why

Are we not listening to those who know

ABORIGINAL leaders have called for perpetrators of child sexual abuse in remote indigenous communities to be prosecuted through the criminal justice system, rather than be subject to traditional codes of punishment, while demanding police take action to stamp out the problem.

Leaders from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands, in northwest South Australia, have claimed that in the past, police have been "reluctant" to pursue offenders.

Their position is outlined in a submission to the state's Mullighan inquiry into child sexual abuse, whose report on abuse in the APY lands will be tabled in the South Australian parliament this week.

Because we wait for the wheels to turn:

South Australian Police Minister Paul Holloway yesterday said he would not respond to a single submission to the Mullighan inquiry, as it was more important to respond to the inquiry's findings.

A spokesman for Police Commissioner Mal Hyde said police would take the APY submissions seriously.

In his first report, made public just over a month ago, Mr Mullighan revealed some of the allegations put to him about abuse of Aboriginal children.

And that is cold comfort for children in APY lands.

Holloway's response is disgraceful.