a government lawyer, it found children had been sexually abused in all 45 remote communities visited. The abusers were both Aborigines and non-Aborigines operating in or near their communities.

The report made 97 recommendations, including boosting procedures for reporting and monitoring offenders, and addressing widespread poverty and alcoholism.

Australia's original inhabitants suffer far higher rates of poverty and substance abuse than the rest of the country's 21 million people, and their life expectancy is 17 years shorter.

For years, white men were banned from marrying Aboriginal woman, and mixed-race children were taken from their Aboriginal mothers to be assimilated into mainstream society.

Though many found employment in the cattle and sheep industries, they were paid less than whites, sometimes working just for rations. Unable to achieve economic in***endence, many have become welfare ***endent.

[kfrost06]

Wow, this is news to me. Any mates down under have a take on this? Never been to Australia and would love to hear from someone there, what's going on?

[Mike Dura]

By ROD McGUIRK, Associated Press Writer
Thu Jun 21, 6:00 AM ET



CANBERRA, Australia - Australia's prime minister announced plans Thursday to ban pornography and alcohol for Aborigines in northern areas and tighten control over their welfare benefits to fight child sex abuse among them.

Some Aboriginal leaders rejected the plan as paternalistic and said the measures were discriminatory and would violate the civil rights of the country's original inhabitants. But others applauded the initiative and recommended extending the welfare restrictions to Aborigines in other parts of the country.

Prime Minister John Howard was responding to a report last week that found sexual abuse of children to be rampant in indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. The report said the abuse was fueled by endemic alcohol abuse, unemployment, poverty and other factors causing a breakdown in traditional society.

"This is a national emergency," Howard told Parliament. "We're dealing with a group of young Australians for whom the concept of childhood innocence has never been present."

Howard announced the measures for the Northern Territory, an Outback region where the federal government retains powers it doesn't have over Australia's six states. He urged state leaders to apply similar tough rules in their jurisdictions.

The federal government can change laws in the territory with an act of Parliament, where Howard has a majority that ensures he can implement his policy.

Australia is home to about 400,000 Aborigines. About 60,000 live in the Northern Territory, often in isolated, impoverished communities where jobs are scarce and substance abuse is widespread. The land was returned to them over the past 30 years and accounts for about half the Northern Territory, which is about twice the size of Texas.

The plan angered some Aboriginal leaders, who said it was the kind of government behavior that has disenfranchised Aborigines and created the problems in the first place. They also complained they had not been consulted; the government had not previously indicated it was considering such action.

"I'm absolutely disgusted by this patronizing government control," said Mitch, a member of a government board helping Aborigines who were taken from their parents under past assimilation laws who uses one name. "And tying drinking with welfare payments is just disgusting."

"If they're going to do that, they're going to have to do that with every single person in Australia, not just black people," she said.

Howard said the sale, possession and transportation of alcohol would be banned for six months on the Aboriginal-owned land, after which the policy would be reviewed. The child abuse report found drinking was a key factor in the collapse of Aboriginal culture, contributing to neglect of children and creating opportunities for pedophiles.

Hardcore pornography also would be banned, and publicly funded computers would be audited to ensure that they had not downloaded such images. The report said pornography was rife in Aboriginal communities and that children often were exposed to it.

Under Howard's plan, new restrictions would be placed on welfare payments for Aborigines living on the land to prevent the money from being spent on alcohol and gambling. Parents would be required to spend at least half their welfare on essentials such as food, and payments also would be linked to a child's school attendance.

Howard also called on state governments to send police to the Northern Territory to address a shortage on Aboriginal land there and offered to pay their expenses.

The child abuse report was commissioned by the Northern Territory government and is widely regarded as credible although it attracted some critics. It was unable to quantify the extent of the sexual abuse problem, since anecdotal evidence suggested much of it went unreported.

Conducted by an indigenous health worker and a government lawyer, it found children had been sexually abused in all 45 remote communities visited. The abusers were both Aborigines and non-Aborigines operating in or near their communities.

The report made 97 recommendations, including boosting procedures for reporting and monitoring offenders, and addressing widespread poverty and alcoholism.

Australia's original inhabitants suffer far higher rates of poverty and substance abuse than the rest of the country's 21 million people, and their life expectancy is 17 years shorter.

