Tennant Creek: alleged rape of toddler exposes a town in crisis

THE alleged rape of a two-year-old girl at a house party has exposed a town in crisis. And angry locals have had enough.

TERRITORY Families has defended itself, its 17 staff in Tennant Creek and the mother of a two-year-old girl who was allegedly raped last Thursday evening, saying the 24-year-old man in custody was never normally around the child.

The man, who was badly beaten prior to his arrest last Friday, is from the remote community of Epenarra and had been in town visiting the mother’s home.

A group of Tennant Creek locals gather in the street late at night. Picture: Gary Ramage

Territory Families CEO Ken Davies and deputy Jeanette Kerr said despite numerous complaints about the mother’s living circumstances, it was decided the girl and her baby brother, aged one, were best with the mother even though she was under supervision for alcohol “misuse”.

Tennant Creek has been beset by rumours in the aftermath of the child’s alleged assault, including that numerous people were in the room when the offence occurred, but it is understood the man was alone with the child when he was interrupted.

The alleged attacker, from a remote community, was visiting Tennant Creek.

NT police have confirmed to News Corp Australia there have been three further unrelated child-sex investigations in the tiny central desert town of 3000 since January 1: two that have been finalised without charges laid and another that remains under investigation.

Ms Kerr said she understood the 36-year-old mother had been intoxicated on Thursday evening but when she became aware her daughter had allegedly been assaulted, she immediately grabbed the child and flagged down an ambulance.

Territory Families said it had received 21 notifications about disruptive activities at the mother’s address between August 2015 and December 2017 and “all were looked at”.

Some related to an adolescent child and others to the mother’s alcohol misuse but none related to the alleged attacker, who was unknown to Territory Families.

Tennant Creek local Valda Shannon has warned of a “conspiracy of silence”.

Only one complaint related to the little girl, as her parents argued about the best way to carry her.

“The decision was made that the best place for these young children was to try and preserve them in the family context with the mother,” said Mr Davies.

At a meeting of elders on Thursday to address the family-violence crisis in Tennant Creek, attended by acting chief minister Nicole Manison, local woman Valda Shannon said the town’s families were involved in a conspiracy of silence.

“Families won’t talk about who are the grog runners,” she said. “They won’t say who’s doing it. They want that supply chain open. We’re going around in circles here.”

Ms Kerr said the mother had three older children and the two younger ones.

Territory Families said it had opened a six-month intensive file with the mother to deal with alcohol and give her family support.

Territory Families CEO Ken Davies and deputy Jeanette Kerr say it’s best for the little girl to be returned to her mother, who is under supervision for alcohol “misuse”.

“He was not living in that house,” said Ms Kerr of the alleged attacker. “He was from a remote community and he went to that house that evening.

“There was absolutely nothing in any of the information or investigations that in any way connected to a crime like this.”

Ms Kerr said the mother had engaged with Territory Families case workers, including undertaking a rehab program and resolution disputes. In December, it was assessed there was no risk of harm to the children.

Valda Shannon speaks as traditional owners and elders meet with local member Gerry McCarthy and Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison.

Territory Families agreed it had heard loud and clear from families that it had failed.

“We’re responding in a community where there’s a fair degree of dysfunction around alcohol misuse and family violence,” said Mr Davies.

“Operating a child protection unit in that environment is a challenge, there’s no doubt about that.”

He said they would review the case but the current view was that officers had “worked appropriately” with the family.

The child is out of hospital in Adelaide and with her mother, under supervision.

The 24-year-old man has been charged with unlawful sexual intercourse and will next appear in Alice Springs court on May 3.