The thing is that many Aboriginal social workers, researchers, and community leaders have produced report upon report about sexual and family violence, which as fallen on deaf ears in government. One of the recent ones, Breaking the Silence, which is about NSW in particular, was presented to then state Indigenous Affairs minister Milton Orkopoulos. Yes, the same Milton Orkopoulos who was put away last week for child sexual abuse. You have to laugh at ironies like that, otherwise you might just burst into tears.

Anyway, directing anger at the reports written by Aboriginal people about violence in Aboriginal communities is quite misplaced. The blame rests squarely on the shoulders of governments for ignoring the issues for so long, for doing everything in their power to take opportunities to address these problems away from Aboriginal communities, and for screaming “Anderson-Wild” to the rooftops while the army and police wave guns at people.

We need the voices of Aboriginal people talking about problems in their communities. We don’t need the army, the police, or the government.