For years, white men were banned from marrying Aboriginal woman, and mixed-race children were taken from their Aboriginal mothers to be assimilated into mainstream society.

Though many found employment in the cattle and sheep industries, they were paid less than whites, sometimes working just for rations. Unable to achieve economic in***endence, many have become welfare ***endent.

[Mike Dura]

No beer and porn? It ain't right!

[spywizard]

Just another example of govermental control and social behavioral modification through the illegalization of cultures that have been around for 1,000's of years..

[BgMc31]

Wow, I think this is blatant racism. Are they implying that child sexual abuse is only perpatrated by Aborigines, because the recent child porn bust would indicate otherwise. If they are going to ban alcohol and porn in Aboriginal areas, then they need to ban it throughout the entire country. Wow, Australia is headed down the road to apartheid.

[Logan13]

Wow, I think this is blatant racism. Are they implying that child sexual abuse is only perpatrated by Aborigines, because the recent child porn bust would indicate otherwise. If they are going to ban alcohol and porn in Aboriginal areas, then they need to ban it throughout the entire country. Wow, Australia is headed down the road to apartheid.

And yet you support Beverly Hills' ban on smoking outside of your house.....

[misadventures]

Aborigines I met while in Australia were all (without exception, though obviously there are some) completely messed up.

it isn't unusual to see 10-14 year olds drinking during school hours, sitting on street corners etc. Very sad to see, not sure this is the way to solve these problems though

[BgMc31]

And yet you support Beverly Hills' ban on smoking outside of your house.....

I didn't even post on the smoking ban thread Logan. You need to get you facts straight! I think you have me confused with Carlos... again, I know you think we all look alike, but since you've never seen me, I don't understand the confusion!

[Logan13]

I didn't even post on the smoking ban thread Logan. You need to get you facts straight! I think you have me confused with Carlos... again, I know you think we all look alike, but since you've never seen me, I don't understand the confusion!

So you do not support such a ban?
You do realize that there are black citizens living in Australia(non aborigines) don't you. I once met a Japanese man, born and raised in Australia, who spoke with an Australian accent. It was hard to get used to it coming from him, it was like it did not fit.

[BgMc31]

No I don't support the ban on smoking in public areas, but what does that have to do with this topic. And regardless of other minorities living in Australia, the Australian government is clearly singling out one particular group of people and disallowing things that are available to all others. To me that is blatant racism.

[vdub]

This ban is aimed at one territory of the country, and in remote communities from what I know. Many of these communities have major substance abuse problems. Many of the children don't go to school and live in 3rd world conditions.

In saying that, I don't think this is the correct approach to the problem but only time will tell.

[Carlos_E]

And yet you support Beverly Hills' ban on smoking outside of your house.....

I didn't even post on the smoking ban thread Logan. You need to get you facts straight! I think you have me confused with Carlos... again, I know you think we all look alike, but since you've never seen me, I don't understand the confusion!

Duuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhh!

[Logan13]

Duuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhh!

yes, my bad........

[Carlos_E]

yes, my bad........

And he admits it. + Points for you.

[spywizard]

No I don't support the ban on smoking in public areas, but what does that have to do with this topic. And regardless of other minorities living in Australia, the Australian government is clearly singling out one particular group of people and disallowing things that are available to all others. To me that is blatant racism.

to throw in here..

the government is attempting social modification.. I don't like it in any form, but it's the way it is..

And to identify them and say their way of life is wrong... well, this thread is turning more and more into a political forum thread..

and that would mean it needs to be closed..

[Gungnir]

Wow, I think this is blatant racism. Are they implying that child sexual abuse is only perpatrated by Aborigines, because the recent child porn bust would indicate otherwise. If they are going to ban alcohol and porn in Aboriginal areas, then they need to ban it throughout the entire country. Wow, Australia is headed down the road to apartheid.

Their government is punishing a group based on ethnic lines that obviously has problems due to genetic leanings toward alcohol abuse and other social problems. Something needs to be done and it's stupid to punish ALL citizens because one group can't get it's act together.

[mcpeepants]

Their government is punishing a group based on ethnic lines that obviously has problems due to genetic leanings toward alcohol abuse and other social problems. Something needs to be done and it's stupid to punish ALL citizens because one group can't get it's act together.

