I refer to the previous post from Mr Doyle. As an Australian, I totally disagree with him and opinion polls showing 85% of Australians support Howard's action indicate that he is vastly mistaken to think that he represents the majority opinion. Aboriginal self determination is a pointless left wing fantasy of the educated middle class - a child of 3 being repeatedly raped cares more about safety than the right to grow up welfare dependent in hopeless, unsustainable remote community. I suggest that he speaks to emergency nurses and doctors who have worked with the victims of black violence - that is black women and black children, brutalised by their menfolk. Black violence should be a feminist issue - or it would be if the left could come to grips with the unpalatable idea that these black male "victims" who make up the Aboriginal Councils are also the serial abusers. If Howard can break this cycle by his heavy handed tactics thank God - the women of black Australia will thank him.

Christopher Stone-Tolcher, Brisbane, Australia

I have to say that as an Australian I strongly disagree with you. Aboriginal self-determination is important and I think that what our government is doing high-handed, hypocritcal and just a little too late. Most Australians will agree with me that PM Howard is using the terrible situation in Northern Australia as a political football to wean himself out of a very desperate position and he will suffer the consequences later this year.

James Doyle, Port Stephens, Australia

Having worked with aboriginal children as a primary school teacher in central Northern Territory, I find Bernard Lagan's views to be typical of idealists who live in the cities in Australia. "Aboriginal self-determination" as he calls it, has led to the dire situation where poverty, alcoholism and other forms of substance abuse has led to children being sexually abused. The "killing off" of this "long experiment" may not appeal to his sense of idealism but lets hope it will enable the abused children to be liberated from a frightening and horrific experience and give them some small hope of a normal life in the future.

J.Gawne, Buckinghamshire, UK