Alcohol banned in indigenous Aussie areas

CANBERRA, Australia, June 21 (UPI) -- The Australian government has banned alcohol and pornography in aboriginal communities across the Northern Territory.

The unprecedented move is in response to a major report on the Northern Territory that revealed widespread child abuse, partly fueled by alcohol, in indigenous areas.

Announcing the government intervention, Australian Prime Minister John Howard said "we regard this as akin to a national emergency."

He said the intention is to introduce widespread alcohol restrictions on Northern Territory aboriginal land for six months, except in designated "wet" areas.

The government will override territory laws and enact new measures to combat child abuse, Howard said.

Possession of X-rated pornography will be banned and all publicly funded computers searched for evidence of stored pornography.

Howard said that 50 percent of welfare payments to parents in affected areas would be "quarantined" to prevent it being spent on alcohol.

The government will also make welfare payments dependent on children attending school.

"We are dealing with children of the tenderest age who have been exposed to the most terrible abuse -- virtually from the time of their birth," Howard said.