Remote Hope: An unflinching portrait of Australia's remote Indigenous communities and their struggle to survive.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott recently provoked furious debate by describing life in these communities as a "lifestyle choice" and the Commonwealth has withdrawn its funding.
Communities in Western Australia are now facing possible closure, provoking protests around the country.
But this Four Corners report confronts the uncomfortable truth about life in these communities.
The Four Corners team travelled across the rugged Kimberley region of Western Australia to visit some of the settlements under threat.
In some, they found grinding poverty, no jobs and little hope.
"They have the most depressing living conditions imaginable. They are a disgrace to Australia and all those who have a prosperous way of life." Lawyer
In others they were told of appalling stories of sexual abuse and neglect.
"Knowing what I know, it's very difficult to sleep at night, knowing that we cannot protect those children in any effective way." Senior WA Policeman
But they also found community leaders determined to tackle the dysfunction.
"We've got to be responsible for our own actions and our own decisions and if we want the same as we get in town, we need to start fighting for it but we've also got to start showing governments... that we can do it."
REMOTE HOPE, reported by Deb Whitmont and presented by Kerry O'Brien, goes to air on Monday 11th May at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 12th May at 10.00am and Wednesday 13th at midnight. It can also be seen on ABC News 24 on Saturday at 8.00pm, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
