‘We need courage’: senator’s plea after girl’s death
Tess Ikonomou |
Indigenous senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has issued an emotional plea for change after the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby, declaring Australia can no longer “hide behind race”.
With tears welling in her eyes and her voice breaking, the NT senator paid tribute to her five-year-old niece, who was found dead in scrubland on April 30.
Jefferson Lewis, 47, has been charged with her murder.
Senator Nampijinpa Price said she didn’t want another family to stand where hers did today.
“We cannot continue hiding behind race,” she told parliament on Tuesday.
“We cannot continue pretending that lowering expectations for Aboriginal children is compassion.
“It’s not compassion, it’s neglect. It’s the racism of low expectations.
“Children deserve safety before ideology. Most of all, we need courage.”
The grieving politician said she didn’t want the parliament to offer its condolences while “refusing to confront the conditions that made those condolences necessary in the first place”.
“I want this parliament to put aside our political differences and stand up for what’s right for our children,” she said.
“This should be the most important thing that every single one of us is here for, to put aside our differences and to put our children first. That is what we need to do. That is all I ask.”
The death of Kumanjayi Little Baby, a name used in line with cultural traditions, sparked riots in Alice Springs as hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital where Lewis was being treated.
The angry crowds gathered outside the hospital once news of his arrest spread.
Police cars and bins were set on fire and people threw objects at police who responded to the riot with tear gas.
NT police transported Lewis to Darwin by a helicopter for his own safety.
He is yet to enter a plea to the murder charge.
AAP