Dealing in hypocrisy - The 'art' of doing violence whilst preaching against it

Ongoing consultation that lasts forever without productive outcomes is unwanted and time wasting. Indigenous people don't want it, in any event. Their time is as equally precious as anyone's. Yet it is evident to those apprehending the meaning and effect of intimidation, that John Howard is a master at his own game. Ending child sexual abuse in Indigenous communities will not happen without the cooperation and involvement of Indigenous elders and families where this crime does not occur. It will not happen without the cooperation and involvement of parents who have sought to protect their children against sexual exploitation, denial of bodily integrity, and invasion of childhood. Cutting them out, as if all families are dysfunctional, all parents (both mothers and fathers) involved or complicit, and with no right to consultation and participation in what is proposed for their children, is a recipe for failure.

Sending in the troops might sound decisive and leader-like when houses are destroyed and townships flooded. But when children's wellbeing is at risk, this will serve only to pile harm upon harm.

Women around Australia have complained about the need for trained police officers to deal with sexual offences. Women around Australia have fought for training of medical practitioners to ensure their sensitivity to the consequences of sexual abuse and the needs of women raped, exploited and abused. When minority age and race are added into the mix, the need for training and sensitivity is multiplied.

As Linda Burney, Minister for Youth in the New South Wales government has said in response to Howard's 'plan': what would 'white' parents say if their children of 16 years and under were to be forcibly medically examined or investigated? What would 'white' parents say if their suburbs were targeted for entry by police, doctors and bureaucrats without prior communication?

If the government were to embark on a non-consultative program of forced flu injections imposed on all children living in Waroongah, Toorak or Dalkieth, protests and law suits would be flowing. Yet Howard would never impose measures he sees as 'right' for Indigenous Australians upon the 'white' community. Even in circumstances of national emergency - say bird flu were to have reached Australia's shores - Howard's whole approach would be different. He would appeal to 'white' parents as his constituency, explaining to them the need and the reasoning behind any action plan. With this current sexual abuse emergency, however, he has not delivered the message to the Indigenous children's parents. He's delivered it to us - his 'white' constituency, telling us that this is an emergency and that police and medical practitioners are going in.

Sure, word will have got around in the Northern Territory, but no thanks to the Prime Minister. It is the word of mouth communication, Indigenous person to Indigenous person, and Indigenous community to Indigenous community, which will have delivered the news. In his every approach to this circumstance of heartbreak and denial of childhood, Howard distances himself from the group to whom his immediate responsibility lies. His message was not to 'them'. It was to us. Why?