Sometimes it seems the older I get the more passionate I become about certain issues. That contradicts my general tendency to take things as they come. Not much surprises me any more.
However, at the age of 41 I’m passionate about child protection. It bothers me that society turns a blind eye to child abuse.
Abuse is not just sexual, which is evil. Abuse is also emotional, physical, material, financial. It’s about love, care, attention and opportunity.
I suggested previously that parents should be licensed after 18-month-old twins died from apparent neglect in Brisbane.
Since then, reports surfaced that a Victorian “family” relocated to Adelaide and left 18 children in a squalid environment without proper health, education, care and attention. The dogs were removed, but the children were allowed to stay.
It reminded me of a report I covered at the Kalgoorlie Miner when a father went on the run to protect his son from abuse because authorities favored the mother for guardianship. Those authorities obviously hadn’t read the medical/case reports I had, nor had they spoken to the same specialist I did.
And then today I read about the apparent suicide of a father who took his three children with him. How horribly tragic and what a discredit to that man’s memory.
I’m a grizzled newspaper hack, but all these stories distress me.
They reinforce my view that parenting is a responsibility, not a privilege and definitely not a right.
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I don’t know why I am drawn to read stories about child abuse because it always makes me revisit memories I have successfully buried and choose not to try and understand the reasons for, less there might be conditions included, like forgiveness for the abusers?
Child abuse, all kinds, is a despicable crime and warrants the severest penalty the law can deliver.
You are so right Michael, some parents should never be given the privilege of caring for a child.
I try and help working parents by taking care of their children and keep them safe from all the dangers.