Lack Of Police In Mutitjulu

"The fact that the Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister, Mal Brough, has written to the Territory Government about the lack of Police at the troubled Central Australian community of Mutitjulu is deeply disturbing,” says Leader of the Opposition, Jodeen Carney.

'Mutitjulu was promised and desperately needs a strong police presence.

"I want a the Chief Minister to release staffing rosters for the Mutitjulu Police Station and give a categorical assurance that if the police station isn't adequately staffed, it will be immediately.

"It is worrying that this news comes in the same week Clare Martin delayed releasing the report into sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities by 4 weeks.

"The Chief Minister was pressured into calling the Inquiry after stories on the ABC's Lateline program in May and June last year.

"Her handling of the issues then was appalling.

"Last year, the Chief Minister said she was shocked by reports that children were swapping sex for petrol at Mutitjulu, but it was subsequently revealed that nearly 2 years earlier, she sent a memo about the problems about abuse and dysfunction to her Police Minister, but did little else.

"In the memo, written in 2004, she said: ”Without adequate policing, there is a risk that lawlessness within the community will spread”.

"In June last year, Mr Henderson said that a "police post in Mutitjulu…will be staffed by two permanent Aboriginal police officers”, and that it would be "up and running” in August last year.

"I hope those promises have been fulfilled and if not why not.”

2007-05-02