2016-05-26
The Greens have launched a policy on Sorry Day that if implemented would work towards ‘stopping another Stolen Generation that we may be apologising for in years to come’, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
“There are far too many Aboriginal children in out of home care, they are disproportionally represented in the system.
“Time and time again I have heard that we are at risk of creating a second Stolen Generation, it must be addressed. We must reduce the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids going into out of home care.
“The Government has not responded to 39 recommendations from a senate inquiry into out of home care and it has largely gone ignored.
“Aboriginal children make up less than 5% of the general population yet they make up 35% of children in out of home care. In my home state of WA it is just over 50%. .
“This package by the Australian Greens seeks to do what the Government has failed to, and that is closing the gap on Aboriginal kids in out of home care.
“The package does not just seek to reduce Aboriginal kids in out of home care, it also seeks to improve out of home care with increased funding, and provide greater support for kids that turn into young adults and leave out of home care struggling. We can and must do better before it is too late”.
*see full package attached*