'Broke my heart': Tangentyere Women on not meeting with Turnbull

The Tangentyere Women’s Family Safety Group were disappointed not to be able to meet with the prime minister while he was in Alice Springs this week.

Members of the Tangentyere Womens Family Safety Group from Alice Springs want to be heard. Source: AAP

It was a second missed opportunity for dialogue between the prime minister and the Tangentyere Women’s Family Safety Group.

Having travelled to Canberra earlier in the year, the group which campaigns on family violence in the town camps was again unable to meet with Malcolm Turnbull while he was in Alice Springs on Wednesday.

Shirleen Campbell, a co-coordinator of the Tangentyere group, says she was extremely disappointed the meeting did not take place.

“He should be sitting down and having that deep-listening with our mob, but he really didn’t have the time, I don’t think, to see us and really he should,” Ms Campbell told NITV News.

“Our main message is to listen to us, support us and stand with us,” said Campbell. (AAP) Source: https://www.tangfamilyviolenceprevention.com.au/program/tangentyere-womens-family-safety-group

The Tangentyere group specialises in early intervention and prevention of domestic violence issues, aiming to support and strengthen Aboriginal women’s voices.

Mr Turnbull's trip was primarily to back new federal candidate for Lingiari Jacinta Price.

“It sort of broke my heart in a way because I’m here trying to tackle family and domestic violence, along with our women as well on our town camps, and here [is] the big decision making person, not here listening to us.” 

Ms Campbell says while the prime minister managed to visit one town camp, he really should have visited more.

“He decided to go to Little Sisters town camp," she said.

“I was hoping for [Mr Turnbull] to come to Hoppy’s and Charles Creek Camp because I love to share my story and a lot of the background that’s been happening there."

Earlier in the year Ms Campbell, along with other representatives of the Tangentyere group, travelled to Canberra to ask the government to stand with women to help tackle family violence.

Despite not being able to meet Mr Turnbull, they did meet with opposition leader Bill Shorten.

“Our main message is to listen to us, support us and stand with us,” said Ms Campbell.

“Listen to a wide range of Aboriginal voices regarding family and domestic issues. We also need genuine collaboration and partnership with the government when making family and domestic violence policies as well.”