The disaster that is Roebourne

The town of Roebourne in Western Australia is under the spotlight with recent stark revelations of child abuse amongst its largely indigenous population.  The implementation of the welfare card system is very much seen as a circuit breaker to allow more lasting reform to take over.

Maybe this circuit breaker is needed but unless the indigenous peoples themselves work hard for the longer term solutions then only more suffering is likely to occur.  The great indigenous leaders, and there are many, both men and women, could step up and get the job done.  I visualise a great leader like Patrick Dodson (and others) walking through the Roebourne community like a colossus, like a Philosopher King at whose feet the residents will sit and listen.

No child, indigenous or non indigenous, should have to daily live in fear of abuse from adults in the grip of substances that take away all powers of human concern and reasoning.  They should be free of this fear tonight, tomorrow and every day for the rest of their lives.  Action must occur tonight, tomorrow and the next day until this flawed culture of abuse is replaced by a humane way of acting that shows concern for the inalienable rights of each human being on this earth.


May the Force be with us!



GD