"Genetic leaning"

are any supporters/defenders of this policy going criticize Gungnir statement?

[Logan13]

"Genetic leaning"

are any supporters/defenders of this policy going criticize Gungnir statement?

Are you seriously going to question the role of genetics in regards to behavior? Is it your stance that genetics only plays a part in the positive attributes of an individual or race, but not the negative ones?

[kfrost06]

I don't think they are doing this to hold down the Aborigines, it's not like they are denying them education or segregating them. Now there are some American Indians that have zero tolerance to alcohol, they have never been exposed to the substance until the Europians brought it over and geneticly some, a significant number had severe problems with it, so much so that some reservations ban it because of what it was doing to them. I am not saying this is the right appraoch but from my understanding something needs to be done, being pro-active is the right approach. On the flip side, if I was an Aborigine and wanted a beer after a long week and someone turned me down because of my ethnicity, well I would be very upset.

[Flagg]

This all boils down to, do people agree with State control for the perceived "greater good"?

[BgMc31]

I don't think they are doing this to hold down the Aborigines, it's not like they are denying them education or segregating them. Now there are some American Indians that have zero tolerance to alcohol, they have never been exposed to the substance until the Europians brought it over and geneticly some, a significant number had severe problems with it, so much so that some reservations ban it because of what it was doing to them. I am not saying this is the right appraoch but from my understanding something needs to be done, being pro-active is the right approach. On the flip side, if I was an Aborigine and wanted a beer after a long week and someone turned me down because of my ethnicity, well I would be very upset.

Reservations banned alcohol themselves. It was a self imposed regulation. But they are still allowed to go off the reservation to drink. They just can't bring it on the reservation.

Disallowing a group of people the same rights and benefits of others is just wrong. I'm sure there are crimes that are perpatrated more by the majority in Australia that can be attributed to alcohol but you will never hear them ban alcohol to them. It's blatant racism, no matter how they attempt to justify it.

[gixxerboy1]

Reservations banned alcohol themselves. It was a self imposed regulation. But they are still allowed to go off the reservation to drink. They just can't bring it on the reservation.

Disallowing a group of people the same rights and benefits of others is just wrong. I'm sure there are crimes that are perpatrated more by the majority in Australia that can be attributed to alcohol but you will never hear them ban alcohol to them. It's blatant racism, no matter how they attempt to justify it.

maybe i'm reading it wrong. Are they banning it from the Aborigines or from the territory were they mainly live. Its 2 different things. If its just from the territory they can leave like the Indians you said and still have it

[Mike Dura]

LoL! It's almost as if he knows!

And he admits it. + Points for you.

[Logan13]

LoL! It's almost as if he knows!

There is really only one obtuse person in here, right Mike?

[Aussiemuscle]

take it from an aussie this is the best thing ever to happen for those inocent woman and children of nt the aboriginal elders informed the authorities on this problem and they did something about it thats it. everyone just loves to play the race card when they can expecialy the media we are all human in the end but alot of the aboriginals in the nt are uneducated in western ways are custom to behaving this way

[BgMc31]

take it from an aussie this is the best thing ever to happen for those inocent woman and children of nt the aboriginal elders informed the authorities on this problem and they did something about it thats it. everyone just loves to play the race card when they can expecialy the media we are all human in the end but alot of the aboriginals in the nt are uneducated in western ways are custom to behaving this way

I understand what you are saying Aussiemuscle. But to say it's only the Aborigines who are committing these crimes isn't true. If you are going to outlaw alcohol and porn for aborigines they should do the same for everyone else in Australia because I guarantee Aborigines aren't the only ones committing these heinous crimes. As a matter of fact the recent child porn ring that was busted, the majority of the culprits came from the UK and Australia (Sydney and Queensland).

[kfrost06]

I understand what you are saying Aussiemuscle. But to say it's only the Aborigines who are committing these crimes isn't true. If you are going to outlaw alcohol and porn for aborigines they should do the same for everyone else in Australia because I guarantee Aborigines aren't the only ones committing these heinous crimes. As a matter of fact the recent child porn ring that was busted, the majority of the culprits came from the UK and Australia (Sydney and Queensland).

