News

By John Jalsevac

SYDNEY, Austrlia, June 22, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – For decades now Australian officials have become increasingly aware of what has been termed a devastating societal breakdown within Australia’s aboriginal communities.

Earlier this month, a report came out entitled Little Children are Sacred that documented the evidence for the continuing collapse of the aboriginal communities, including widespread and ever increasing alcohol and other substance abuse, gambling and violence, amongst other things. Most disturbingly, however, the report exposed a society in which young children are frequently and brutally sexually abused, and exposed to explicit sexual behaviors from an extremely young age.

In an effort to address some of these problems, Australian Prime Minister John Howard has unveiled an unprecedented plan that, amongst numerous other measures, will outright ban alcohol and pornography from Aboriginal lands, and will quarantine 50% of all welfare checks, ensuring that the welfare money is spent on food and other necessities.

“What we have got to do is confront the fact that these communities have broken down,” said Howard in an interview with Seven Network, in which he used unapologetically stark language to describe the situation amongst Australian aboriginals. “The basic elements of a civilised society don’t exist. What civilised society would allow children from a tender age to become objects of sexual abuse? What responsible Government anywhere in this country can allow that to happen within their jurisdiction?”

Howard, however, who is known for his no-nonsense approach to politics, is already taking fire from various sides, some of which have labeled the newly unveiled plan “racist”.

“I think by any definition of racism, this is racist,” ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope says in News Limited reports today. “Give me an example of any racist action anywhere in the world that has ever successfully led to change,” he said.

Howard, however, predicted that the sweeping and decisive measures would be criticized, and explained in announcing the plan that he was willing to take the heat. “We cannot turn a blind eye to the abuse and neglect of children,” said Howard. “I’ll be slammed for taking away people’s rights but frankly I don’t care about that.”

One of the more interesting features of Howard’s plan is his announced intention to ban pornography from the aboriginal reserves. In doing so, however, he is only following the recommendations of the authors of the lengthy Little Children are Sacred Report.

That report documented how hard-core pornography is easily accessible to the indigenous people through various mediums, and how devastating an effect it is having upon the population, in particular young children.

“The daily diet of sexually explicit material has had a major impact, presenting young and adolescent Aboriginals with a view of mainstream sexual practice and behaviour which is jaundiced. It encourages them to act out the fantasies they see on screen or in magazines. Exposure to pornography was also blamed for the sexualised behaviour evident in quite young children. It was recommended that possible strategies to restrict access to this material, generally and by children in particular, be investigated.”

While pornography is often defended by its advocates as purely harmless entertainment, much research has shown that frequent viewing of pornography can significantly increase the chances of certain psychological illnesses, and can increase tendencies towards criminal sexual behavior and violence.

Read the Little Children are Sacred Report:
https://www.nt.gov.au/dcm/inquirysaac/pdf/bipacsa_final_report.pdf

Read John Howard’s Press Conference remarks about the new program:
https://www.pm.gov.au/media/Interview/2007/Interview24380.cfm

STUDY PROVES “PORNOGRAPHY IS HARMFUL”
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2002/mar/02031203.html%20

Report Ties Violent Sex Crimes to Hardcore Pornography
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/mar/04033003.html

Virginia Tech Killer Fuelled by Pornography Says Expert
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/apr/07042312.html

Large Increase in Porn DVD Sales Indicates Growing Pornography Addiction
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/dec/05121603.html