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| Indigenous advocates say 'destructive culture of silence' fuels family violence | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The federal government is showing “little appetite to truly listen” to those advocating for Indigenous victims of family violence, and current programs and communities place emphasis on supporting perpetrators over victims, the National Press Club has heard. | The federal government is showing “little appetite to truly listen” to those advocating for Indigenous victims of family violence, and current programs and communities place emphasis on supporting perpetrators over victims, the National Press Club has heard. |
| In a joint address on Thursday, the academic Marcia Langton, Alice Springs councillor Jacinta Price, and a member of the prime minister’s Indigenous advisory council, Josephine Cashman, called for a royal commission into the rates of Indigenous family violence and intimate partner homicide. | In a joint address on Thursday, the academic Marcia Langton, Alice Springs councillor Jacinta Price, and a member of the prime minister’s Indigenous advisory council, Josephine Cashman, called for a royal commission into the rates of Indigenous family violence and intimate partner homicide. |
| They told the audience in Canberra of their experiences of family violence and the flaws in current approaches. | They told the audience in Canberra of their experiences of family violence and the flaws in current approaches. |
| Cashman said she was “frustrated at the lack of progress” by government. | Cashman said she was “frustrated at the lack of progress” by government. |
| “I have on a number of occasions put up recommendations and I don’t think there’s an appetite to truly listen,” she said, accusing the prime minster, Malcolm Turnbull, of “complete silence” on an initiative for the federal parliament to stage a No More campaign event. She said the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, and the former prime minister Tony Abbott had both agreed to it. | “I have on a number of occasions put up recommendations and I don’t think there’s an appetite to truly listen,” she said, accusing the prime minster, Malcolm Turnbull, of “complete silence” on an initiative for the federal parliament to stage a No More campaign event. She said the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, and the former prime minister Tony Abbott had both agreed to it. |
| Cashman also criticised the recently announced third action plan to reduce violence against women and children. | Cashman also criticised the recently announced third action plan to reduce violence against women and children. |
| “It recommends cases of violence against Indigenous women and children should be dealt with, ‘through activities that provide support for families and encourage behavioural change without resorting to police or courts’,” said Cashman. | “It recommends cases of violence against Indigenous women and children should be dealt with, ‘through activities that provide support for families and encourage behavioural change without resorting to police or courts’,” said Cashman. |
| “Forcing victims to resolve crimes perpetrated against them without going to the police will do nothing but feed the destructive culture of silence that allows criminals to gain power over communities through fear.” | “Forcing victims to resolve crimes perpetrated against them without going to the police will do nothing but feed the destructive culture of silence that allows criminals to gain power over communities through fear.” |
| Price, the daughter of the former NT minister Bess Price, had earlier detailed horrifying accounts of violence and cover-ups within Aboriginal communities. | Price, the daughter of the former NT minister Bess Price, had earlier detailed horrifying accounts of violence and cover-ups within Aboriginal communities. |
| From early in life Aboriginal people “learn to lie to keep the peace” amid rampant family violence, she said. | From early in life Aboriginal people “learn to lie to keep the peace” amid rampant family violence, she said. |
| Price said the number of deaths due to homicide that had impacted her family were in the hundreds. | Price said the number of deaths due to homicide that had impacted her family were in the hundreds. |
| “I could spend days giving examples of acts of family violence that I have witnessed or come to learn within my own family in remote communities,” she said. | “I could spend days giving examples of acts of family violence that I have witnessed or come to learn within my own family in remote communities,” she said. |
| “Where I am related to both the victim and the perpetrator. And where the kinship network demands loyalty to your family members even if they are perpetrators. One is expected to pretend that these perpetrators are decent human beings. And ignore the fact that they have committed acts of physical and sexual violence against those you love. Because to speak out is to create conflict. | “Where I am related to both the victim and the perpetrator. And where the kinship network demands loyalty to your family members even if they are perpetrators. One is expected to pretend that these perpetrators are decent human beings. And ignore the fact that they have committed acts of physical and sexual violence against those you love. Because to speak out is to create conflict. |
| “So from early in life, everyone learns to lie to keep the peace. Which manifests into child and youth suicide and the continuation of a destructive cycle.” | “So from early in life, everyone learns to lie to keep the peace. Which manifests into child and youth suicide and the continuation of a destructive cycle.” |
