Former Indigenous Affairs Minister to the Howard Government and architect of the Northern Territory Intervention, Mal Brough has called some communities in Queensland’s far north ‘hellholes’ saying if there are no jobs or other opportunities, they should be shut down.
The comments come following the delayed release of the Smallbone report which cites high figures of sexual abuse in two First Nations communities.
Mr Brough says places like Aurukun would remain in despair if there are no jobs or an opportunity to own a home.
Furthermore, he says towns with no more than 10 people should be shut down.
In 2007, the Intervention was created off the back of the Little Children are Sacred report which cited incidents of child sexual abuse.
The more recent Smallbone report has raised fears in the States north of another intervention style policy.
