[Greens-Media] Election emergency after 11 years of inaction

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Thursday, 21 June 2007

Election emergency after 11 years of inaction

There would be no national emergency in the lead up to this federal
election if Prime Minister John Howard had taken action to lift
Aboriginal living standards and tackle child sex abuse since 1996,
Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"National action is warranted but there will be huge concern that eleven
years of delay and failure has now led to a putsch with clear elements
of racism," Senator Brown said.

"Appalling evidence of neglect and abuse has been in the public arena
but Mr Howard failed to act to improve Aboriginal living conditions and
to raise respect for Aboriginal culture, languages and history," Greens
spokesperson on Indigenous Affairs, Senator Rachel Siewert said.

"The Howard government delayed or failed to act to end petrol sniffing,
to end mandatory sentencing of Aboriginal kids or to respond to
Aboriginal wishes to ban alcohol outlets (as in Alice Springs)," Senator
Siewert said.

"The compulsory sexual examination of all Aboriginal children is
fraught. This experience may damage children and families, many
thousands being entirely innocent," Senator Brown said.

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603 (Senator Brown)
Chris Twomey 0407 725 025 (Senator Siewert)


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Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185
ebony.bennett at aph.gov.au