| She said Indigenous culture was used “as a tool” by perpetrators to defend their violence, or even as an excuse or reason for it. | She said Indigenous culture was used “as a tool” by perpetrators to defend their violence, or even as an excuse or reason for it. |
| “It is a national shame that in our recent history Aboriginal male perpetrators have got away with their crimes based on the argument that they were acting within their culture’s confines,” she said. | “It is a national shame that in our recent history Aboriginal male perpetrators have got away with their crimes based on the argument that they were acting within their culture’s confines,” she said. |
| She said there was a lack of constructive criticism in Australia of “anything Indigenous”, and people were encouraged to maintain culture without change or evolution. | She said there was a lack of constructive criticism in Australia of “anything Indigenous”, and people were encouraged to maintain culture without change or evolution. |
| “Our leaders need to be held to account, just like everybody else in this country.” | “Our leaders need to be held to account, just like everybody else in this country.” |
| Price said she was placed under “immense pressure” not to share her speech today, and said her family’s safety and employment prospects had been threatened. | Price said she was placed under “immense pressure” not to share her speech today, and said her family’s safety and employment prospects had been threatened. |
| She called on all governments to take the matter more seriously and ensure the safety of Aboriginal women and children, and hold a royal commission “into the countless homicides, acts of violence, and sexual abuse perpetrated against this country’s most marginalised”. | She called on all governments to take the matter more seriously and ensure the safety of Aboriginal women and children, and hold a royal commission “into the countless homicides, acts of violence, and sexual abuse perpetrated against this country’s most marginalised”. |
| Langton said rates of homicide, assault, hospitalisation, incarceration and child removal among Indigenous people pointed to a “rapidly disintegrating society”. | Langton said rates of homicide, assault, hospitalisation, incarceration and child removal among Indigenous people pointed to a “rapidly disintegrating society”. |
| “This is not the society of old. We are witnessing the Stockholm syndrome writ large by Indigenous perpetrators and their government and agency partners,” she said. | “This is not the society of old. We are witnessing the Stockholm syndrome writ large by Indigenous perpetrators and their government and agency partners,” she said. |
| “If these practices were traditional laws, there would be no Aboriginal society in existence today.” | “If these practices were traditional laws, there would be no Aboriginal society in existence today.” |
| The Productivity Commission released its report on Indigenous disadvantage on Thursday, finding that in the 10 years to 2014-15 the rate of Indigenous children on care and protection orders increased from 21 per 1,000 to 58, more than nine times the rate of non-Indigenous children. The rate of family violence sat at about 2.5 times that of non-Indigenous people, but Langton said it was likely the statistics reflected vast underreporting. | The Productivity Commission released its report on Indigenous disadvantage on Thursday, finding that in the 10 years to 2014-15 the rate of Indigenous children on care and protection orders increased from 21 per 1,000 to 58, more than nine times the rate of non-Indigenous children. The rate of family violence sat at about 2.5 times that of non-Indigenous people, but Langton said it was likely the statistics reflected vast underreporting. |
| She said the two main reasons for male Indigenous incarceration in the NT were acts intended to cause harm and sexual assault, and it was much the same in Western Australia. | She said the two main reasons for male Indigenous incarceration in the NT were acts intended to cause harm and sexual assault, and it was much the same in Western Australia. |
| “But I’m afraid that some activists have perpetuated the myth that Aboriginal men are going to jail for non-payment of fines. That’s simply not the case.” | “But I’m afraid that some activists have perpetuated the myth that Aboriginal men are going to jail for non-payment of fines. That’s simply not the case.” |
| She said publicity given to the case of Ms Dhu, who died in custody, mainly emphasised her incarceration for unpaid fines rather than the fact her injuries were received before she went to prison. Ms Dhu’s family have indicated they were inflicted by her partner. | She said publicity given to the case of Ms Dhu, who died in custody, mainly emphasised her incarceration for unpaid fines rather than the fact her injuries were received before she went to prison. Ms Dhu’s family have indicated they were inflicted by her partner. |
| “She was also treated abominably in custody and not taken to hospital,” Langton said. “There’s tension between the perceived need to lower incarceration rates and the critical need to lower violence rates.” | “She was also treated abominably in custody and not taken to hospital,” Langton said. “There’s tension between the perceived need to lower incarceration rates and the critical need to lower violence rates.” |
| Langton said while Bill Leak’s infamous cartoon was ugly and unhelpful and was not satire, his detractors missed the point. | Langton said while Bill Leak’s infamous cartoon was ugly and unhelpful and was not satire, his detractors missed the point. |