Greens don’t care about ‘real’ indigenous issues, Liberal Sarah Henderson says

Liberal MP Sarah Henderson says the Greens are more interested in their Australia Day date change campaign than indigenous domestic violence issues.

Federal Liberal MP Sarah Henderson has accused the Greens of ignoring a report into domestic violence in Aboriginal communities.

Liberal MP Sarah Henderson has attacked the Greens for launching a “latte sipping campaign” to change the date of Australia Day while showing no interest in a parliamentary report designed to reduce domestic violence in Aboriginal communities.

The member for Corangamite said no Greens MPs or senators had inquired about recommendations delivered by a parliamentary committee she chairs, which suggested reforming the Family Court system to protect women and children who were at risk of domestic violence.

The report, tabled last month, had focus on family violence in indigenous communities, noting Aboriginal women were 34 times more likely to be hospitalised as a result of family violence than women in the general population.

Ms Henderson said her eyes were opened to the severity of the problem in indigenous communities when she went to Alice Springs to conduct consultations.

“I’m very disappointed that the Greens, while they are on their Australia Day crusade, have made absolutely no reference or shown interest in these very significant recommendations which go to the heart of one of the most challenging issues for indigenous communities and that is family violence,” Ms Henderson told The Australian.

“I think Richard Di Natale is showing a complete lack of respect for the issues that confront indigenous Australians and I can assure you not one person we met with in Alice Springs raised the issue of Australia Day as an issue of importance with their community.”

Recommendations included trials of specialist state and territory family violence court, including a trial in a location with a large indigenous population.

Senator Richard Di Natale hit back at Ms Henderson, saying she had not been listening to indigenous Australians if she did not think they wanted the date changed.

“While I appreciate Sarah has spent several days chairing an inquiry, I have seen many of the issues First Australians face first-hand through my years working as a doctor in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory,” Senator Di Natale said.

“The Greens have worked for justice and reconciliation alongside First Australians for decades. The Greens are leading the fight in parliament to close the gap, improve access to healthcare and education, for treaties with our First Nations peoples and to change the date of Australia Day to one inclusive for all Australians.”

Ms Henderson said she would like to see the Greens focus on issues that are important to Aborigines, rather than focusing on a campaign about changing the date of Australia Day.

“This is an inner city cafe, latte sipping campaign which bears no resemblance to the needs of indigenous Australians and the many acute challenges they face,” she said.