home | news l

Call for govts to stop 'Indigenous genocide'

23 May 2005 - A Darwin church leader says governments must take radical action to halt what he calls a slow genocide of Indigenous people.

Dean of Darwin's Anglican Christ Church Mike Nixon delivered a series of suggestions in his sermon yesterday.

Father Nixon says military-style training for young Indigenous people should be considered to improve their health and outlook.

He has also suggested re-introducing large scale crocodile hunting.

Father Nixon says decades of federal and territory government intervention have not made a dent in low life expectancy for Indigenous Australians.

"We need to wake up [and see] that there is a impending disaster occurring in our midst," he said.

"It might be slow and it might not be getting many votes, but I think we have a great responsibility to our Aboriginal brothers and sisters to see what can be done."

He says the Territory's military contingent has an important role to play.

"We've got a tremendous military presence up here and I'm sure some of these young guys and young girls would be very happy to be sort of warriors, if you like, as they used to be and have a uniform on and some form of discipline or training in life - it would be a great help to them."

Call for govts to stop 'Indigenous genocide'

A Darwin church leader says governments must take radical action to halt what he calls a slow genocide of Indigenous people.

Dean of Darwin's Anglican Christ Church Mike Nixon delivered a series of suggestions in his sermon yesterday.

Father Nixon says military-style training for young Indigenous people should be considered to improve their health and outlook.

He has also suggested re-introducing large scale crocodile hunting.

Father Nixon says decades of federal and territory government intervention have not made a dent in low life expectancy for Indigenous Australians.

"We need to wake up [and see] that there is a impending disaster occurring in our midst," he said.

"It might be slow and it might not be getting many votes, but I think we have a great responsibility to our Aboriginal brothers and sisters to see what can be done."

He says the Territory's military contingent has an important role to play.

"We've got a tremendous military presence up here and I'm sure some of these young guys and young girls would be very happy to be sort of warriors, if you like, as they used to be and have a uniform on and some form of discipline or training in life - it would be a great help to them."

Source: ABC on-line

Further information: health issues page - includes news index and external links

|| click to go to the top of this page