To read the item by Greg Barns which sparked the following responses, click here.

Cameron Sharrock writes: Greg Barns you are an idiot. Imagine the girl was white – eh? Now how consensual is a 9-man rape? If you still think it’s fine given that six of the nine were under 16 then just let me send my 15 year old over to visit your 11 year old and tell her she’ll go to foster care if she struggles. You utter, utter, utter, incomparable idiot. This kind of limp wrist wringing slap-headery is as dangerous to general aboriginal health and welfare as the ubiquitous truncheon of the 70’s and 80’s. People – let’s not call them “aborigines” and create some backwards assumption of inferiority or inability to understand morality – people require JUST application of law. Letting nine dillweeds off to re-offend due to their skin colour is as stupid as throwing them in jail due to their skin colour. What if the offenders had been from Sydney … and their names were Bilal and Faroukh and Mohamed and they were recently released from illegal detention … “Ritual Gang Rape” would be condemned from pillar to post … the left commentators would of course say “MORE MUST BE DONE!” to prevent this in future … help with employment prospects … assisted integration … etc … But dear Greggles do you think for a second you could put your name to a piece of idiocy which advocated zero punishment in that situation? Didn’t think so. Still can’t believe you wrote that.

Roy Travis writes: I have read some pretty extraordinary views expressed in Crikey from time to time but none that even comes close to Greg Barns seeking to justify the rape of a ten year old child by a 24 year old male among others. He then goes on to suggest that imprisonment is not suitable for Aboriginals, all other citizens of this country but not Aboriginals. Since he does not suggest any other form of punishment beyond some inconclusive mutterings on rehabilitation, I am left wondering.

Nathan Maskiell writes: Having just finished the vile article from Greg Barns I write to ensure that his point of view is not entered into mainstream discourse. Barns writes, “custodial sentences are not the way to rehabilitate people, particularly Aboriginal Australians”. This may be so Mr Barns, irrespective of the racism of that comment; I don’t think rehabilitation is relevant. The facts are, a child of 10 has been s-xually abused. No child of 10 whether Aboriginal or other should be exposed to such deviant behaviour. The offenders, no matter their ages or race should be punished for what is an abomination, and society protected from their ilk. Greg Barns should take a long hard look at the way Australian society is handling Indigenous Australians with kid gloves. Child protection becomes a “stolen generation”, integration of the kind we expected from Italians and Greeks and now Muslims is forgotten for insane PC and molly-coddling. They blame the “white fella” for their problems in a society where individualism and social responsibility is paramount. Greg Barns in my opinion gives hope and succour to p-edophiles and s-x abusers. He is a disgrace and I hope he doesn’t have children, nor is responsible for any. Crikey.com.au should rebuke him for this disgusting piece, every bit as ridiculous and dangerous as Sheik Hilaly or bin Laden.

Justin Templer writes: Two questions: (1) Should I base my views on complex legal cases on the opinions of shock/horror journalists sitting in Sydney or Melbourne trying to sell newspapers or should I lean towards the belief that the experienced judge and prosecutor might have a more appropriate view of the situation? (2) Why is life so full of difficult questions?

Bob Durnan writes: Greg Barns reckons that “Re-involvement of indigenous offenders in their community through the care and leadership of Elders and responsible members of the community rather than removing them from the community would seem to have countless more beneficial effects for all concerned.” Well Greg, the horse has already bolted, way over the hill. If only there were still alive and healthy one tenth of the “Elders and responsible members of the community” needed for all that work, then maybe your advice would make more sense. But in the light of actual demographics, capacities of surviving elders, and offender rates, your position is just wishful thinking, more uninformed idealistic claptrap just cluttering up the discourse on these matters. Part of the solution yes, but just a minor part. Better come up with some more comprehensive and realistic solutions Greg, if you want to be taken seriously as a commentator on Indigenous legal issues.

Andrew Lewis writes: Greg Barns’ argument that Aboriginal people are overrepresented in Australian prisons, so we shouldn’t lock them up, is fallacious. It would seem they break the law more often, have less access to better legal representation, and once in prison find it easier to slip into recidivism. In order to reduce the number of people living in poverty in Australia, we could change the income level where poverty starts. In order to reduce the number of people in prison, we could decriminalise a number of things, and reduce sentences for other offences. I think most people would like people to break the law less. Simple, bound to be dismissed as too simple, but also easily understood by most people in Australia who don’t read Crikey.

Liz Johnston writes: Thank you Greg Barns for encouraging others to think rather than mindlessly condemn. I’ve been disgusted by the mindless posturings of Rudd, Bligh, Langton and others speaking from the depths of either ignorance/self interest/self promotion or all three. Agree 100%. Maybe they should look at the age of consent in Queensland if press reports are to believed. If it is 12 years old, this put the children in a bad position. The age as I believe in NSW is 16. A more realistic age.

Donald McDonald writes: Without going to the facts I would ask if the victim had been a white girl would the defendants have walked free. I do not believe so, not even for one moment.