Bishop Charles Gauci: Remote communities growing distrustful of NT government

With the age of criminal responsibility now lowered to 10, the Territory’s most senior Catholic leader says remote parishioners are developing a ‘distrust’ of government.

Bishop Charles Gauci says Aboriginal parishioners are developing an attitude of “fear and distrust” towards the government. Picture: Supplied.

There is growing distrust and fear among Aboriginal Catholics across the Territory, the Bishop of Darwin has claimed, with Indigenous communities expressing their concern around the recently dropped age of criminal responsibility.

The claim comes after the NT CLP Government amended legislation to change the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 10 years of age in their first week of Parliament.

Bishop Charles Gauci told this masthead Indigenous parishioners have been voicing worries on the matter to their respective church leaders.

“I’m hearing concern about kids being locked up, there’s also fear and distrust of government that is developing,” he said.

“There needs to be consequences – I keep repeating that – and I know there is goodwill (by the government), but we need to walk cautiously here with wisdom and prudence.”

Specialist opinion also concerned the Bishop, who noted experts disagreed with the age drop.

“Most of them, that I’m aware of, do not agree with making criminals out of 10-year-olds,” he said.

“The United Nations doesn’t agree with it and the Children’s Commissioner’s report doesn’t agree with it.”

The Catholic Church at Ngulu on Bathurst Island, which has stood for almost 100 years. The Catholic community have built relationships with hundreds of remote communities across the Territory. Picture: Supplied.

Reflecting on the respective positions of the two major parties, Bishop Gauci said he would not be surprised if the age of responsibility was to shift again.

“We need to narrow the gap but if we keep on opposing each other it won’t happen,” he said.

“We need to find common ground and realise we’re not dealing with a nation here – we’re dealing with many nations.”

Bishop Gauci said the intervention laws were the last time he had witnessed significant angst among remote communities.

“I remember when the intervention happened – people ran into the bush with their kids thinking they were going to be taken away from them,” he said.

“They still have memories of that.”

He also confirmed more “boots on the ground”, including priests and support staff, would be assigned to remote communities in a bid to reinforce pastoral care.

“We’ve also got a lot of work to do here in Darwin,” he said.

“We want to be partners with government and others too while staying free to do what we believe is right.”

Originally published as Bishop Charles Gauci: Remote communities growing distrustful of NT government