Letter from Darwin (Government Aid on Literacy Programs for Aboriginal Australians) (Report‪)‬

The Rex Wild and Pat Anderson 2007 report Little Children are Sacred provided the first chapter of the series in this modern adaptation of a 220 year old classic that might aptly be titled 'The Native Tribes of Australia.' [1] The 21st century version provides for an update of characters as well as a generous documentation on sexual abuse and women's violence as opening scenes and pivotal parts for special task force, police, troops, medical teams, "Aboriginal experts"--both non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal, but mostly non-Aboriginal. The new version of the old history of women's violence and overall denial, indeed abuse of basic human rights is now contained in 500 pages under a misleading title termed "special measures". The very latest and up-to-date manual on "Aboriginal legislation." The ultimate result has been the injection of enormous amounts of money into addressing the problems and issues that were interpreted as requiring urgent attention. This latest tilt at moral balance, after 220 years of colonisation, denial of rights and the absence of justice is just not convincing. Just as current Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's symbolic rhetoric and well-rehearsed performance of apology to Stolen Generations offers promises of new beginnings and directions, Aboriginal people, especially those at the lower end of the economic, and the rights scales, should remain highly suspicious and extremely cautious.