The Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, has made his first visit to an Indigenous community since the Federal Parliament passed legislation granting power to the government to intervene in these communities to tackle the child-sex abuse.
Mr. Howard speaking at Hermannsburg, West of Alice Springs, on Tuesday told the Aboriginal people that while he respected the special place they held in the history of the country, their future must be tied to the 'mainstream' or else they faced a 'bleak' future.
"We have a simple aim and that is whilst respecting the special place of Indigenous people in the history and the life of this country," he said.
"Their future can only be as part of the mainstream of the Australian community. But unless they can get a share of the bounty of this great and prosperous country, their future will be bleak."
Reverend Fred Schaffer, along with his wife Carol is founders of the Aboriginal Christian Training Services (A.C.T.S), has called on Australians to support the government's initiatives with 'massive united prayer.'
"Now that the state and federal governments have recognized the exceptionally tragic reality of the vulnerable, suffering outback children and their duty of care, Christians must support these long awaited children saving initiatives with massive united prayer," he told Sight Magazine, a local Christian magazine publication.
The A.C.T.S. (Aboriginal Christian Training Services) Inc is a ministry which uses Biblical principles in helping Aboriginal Christian leaders develop business relationships and assists Aborigines in finding the path towards building an income stream for financial stability.