Robin Chapple MLC, the Greens member for the Mining and Pastoral region, has acknowledged that the Broome police have made some positive changes in dealing with deaths in custody but there is still a long way to go before the problem is properly addressed.
“The changes brought upon by the Broome Police since 2012 are positive steps but we should recognise that the problem is much larger” Mr Chapple said.
“It is good to see staff increases, 24/7 dedicated custodial officers and cultural awareness training in Broome detention but the larger issue still needs governmental action.
“Indigenous people are overrepresented in Western Australian jails at an appalling level and we have a government avoiding the problem.
“The WA Greens have been trying to push the government to eliminate mandatory sentencing, it’s a punitary flaw that disregards the role of detention as a last resort.
“We should also provide better indigenous services, develop justice reinvestment programs and implement the remaining recommendations of the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.
“We still have a long way to go.”
For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 9486 8255
Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region, Robin Chapple MLC, says that he remains strongly opposed to the re-tabled Aboriginal Heritage Act amendments, and will seek to strike them down.
“All the Bill provides for, with regard to the voice of Aboriginal peoples, is the transfer of most of the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee’s functions to the Department of Aboriginal Affairs’ Chief Executive Officer,” he explained.
“The government has left substantial matters to undrafted regulations, such as what the CEO will consider and information required before deciding what is left on or taken off the register.
“It is disappointing that the Bill omits all of which have been repeatedly raised in previous reports on the Act and also in the 2012 round of submissions; all of which aimed to improve protection of Aboriginal heritage and the involvement of Aboriginal peoples in that process.
“There has been enough community backlash to see people are vehemently opposed to this Bill.
“If the Government are true to their word and want to design legislation that protects our unique Aboriginal heritage, then it is back to the drawing board they must go.
“The Greens will continue to oppose the Bill in its current form. “
For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 9486 8255
WA Greens Aboriginal Affairs spokesperson Robin Chapple MLC is again calling on the government to urgently address Aboriginal incarceration following another Aboriginal death in custody in Broome last week.
“This is becoming an all too common occurrence in Western Australia and it seems like nothing is being done to properly address the root causes of these issues,” Mr Chapple said.
“Sadly, this man was the third to take his life in custody in Western Australia this year alone – a tragic figure for 2015.
“In response to a letter I wrote to the Premier last month with my federal colleague Senator Rachel Siewert, Mr Barnett outlined 29 initiatives that would ‘supersede’ the recommendations of the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody – I am yet to see any details of these initiatives.
“I would urge the Premier to make the details of these proposed initiatives available as soon as possible and ensure that they are open to public scrutiny and input before implementation. These deaths must end.”
For comment please contact Media liaison Tim Oliver on 9486 8255 or 0431 9696 25
