Anger over alleged rape of toddler in Tennant Creek as man charged

AS A 24-year-old man waited to be flown out of Tennant Creek after being accused of raping a two-year-old girl, a Northern Territory minister flew in to appeal for calm.

AS A 24-year-old man waited to be flown out of Tennant Creek after being accused of raping a two-year-old relative, acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison and Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw flew in to try to calm an angry town.

They are angry at the government for its perceived failings to respond to child-protection orders, the police for being unresponsive, but also at themselves for the violent and alcohol-drenched environment which has seen them failing to care for their children.

Acting NT Chief Minister Nicole Manison listens as NT Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw addresses the media. Picture: Justin Kennedy

The alleged attacker appeared in court on Tuesday by video-link and did not apply for bail. Charged with unlawful sexual intercourse aggravated by the child’s age, he showed signs of having been beaten.

His relationship to the child is very close and it appears he has met some payback.

At a town meeting at Peko Park, dozens of people got up to speak delivering harsh assessments of their own shortcomings in the wake of a recent killing, a number of suicides and the child’s alleged rape.

The two-year-old girl was earlier released out of hospital in Adelaide into the care of her mother, under the watch of South Australian child support workers who specialise in Aboriginal family matters.

The decision to release the child into the care of her mother has caused anger.

This caused some anger among relatives, including from the child’s grandfather, who yelled into the microphone that he’d seen cartons of grog being carried into the address where the child was raped.

However, Territory Families deputy CEO Jeanette Kerr said she believed it was the appropriate action.

“From our perspective, there is nothing to indicate that the mother has not been protective,” she said.

Ms Kerr added that Territory Families had received 21 calls between August 15 and December 17 about problems at the child’s address.

She said none of those calls related to the small girl, although there had been one complaint in February last year which she said related to an argument between the parents about the correct way to hold the girl, who was then a baby.

Acting NT Chief Minister, Nicole Manison flew in to try to calm an angry town. Picture: Justin Kennedy

The child’s father is now serving time in Alice Springs over a DV-related incident and was not at home when the child was allegedly raped.

Ms Kerr said the mother had alerted police and had taken the child to the local hospital.

One man who identifies as the child’s grandfather said the community had been torn apart by what happened.

“There had been a number of times the family was frightened of the children staying at the house,” he said.

“There was alcohol, drugs, parties and men that would go there. Us as a family, knowing these things, we should have done something.”

The alleged attack took place at a house in Tennant Creek where a 2 year old girl was sexually assaulted by a 24 year old man.

One local, Gary Bullus, a manager at the BP, tore into the crowd as they waited for the police and politicians to arrive.

“Have a good hard look at yourselves,” he said.

“Why are children running around at two in the morning and they’re five years old? Where are the parents? Stop blaming the government.”

Commissioner Kershaw gave few details on the case, saying it was before the courts. But he said: “This town has a problem with sexual assault on children.”

Ms Manison did not repeat her remarks that “We have failed this child and it’s not good enough”. She undertook to talk to locals and listen.

The man has been remanded to appear on May 3.