Government Silence On Mutitjulu

In light of the Chief Minister's failure to act on information regarding systemic criminal child abuse in the Mutitjulu community, she must stand down as Minister for Indigenous Policy.

"The time lag of 18 months from when the Chief Minister first became aware of the traffic in petrol for sexual favours with children to the initiation of a government inquiry is totally unacceptable,” says Jodeen Carney, Leader of the Opposition.

"The fact the Chief Minister only responded after the allegations were made public on the ABC's Lateline program compounds her complete dereliction of duty.

"The belated commitment to a complete inquiry should have happened on the day the Chief Minister wrote the memo – not after being flushed out by the airing of the issue on Lateline.

"The Minister for Indigenous Affairs needs to be a person of the utmost courage and integrity – only reacting after media exposure doesn't fit the job description.

"How many children were abused in the 18 months gap? How much damage has been done to innocent lives whilst the Chief Minister sat on this disturbing information?

"Nor can the Chief Minister escape responsibility by attacking the credibility of Greg Andrews' information. She received corroborating evidence from other reliable sources.

"Is the Chief Minister seriously suggesting these other people were also peddling unsubstantiated allegations? If so, why have an inquiry?

"Clare Martin has no alternative but to give up the portfolio of Indigenous Affairs – just like Matthew Bonson said.”

2006-11-12