The Christian Democratic Party has strongly defended Prime Minister John Howard against an attack by Malcolm Fraser on the PM’s handling of the crisis in remote Aboriginal communities. In a joint statement, NSW Senate team leader Pastor Paul Green and Party Leader Reverend Fred Nile MLC said: "The children must come first, and their welfare is more important than any faded politician’s search for relevance. We need more Christian humanitarians like John Howard and William Wilberforce, and fewer ego-trippers like Malcolm Fraser and his friend Robert Mugabe."

The Christian Democratic Party heartily approves the general thrust of the Prime Minister’s initiative regarding Aboriginal communities, but urges caution in respect of a proposal for compulsory medical testing for Aboriginal children.

Paul Green and Rev Fred Nile have stressed that the rights of all Australian parents and children must be upheld equally.

"The Christian Democratic Party applauds all constructive efforts to protect young Australians from the evils of malnutrition, drug abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse," said Reverend Nile, "and it is a very real and very tragic truth that youngsters in indigenous communities are subjected to cruelly disproportionate hazards. We welcome the concept of free medical examinations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kiddies, but the CDP opposes any hint of authoritarianism and rejects any enforced deprivation of the rights of families and children."

Senate candidate Paul Green, a father of six children who holds a science degree in nursing, warned that intimate examinations can cause to children a measure of psychological damage akin to that inflicted by sexual assault. "As a father I have the primary responsibility of defending my children from all harm" said Paul Green. "And I know that the majority of Australian parents of all backgrounds share my view."

Reverend Nile points out that medical tests indicating past sexual activity are far from reliable. "Even if an examination accurately reveals past sexual abuse, there is a danger that this could result in accusations wrongly being directed against innocent and loving parents. No harm will come from medical tests revealing malnutrition or disease."

The Christian Democratic Party will campaign for the Federal Election on the platform of maximum effort in defending all Australian children from all forms of sexual and physical abuse.

Reverend Nile concluded: "More than any other Prime Minister in my lifetime, John Howard is genuinely committed to protecting all Australian children and enriching their lives. In this current great humanitarian endeavour, the Prime Minister can depend on the support of the Christian Democratic Party."