Calls for moratorium on use of police in removal of Aboriginal children

The Grandmothers Against Removals group has called for a moratorium on the use of police in the removal of Aboriginal children from their families.

Screen-grab of children being removed from their home by police. (NITV News)

Screen-grab of children being removed from their home by police. (NITV News)

It comes after reports on NITV that NSW Police used riot gear to conduct a dawn raid to remove children from their home earlier this year. The parents of the children told NITV News that they were held at gunpoint and handcuffed during the operation. 

Aunty Hazel from Grandmothers Against Removals told SBS that police should not be used in the removal of Aboriginal children. 

"It's traumatic enough for children to be taken. There is a more humane way, if children need to be taken there is another way it can be done. They can place these children with families so the trauma does not come on these children, and the parents more importantly to be involved in what's happening with their children."



Aunty Hazel says Grandmothers Against Removals is working the NSW Department of Family and Community Services to establish an Aboriginal Community Expert Committee, which would be staffed by Aboriginal elders, community members and psychologists and ensure that removing children is considered only as a last resort.

"There needs to be more working with families to keep (Aboriginal) kids in home or in communtiy. And it does not have to be that this is the last time that these parents have the opportunity to parent their children.

'We parent differently. We parent as a community, as a family network. That is being taken from us and our children.

"So this expert committee that we are looking to implement to me is the way to move forward in helping communities stay together with their children."


In a statement, New South Wales Police say there were acting on a warrant after the children were identified at being at risk. They say their presence was to ensure no breach of peace or public order. 


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2 min read

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By Biwa Kwan


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