The merits of prohibition of alcohol are debatable, but prohibiting it along racial lines is disgusting.

How has banning alcohol and pornography for aborigines not caused a huge national outcry, resulting in some sort of impeachment? John Howard sounds like a really shitty guy.

Hm, where have I seen this before?

I really want to hang out with that Kangaroo

gutsy move especially coming up to the election....

you know. it might be the only thing that will work, I dont generally agree with totalitarianism (or john howard for that matter)... but the circumstances ARE as dire as these reports say...

right now most remote aboriginal communities are in terrible alcohol related poverty, where the government handouts they are given, because of being aboriginal, is just spent on alcohlism and destruction....

in most communities its perfectly acceptable to take pre teen wives (by the men) and most women have no help and no say... domestic violence is high and one in six aborigines that get taken into custody DIE THERE (!!!!).... this is trying to prevent so many things...

I can understand that this sounds relatively racist and brutal... but when a race of people are living in these circumstances it *is* race related.

also its not ALL black people in Australia... just the northern territory.... where the average lifespan of an aboriginal is mid 50's

the aboriginal problem in australia needs severe reform, education is the main thing that is going to pull these people through, gain them a better exiistence... aboriginal people can only communicate with other aboriginals when it comes to matters of their tribe... there are very few aboriginal people in politics or even white collar jobs... so there are very few aboriginals in positions of power to help these people... something needs to change and I think addressing the alcoholism issue is very very very important....its actually INTRINSIC to their survival as a race....

If what you say is correct, I would agree something should be done to attempt to improve the conditions for the aborigines, but is the current "solution" the answer?

This is so typical of our government. They have no idea how to actually fix the problems that exist in this part of Australia (where I live, incidentally) so they do something completely superficial and radical so they look like they're doing something.

The fact that Howard didn't consult with our chief minister doesn't surprise me; she is a member of the Labor party.

Meanwhile, the real victims in this scenario (the Aboriginal children) will continue to be subjected to horrific sexual abuse and domestic violence.

What a lot of people do not realise is that a lot of Aborliginal communites are dry camps already as decreed and enforced by the elders whom when a person/s found breaching the ban are ejected from the community and end up in places like Alice Springs, Tenant Creek, Katherine and Darwin. It is a lot of these that have given the perception of the race being alchoholic.

All John Howard has done is to make all native communites the same. This will allow those communites affected to overcome there problems like those who have immposed restrictions on themselves. The biggest problems contributing to the situation I have seen ( after leaving for several years in the NT and doing courses on cultrual awarness and spending time talk with Aboriginal people ) is lack of employment and education.

The race themselves are not treated as equals and from my observations are treated better then whites when it comes to govt monetary handouts but money is not going to fix the problems.

They need to be allowed to explore and feel their culture, and be made to accept reality that alot of what they are doing or in is a result of there own making but Aboriginals are not the only ones here. The entire populace world wide needs to learn that the only person responsible for what happens to you is you and stop suing others for a quick buck coz you fucked up.

Feel free to email and correct me if I am wrong.

well what is a solution? its not like its an alcohol ban for life.. its a 6 month moratorium in order to address the most pressing issues

I wish I knew( if I did, I could solve many problems for many peoples of the world), education, taking personal responsibility; certainly those would help, but as for a solution...???

as long as its for only six month ... thats when the "special camps" are ready.

If porn and alcohol are not available at the communities, people will simply come into the nearest town to get them. At best, the kids out on the communities may get a temporary respite from the abuse. It isn't a solution. I don't know what the solution is but I am sure it involves education.

This is something the elders have been trying to bring alcahol, abuse, killings and such under control John Howard is trying to do the right thing I may not agree everything he does. but trying to save our indigneous people is definitly high on the list of good things.

+ 80 Billion

It should be pointed out here that alcohol and porn has not been banned for Aborigines. It has been banned on Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. Aborigines are quite free to travel into nearby towns and purchase alcohol and porn.

Hmm can I firstly ask Exactly how much research did this seemingly american based reporter/sg member do before pasting this "rascist Australia" piece?

i see no mention of the rampant "aboriginal" petrol sniffing epidemic the Northern Territoy has also faced for years that is also part of the problems in the aboriginal communities.......
now back to the story on hand.

this problem isn't just in the Nothern Territory but is also a big issue here in the nieghbouring Queensland aboriginal communities.
since this plan was released many aboriginal leaders have welcomed the recommendations and added their own opinions on what else can be done.
the main reason it seems that the federal gov has stepped up to this measure is because state and local gov has struggled/neglected/failed at this for many many years now.

if this bold plan doesn't work then they will try something else....duh.

as serveral other Aus SGMembers have thus far commented this is a massive problem here and sometimes drastic measures need to be taken. it is only a "race" issue as the problems described are most rampant in aboriginal communities of these states (which i might add have both local aboriginal "tribal" law and state/federal law which sometimes conflict with each other in the rules of what is moral/ethical/lawful ) .....so therefore gee shock horror rascism is suddenly assumed....pull your head in mate and open your eyes to the full picture.

sure lil johnie is an asshole but someone has to try something....

so please please next time you try to sensationalise a topic research a lil more eh?