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| Fifteen children removed from families in Tennant Creek, NT says | Fifteen children removed from families in Tennant Creek, NT says |
| (30 days later) | |
| The Northern Territory government has removed 15 children from their families around the Tennant Creek region after the rape of a two-year-old girl in the town attracted national condemnation in February. | The Northern Territory government has removed 15 children from their families around the Tennant Creek region after the rape of a two-year-old girl in the town attracted national condemnation in February. |
| Ken Davies, chief executive of Territory Families, conceded on Wednesday that his department should have done more for child’s family earlier, with a history emerging of multiple children exposed to violence, abuse and neglect. | Ken Davies, chief executive of Territory Families, conceded on Wednesday that his department should have done more for child’s family earlier, with a history emerging of multiple children exposed to violence, abuse and neglect. |
| “We have taken additional children into care since that incident as a consequence of the lessons learned, 15 in fact in that region,” he told a parliamentary estimates hearing on Wednesday. | “We have taken additional children into care since that incident as a consequence of the lessons learned, 15 in fact in that region,” he told a parliamentary estimates hearing on Wednesday. |
| It came as it emerged that Malcolm Turnbull would send two senior ministers to the town next month, exploring the possibility of a multi-government regional deal to address long-running social and economic issues. | It came as it emerged that Malcolm Turnbull would send two senior ministers to the town next month, exploring the possibility of a multi-government regional deal to address long-running social and economic issues. |
| Steve Edgington, the town’s mayor, and several other Tennant Creek councillors – including a traditional owner of the Warumungu land, Ronald Plumber – met the prime minister on Monday. | Steve Edgington, the town’s mayor, and several other Tennant Creek councillors – including a traditional owner of the Warumungu land, Ronald Plumber – met the prime minister on Monday. |
| The meeting was announced after blistering criticism of Turnbull in the local newspaper, the NT News, accusing him of not caring about the territory or responding after the February alleged rape of a two-year-old girl in Tennant Creek, 500km north of Alice Springs. | The meeting was announced after blistering criticism of Turnbull in the local newspaper, the NT News, accusing him of not caring about the territory or responding after the February alleged rape of a two-year-old girl in Tennant Creek, 500km north of Alice Springs. |
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| A 25-year-old man has been charged with the crime, and a 24-year-old – previously charged and held on remand for three months – released. Strict alcohol limitations were enacted and extra child protection staff were sent in response, and inquiries revealed rampant failings by the NT’s Territory Families department. | A 25-year-old man has been charged with the crime, and a 24-year-old – previously charged and held on remand for three months – released. Strict alcohol limitations were enacted and extra child protection staff were sent in response, and inquiries revealed rampant failings by the NT’s Territory Families department. |
| On Monday evening Turnbull tweeted that the meeting was “constructive and positive” and said the indigenous affairs minister, Nigel Scullion, and the social services minister, Dan Tehan, would go to Tennant Creek in July. He did not address requests from traditional owners that he visit himself. | On Monday evening Turnbull tweeted that the meeting was “constructive and positive” and said the indigenous affairs minister, Nigel Scullion, and the social services minister, Dan Tehan, would go to Tennant Creek in July. He did not address requests from traditional owners that he visit himself. |
| Constructive and positive meeting with representatives from Tennant Creek - @DanTehanWannon and Nigel Scullion will visit in July to flesh out next steps. pic.twitter.com/s4zy8WcTsG | Constructive and positive meeting with representatives from Tennant Creek - @DanTehanWannon and Nigel Scullion will visit in July to flesh out next steps. pic.twitter.com/s4zy8WcTsG |
| Edgington told Guardian Australia the meeting discussed the “general issues” of housing, child protection and liquor restrictions, and that the Tennant Creek representatives proposed a regional deal between the NT, federal and local governments. | Edgington told Guardian Australia the meeting discussed the “general issues” of housing, child protection and liquor restrictions, and that the Tennant Creek representatives proposed a regional deal between the NT, federal and local governments. |
| Such a deal would see the governments consulting with residents and “working together with the non-government sector, Aboriginal organisations, and the new cultural authority group”, Edgington said, referring to a newly formed group of traditional owners to help guide services to Tennant Creek’s Indigenous community. | Such a deal would see the governments consulting with residents and “working together with the non-government sector, Aboriginal organisations, and the new cultural authority group”, Edgington said, referring to a newly formed group of traditional owners to help guide services to Tennant Creek’s Indigenous community. |
| “There’s a fair bit of collaboration in town, but we’d seen the development of a detailed plan part around social and economic development,” he said. | “There’s a fair bit of collaboration in town, but we’d seen the development of a detailed plan part around social and economic development,” he said. |
| “We’d like to get a plan together around investment in housing, and how we attract new industry and business to Tennant Creek. | “We’d like to get a plan together around investment in housing, and how we attract new industry and business to Tennant Creek. |
| Second NT man charged with rape of Tennant Creek toddler | Second NT man charged with rape of Tennant Creek toddler |
| “The way we see it, and what we said to the prime minister was that we need to break the cycle of unemployment and poverty if we’re going to make some serious change ... We see that as an opportunity to move forward to help alleviate unemployment, lack of housing. | “The way we see it, and what we said to the prime minister was that we need to break the cycle of unemployment and poverty if we’re going to make some serious change ... We see that as an opportunity to move forward to help alleviate unemployment, lack of housing. |
| “There’s already a lot of collaboration going on now, we think we can build on that.” | “There’s already a lot of collaboration going on now, we think we can build on that.” |
| Edgington said Turnbull had “a very good understanding” of the issues in Tennant Creek, which include alcoholism, violence and poverty. | Edgington said Turnbull had “a very good understanding” of the issues in Tennant Creek, which include alcoholism, violence and poverty. |
| “He was very concerned about that two-year-old’s alleged sexual assault. He expressed his concerns,” Edgington said. “He wants to see some things change in Tennant Creek.” | “He was very concerned about that two-year-old’s alleged sexual assault. He expressed his concerns,” Edgington said. “He wants to see some things change in Tennant Creek.” |
| Edgington declined to say if he thought the NT News front page and subsequent coverage was unfair. | Edgington declined to say if he thought the NT News front page and subsequent coverage was unfair. |
| “I’ll leave that to the NT News. He’s committed to coming to the NT,” he said. | “I’ll leave that to the NT News. He’s committed to coming to the NT,” he said. |
| Turnbull’s office has been contacted for comment. | Turnbull’s office has been contacted for comment. |
| STRONG FRONT PAGE TOMORROW @TurnbullMalcolm @SkyNewsAust pic.twitter.com/AAZGENlinH | STRONG FRONT PAGE TOMORROW @TurnbullMalcolm @SkyNewsAust pic.twitter.com/AAZGENlinH |
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