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CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Australia's Senate overwhelmingly approved a package of bills Friday to fight what the government says is rampant child sexual abuse among Aborigines, clearing the last hurdle for a plan condemned by critics as a racist attack on indigenous rights.
The complex package of legislation was passed 56 votes to six, with the major opposition Labor Party supporting Prime Minister John Howard's coalition government. It was approved last week by the House of Representatives.
The government plans to seize some of the powers of the Northern Territory government in response to an officially commissioned report that found child abuse was widespread in indigenous communities on Australia's tropical northern frontier.
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