2016-02-22
Senator Siewert’s motion calling on the Government to address the unacceptably high rates of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care has been supported by the Senate. It went through on the voices.
“Recently shock jock radio host Alan Jones said we needed another ‘Stolen Generation’.
“The outrage to these remarks was quickly followed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community pointing to statistics that show Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids are already disproportionately placed into out of home care. This has now been acknowledged in the Senate.
“Aboriginal children make up less than 5 per cent of the general population, but 35 per cent of children in out-of-home care nationally, and more than 50 per cent in Western Australia. It is for these reasons that Alan Jones comments were particularly hurtful, especially because children in out-of-home care experience poor outcomes on a range of indicators.
“I have also tabled a petition with over 20,000 signatures calling for leadership from our Prime Minister. The petition was created by a young Aboriginal man deeply offended by the comments made by Alan Jones.
“Alan Jones should withdraw his comments and find out what is really going on and the Prime Minister should call for an apology. We can and must do better”.
The motion reads:
1028 Senator Siewert: To move—That the Senate—
(a) notes that:
(i) Aboriginal children make up less than 5 per cent of the general population, but 35 per cent of children in out-of-home care nationally, and more than 50 per cent in Western Australia, and
(ii) children in out-of-home care experience poor outcomes on a range of indicators; and
(b) calls on the Government to address the unacceptably high rates of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care.