NT attorney general recounts abusive childhood and says: 'Do not become a victim'

The Guardian
June 27, 2016

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jun/28/nt-attorney-general-recounts-abusive-childhood-and-says-do-not-become-a-victim

The Northern Territory attorney general, John Elferink, will retire from politics in August. Photo by Xavier la Canna

The Northern Territory attorney general has used his farewell speech to parliament to recount his experience as a child sexual abuse survivor and tell others not to “become a victim”.

John Elferink, who will retire from politics at the NT August election, said that in his career as a police officer he used to raid haunts where he had been taken as a child, in the hope of rescuing others.

“I do recall that when I was being raped as a child that on one occasion the fellow who was doing all of this decided to take me to the local beat and share the wealth,” Elferink told the NT parliament on Monday night.

“When I was a police officer many years later, I used to go to that beat and raid it almost regularly in the hope – I think – of rescuing any other child.

“I suspect the truth is that I was looking to rescue myself.”

Elferink said being abused did not mean a person could not live a constructive life. His advice was, “Do not become a victim”.

“Too many people in the modern world allow themselves to become victims, so they demand apologies of governments, the Catholic church and God knows what else. The moment you say to another person, ‘I cannot be happy or complete until you apologise’, you have given away your ability to be happy and handed it to a third party.

“Fight those things that need to be fought and seek justice where needed, but do not ever allow yourself to place your happiness into the hands of a third party, especially if that third party is reluctant to give you whatever you seek. Redemption is found within.”

Elferink holds several portfolios including children and families, corrections and health. He has championed law and order measures such as alcohol protection orders, mandatory alcohol rehabilitation and toughening of bail laws for young offenders.

As corrections minister he presided over almost 40 escapes from NT prisons last year, and was dumped as a White Ribbon ambassador after saying he would like to slap a female Labor MP.

He also oversaw a failed attempt to sack the Speaker, Kezia Purick, and played a key role in a failed leadership coup against chief minister Adam Giles.