The government's response to the Gordon Inquiry, Putting People First, represented a watershed in how it deals with family violence and child abuse in the Aboriginal community. The implementation of Putting People First (the Response) set the priorities in addressing safety for women and children in Aboriginal communities. In addition the government has accepted the challenges posed by the Gordon Inquiry to develop a collaborative relationship with the Aboriginal community and to develop new ways of working.
For further information see the Gordon Inquiry Response website.The challenge accepted by the government was three-fold:
- The urgent need to strengthen and improve responses to abuse and violence in Aboriginal communities;
- The need for long term strategies and solutions to address the endemic nature of abuse and violence in many communities;
- Meeting the needs of current and future generations of Aboriginal children through simultaneous, long term environmental, social and economic improvements that will result in sustainable communities.
The Response was tabled in Parliament in December 2002 and significant progress has occurred on initiatives pertaining to the themes and enablers of the Government's Strategic Response Framework identified in that document.