By Chris Latham

PERTH -- The Western Australian government is to consider placing children in foster care if senior family members are involved in criminal activity. This would increase the power of the state beyond its current ability to remove children at physical, sexual or emotional risk.

WA police commissioner Bob Falconer identified the main target of any new legislation as Aborigines. Falconer claims to be “a realist, not a racist”. In WA, Aborigines are 23 times more likely to be incarcerated than non-Aborigines.

Glenn Shaw, chairperson of the Deaths in Custody Watch Committee, said: “In light of the recent Inquiry into the Removal of Aboriginal Children ... Falconer's proposal is simplistic, wrong-headed and likely to send shock waves through the Aboriginal community.”

Falconer said the measures are needed because “the community is alarmed at crime. It's no good expecting a miracle; you have to target people who are creating the dysfunction. It doesn't matter if they are babes in arms. If they are in moral, physical or sexual danger, they have to be removed.”

Shaw said that some families need long-term, intensive and culturally appropriate support programs. Their needs have been recognised and documented by both the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and the report into the “stolen generations”, yet the only action of governments has been to reduce funding for support programs.

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