High rate of child abuse among aborigines

CANBERRA, Australia, July 2 (UPI) -- The children of aborigines are seven times more likely than other Australian children to be abused or neglected, a report released Thursday said.

The biannual Productivity Commission report said 35 of every 1,000 aboriginal children were found to have suffered substantiated abuse in 2007 and 2008, up from 16 of every 1,000 in 1999 and 2000, The Australian reported. The rate for other children was 6 per 1,000 in 2007 and 2008, up slightly from 5 per 1,000.

Officials said improved reporting accounted for much of the huge increase in documented abuse cases in the indigenous community.

The Productivity Commission report is aimed at providing data to show whether government measures to improve the life of aborigines -- and especially of their children -- are working. Gary Banks, head of the commission, told the Council of Australian Governments meeting half of the measures showed progress and half the reverse.