CLC Speaks out on Violence

The Central Land Council said today that it hoped the recent revelations about domestic and sexual violence on ABC TV's Lateline would bring about positive change.

“We call on more police for communities, some real moves on the availability of alcohol in Central Australia , real employment opportunities and above all a commitment by all levels of Government to redress the long standing neglect of the bush which has led to this situation,” CLC director David Ross said.

Mr Ross said he hoped national attention on the issue would also give the victims of such violence more support and courage to speak up and report offences.

He also urged all Aboriginal men who found drunkenness and domestic violence abhorrent to stand up and speak out.
“We have a large number of people on an explosive mix of alcohol, petrol and marihuana.

“In Alice Springs alone we have more than 90 liquor outlets which is more than three times a town of its size would normally have,” he said.
“In addition, there are a large number of Aboriginal men from remote areas who have never had an education, never had a job and find it difficult to reconcile their role as traditional men in a modern society.

“They feel powerless and deeply alienated from the rest of the population.

“This in no way excuses their behaviour but it has created an environment which allows this level of dysfunction and paralyses the entire community,” Mr Ross said.

“It is also important to remember that it is a minority of Aboriginal men who are the perpetrators of these types of crime. Many communities have been crying out for years for help to control the situation but their pleas fallen on deaf ears in Canberra and Darwin ,” he said.

16 May 2006