issues

Demand funding to tackle Aboriginal child sexual assault

The NSW government has refused to fund recommendations of a taskforce into child sexual assault in Aboriginal communities in NSW.

The government set up the Aboriginal Child Sexual Assault Taskforce (ACSAT) to look into child sexual assault in communities across NSW. The resulting “Breaking the Silence” report found levels of abuse up to four times the national average. As the taskforce chair stated, it painted a stark picture of intergenerational abuse and social disadvantage.

The government has made 88 recommendations to be implemented in response to the 300 page report. However, there has been no funding attached to these recommendations. Initiatives involved in following the recommendations would require $20-$40million in funding per year. This would be a small price to help prevent the abuse and potential deaths of some of the most vulnerable children in our society.

Newspaper reports claimed that a number of Ministers from the previous Parliament, including the Hon. Bob Debus, fought for this funding to be made available, but that the Treasurer chose to ignore the request. The last budget did not contain a cent of additional funding to tackle child sexual assault in Aboriginal communities.

What you can do

• Write to Premier Iemma and insist that the government fund the recommendations of the Breaking the Silence report.
   
  The Hon. Morris Iemma
  Premier
  Level 40 Governor Macquarie Tower
  1 Farrer Place
  Sydney NSW 2000
   
• Sign up to the ANTAR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation) open letter to Premier Iemma via antar.org.au