Aboriginal people represent only 3 per cent of the total population, yet more than 28 per cent of Australia’s prison population are Aboriginal.

The juvenile justice system in the Northern Territory has also come under fire because of the way Aboriginal children are being treated.  

They make up 96 per cent of the juveniles that are incarcerated there.

But why is this so?  

Most of these children come from homes where unemployment, drugs, alcohol and domestic violence is the norm.  

There is no light at the end of the tunnel for these kids because most will go on to be just another statistic in the adult prison population.

It has been suggested that maybe we should revert back to the days of the so-called Stolen Generation?  

What this would mean is that all the troubled youths presently in the juvenile justice system in the NT would be allocated out to caring foster families who are able provide them with a proper education, decent living conditions and a chance to live a normal and rewarding life.  

The Stolen Generation is proof that this outcome can be achieved.

Of course we wouldn’t use the words “stolen generation”.

We could call it the re-allocated generation.

I know that you would have the do-gooders jumping up and down saying it would be wrong to take them away from their natural environment. However, sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.  

Drastic action is needed now, otherwise these kids can only look forward to a very bleak future or, maybe, no future at all.

NOW that the election has been safely won, we are starting to discover that we didn't just vote in that nice Turnbull Coalition government, entirely made up of that very prime ministerial Mr Turnbull (with odd appearances by Ms Bishop), but there are others, like that Mr Christensen from up north and that Mr Abetz from down south.

And when I hear them talk about their doubts on climate change science, I have to start thinking that the conservative right-wingers in the Coalition and media might actually have a point: the education system in Australia is failing.

But then I think to our own valiant member, Mick McCormack.

I was a couple of years behind him at school.

We played cricket together, went to the pub together.

Hell, he even got me a summer job at The Advertiser once.

How is it that I learned the lessons of inclusiveness, respect, openness and tolerance (from the Christian Brothers of all people) while he seemed not to?  

It also seems I paid attention in physics and chemistry so that I understand the scientific method and know that if a scientific expert makes a statement, then you can be sure they can back it up with peer reviewed evidence.

I look forward to an open, fair, tolerant and non-abusive 45th parliament, where discrimination will be called out by those in power when they hear it (admittedly not going so well at the moment, if we consider a number of exchanges on Q&A over the last three weeks).

I hope proper respect is given to all experts, not just those that you agree with because of some dogmatic point of view or lobbying. And I hope this parliament works for all Australians, especially the poor and downtrodden, who need our help the most.