Previously, the government banned the continent's indigenous residents from consuming alcohol and watching porn for six months, and also sent reinforced police and army units to areas inhabited by Aborigines to curb rampant sexual violence against children. However, representatives of a number of indigenous communities believe that this is only a pretext, while the main goal of the government is to finally subjugate the Aborigines and get their lands.
The residents of the settlement of Mutitjulu, located at the foot of the legendary red rock Uluru, which is visited by up to half a million tourists annually, expressed the sharpest protest against the government's plans. They threatened to completely block tourists' access to one of Australia's main attractions.
Anxiety is growing among representatives of the indigenous population. Many still have fresh memories of the so-called 'Stolen Generation' - a consequence of the assimilation policy of the Australian authorities, when children were taken from their parents and placed near white people. It is reported that from some areas inhabited by Aborigines, mothers flee with their children, fearing that they will be separated. Federal authorities tried to assure indigenous residents that they have nothing to fear and urged them not to leave their established places.
Nevertheless, many leaders and prominent representatives of Australian Aborigines supported the actions of John Howard's government and believe that this is the only way to overcome the problems that have become widespread in indigenous communities. Howard compared the current situation in the country to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed New Orleans in 2005. 'Now we have our own Katrina,' the Australian Prime Minister noted.