All children are precious – this is not our way

By  CATHERINE LIDDLE

CEO of SNAICC

I’m writing to you in the spirit of remembering and honouring Kumanjayi Little Baby and acknowledging the pain of her family and community, and the pain we are collectively experiencing across all of our communities right now.

In the words of Warlpiri Elder Robin Granites, “What has happened is not our way. Our children are precious, of course we are feeling angry and hurt at what has happened… we must now let justice take its course while we take the time to mourn Kumanjayi Little Baby and support our family”.

It is in this spirit that I also hope we can pull together and stay united as a sector. Her family has said her death should not be politicised. Unfortunately, we are already seeing that happen.

Multiple system-level failures

What happened to this gorgeous baby girl was not a failing of her family or her community or Town Camps. Kumanjayi Little Baby was deeply loved.

What happened is the direct result of multiple system-level failures and it is a painful reminder of why our work matters.

We will scrutinise corrections and justice settings that clearly failed to keep a child safe, we will confront the chronic failures in social and housing policy that persist despite decades of advocacy for change. And we will continue to fight to change the systems that see too many of our kids taken from their families and having early, preventable contact with the legal system.

We will continue to amplify the voices of our sector and community that have put forward solutions to these issues for decades.

Challenges ahead

The coming weeks and months will see some very challenging proposals for policy and legislative change alongside harmful public debate about our families and communities.

We have already heard some politicians start to talk about things like removing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle – the principle that is designed to make sure children are safe, supported and connected. This is political opportunism that will only harm children. We all know that connection to culture, family and community is what keeps our children safe and well.

SNAICC, with your support, will continue to challenge the narratives that blame our communities for systemic failures and stand strong for the rights of our children and families. We ask you to continue walking alongside us on this journey, because we are stronger when we stand together.