http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22550631-2,00.html?from=mostpop
THE father of an 11-year-old boy who hanged himself has blamed the "horrible" Aboriginal work-for-the-dole scheme for substance abuse problems engulfing his remote Western Australian town.
Isaac Hale was giving evidence at an inquest in Fitzroy Crossing into the alcohol or cannabis related deaths of 17 men, women and children in the Kimberley region of WA.
Mr Hale told the inquest he still struggled to understand why his son hanged himself after an argument over a toy gun at the Buruwa community on October 7, 2005.
"We are still trying to figure that out for ourselves, why he done that to himself," Mr Hale said.
Mr Hale said there was a serious alcohol and drug problem in Fitzroy Crossing, where there was nothing for most people to do.
He criticised the "horrible" Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) scheme, blaming it for problems in the town.
"The Government's really buggered things up," he said.
Under the scheme, people worked four hours a day, then most went to the pub, Mr Hale said.
Before CDEP concentrated people in the town, he used to spend months on a pastoral station which was now neglected and eaten by white ants, he said.
His partner, Selina Middleton, said no one would tell police about the community's drug problems for fear of retribution.
"People will go after you," she said.
Mr Hale said the community needed sport, jobs and activities for youths, while his partner said the town needed support workers, sobering up places and a rehabilitation centre.
"Why don't they put it here, or do we just have to live in a town that is a s**thouse," Ms Middleton said.
Outside the courtroom, she said it had been very hard to talk about her son, describing him as a happy boy who had lots of friends.
"He was a beautiful boy, he lived for his country, he was a really good little hunter," she said.
"It was very hard as a mother, and yesterday was my son's (second) anniversary (of his death). In a way it made me strong to come here and talk about the lack of services."
Earlier today, John Hammond, a lawyer representing the bereaved families, called for a royal commission into the problems besetting the indigenous communities of WA.
Ms Middleton agreed with the proposal.
"I hope the whole of Australia is listening. We are just a forgotten town.
"John Howard should come here and live here in our community for a week and see what it is like."
The inquest continues.
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