Prominent Northern Territory figures and peak bodies have rejected Peter Dutton's claims regarding the rate of sexual assault and abuse in Alice Springs.
Earlier this month the Leader of the Opposition claimed sexual abuse of young people in Alice Springs was commonplace and said it was Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's job to "step up and step in" to protect children in the town by restoring law and order.
"You've got kids here tonight, who are going to be sexually abused or families where domestic violence has now become a current occurrence and we are told nothing can be done about it,'' Mr Dutton said.
"I just find it completely and utterly deplorable."
Mr Dutton's comments sparked a backlash from a number of Territorians, including NT Police Minister Kate Worden who said Mr Dutton's claims were politically motivated, and NT Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy who called for Mr Dutton to report any allegations of abuse to the police.
Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) executive officer Catherine Liddle said sexual abuse is a serious crime and should not be used as political weapon.
"If Mr Dutton, any politician, or any community member has evidence about sexual abuse of children then the mandatory process is to make a report to the authorities," Ms Liddle said.
"The claims of 'rampant' abuse fly in the face of evidence. Data from Territory Families show there has been no escalation in investigations of sexual abuse or exploitation.
"SNAICC invites Mr Dutton and Senator Price to meet with SNAICC and community members for a considered, evidence-based discussion of the issue of child sexual abuse and the over-representation of Aboriginal children in the child protection system.
"Despite an invitation last year, they have never approached SNAICC for more information or to hear about community-led solutions."
Charles Darwin University social work expert Dr Kate Saxton said Mr Dutton's rhetoric paints Aboriginal communities as dangerous or incapable of caring for children.
"Given the limitation in resourcing and geographical isolation of Alice Springs and surrounds, it is imperative that communities are entrusted with their own social welfare decision-making and support to enact locally informed responses," she said.
"Fly-in-fly-out, or transitional workers, who don't speak the language or identify with the culture are unlikely to be able to build the relationships required for meaningful change.
"The evidence shows that (police, military) interventions do not produce positive welfare outcomes, in fact, they are likely to further cause traumatisation and harm. If sending the police or the army into Aboriginal communities worked, these issues would have been solved the first time interventionist policies were enacted in 2007."
Ms Liddle said the solution to the over-representation of Aboriginal children in the child protection system should come from Aboriginal communities and families.
"The reality is our children are removed from family at increasing and unacceptable rates, not because they are not loved but because of poverty, systemic racism and a lack of cultural-appropriate support to vulnerable families," Ms Liddle said.
"Aboriginal communities and families have the solutions. We have more than 60 thousand years' experience in successfully raising children to be strong and thriving. Listen to our voices and our expertise."