I think they should put them in jail and throw away the key, too all child molesters. I am not sure how alcohol makes you a molester? You are or your not. The alcohol may take away your inhibitions and than you act out but your still a molester when the booze runs out.

[BgMc31]

I think they should put them in jail and throw away the key, too all child molesters. I am not sure how alcohol makes you a molester? You are or your not. The alcohol may take away your inhibitions and than you act out but your still a molester when the booze runs out.

Very good point Kfrost!!! 100% agreed!

[Aussiemuscle]

I understand what you are saying Aussiemuscle. But to say it's only the Aborigines who are committing these crimes isn't true. If you are going to outlaw alcohol and porn for aborigines they should do the same for everyone else in Australia because I guarantee Aborigines aren't the only ones committing these heinous crimes. As a matter of fact the recent child porn ring that was busted, the majority of the culprits came from the UK and Australia (Sydney and Queensland).

im not saying it is just the aboriginals ofcourse there are other sick ****s out there comiting these crimes but its alot easier to control a smaller comunity where the person is easily identified unlike the other nineteen and a half million people in australia as for baning porn shit every man on this earth deserves the right to look at some good tastefull porn but the alcohol is a diferent story dont know if you have ever met any aboriginals but i used to live in a town with a big aboriginal comunity and if you ever felt like getting in a fight "not that anyone does" all you had to do is walk past some drunk aboriginals and you would have one not saying this is every aboriginal but i can tell you it is alot of them all you have to do is look at our jails when ever a thieft happened in town eighty persent if not more of the time it was an aboriginal that got charged for it

[BgMc31]

im not saying it is just the aboriginals ofcourse there are other sick ****s out there comiting these crimes but its alot easier to control a smaller comunity where the person is easily identified unlike the other nineteen and a half million people in australia as for baning porn shit every man on this earth deserves the right to look at some good tastefull porn but the alcohol is a diferent story dont know if you have ever met any aboriginals but i used to live in a town with a big aboriginal comunity and if you ever felt like getting in a fight "not that anyone does" all you had to do is walk past some drunk aboriginals and you would have one not saying this is every aboriginal but i can tell you it is alot of them all you have to do is look at our jails when ever a thieft happened in town eighty persent if not more of the time it was an aboriginal that got charged for it

Again, Aussiemuscle, your points are well taken, but it's still tantamount to racism. By this I mean, in Montana, 90% of the jails are full of meth abusers who happen to be white, in some places the majority of crime is committed by blacks, in some areas, hispanics. All having to do with drugs of some type, so instead of banning drugs in just those areas, the federal government banned drugs nationwide, because it effects everyone. The problem with Australia is they aren't banning this items nationwide, just in areas populated by Aborigines. In the US, Native American tribes have self-imposed an alcohol ban on lands governed by them (they are considered seperate nations and allowed to inact their own laws). Now this wouldn't be an issue if Aborigines how their own land in Australia and imposed this upon themselves for their own citizens. But since the Australian government is singling out a specific group for crimes that occur in all groups, there in lies the problem!!

[Mike Dura]

Obtuse! Very good! Sounds "educated" Keep up the good work!

There is really only one obtuse person in here, right Mike?

[auslifta]

Again, Aussiemuscle, your points are well taken, but it's still tantamount to racism. By this I mean, in Montana, 90% of the jails are full of meth abusers who happen to be white, in some places the majority of crime is committed by blacks, in some areas, hispanics. All having to do with drugs of some type, so instead of banning drugs in just those areas, the federal government banned drugs nationwide, because it effects everyone. The problem with Australia is they aren't banning this items nationwide, just in areas populated by Aborigines. In the US, Native American tribes have self-imposed an alcohol ban on lands governed by them (they are considered seperate nations and allowed to inact their own laws). Now this wouldn't be an issue if Aborigines how their own land in Australia and imposed this upon themselves for their own citizens. But since the Australian government is singling out a specific group for crimes that occur in all groups, there in lies the problem!!

they do have their own land, you have to look at the % of people in the community and % in jail and if there is an imbalance to a certain group, the group has a problem

[Aussiemuscle]

they do have their own land, you have to look at the % of people in the community and % in jail and if there is an imbalance to a certain group, the group has a problem

true that