The chairperson of the National Indigenous Council, Sue
Gordon has ministerial backing for her proposal to remove 'at risk' children from indigenous communities.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough has called on the states to take action on behalf of abused children living in so-called town camps.
"The town-camps, the rural communities should have the same rule of law apply as any other part of the country," Mr Brough said.
"I don't believe that it is appropriate that we leave children in a dangerous situation and I don't care where they come from. If a child is at risk then we abdicate our responsibility if we don't take them out of harms way."
In an opinion piece in Monday's edition of The Australian newspaper, Mrs Gordon wrote: "State and territory governments must bite the bullet and use their statutory powers to remove children from their toxic environments."
But calls to remove children have divided indigenous leaders. Northern Territory Central Land Council chief David Ross described the move as outrageous.
Freehold title
Meanwhile, people living in indigenous communities may soon have the right to the freehold title of their homes.
Mr Brough has announced a $500,000 study to develop a new direction for indigenous welfare which he believes could result in freehold title for indigenous communities.
The study will be conducted by the Cape York Institute (CYI) and will focus on the Cape communities of Aurukun, Hopevale, Coen and Mosman Gorge.
The Australian government has set aside A$3 million to implement the findings of the CYI.
"This would not be something, if it works, that would be specific to the Cape, it would be something that we would look at being able to expand to other indigenous communities," Mr Brough said.
He also shadowed possible changes to welfare payments and the work and training obligations of recipients.