Page 294 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 9 February 2021
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• Indigenous Liaison Officer and Royal Commission into Aboriginal Death in Custody session;
• Diversity training;
• Certificate III in Correctional Practice, which covers working effectively with diversity, protecting the safety and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders and protecting the safety and welfare of vulnerable offenders;
• Certificate IV Correctional Practice, which covers working effectively with culturally diverse offenders and colleagues; and
(i) supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody is a key concern for ACT Corrective Services Staff and that they will continue to implement positive initiatives to enable the safe, secure, and humane treatment of offenders in custody; and
(2) calls on the ACT Government to:
(a) proceed with the review into over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT justice system in a timely way; and
(b) report back to the Assembly on progress by the last sitting day of September 2021.
As members are aware, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to be significantly over-represented in the criminal justice system as both victims and offenders. This is of great concern to all members of the government and, no doubt, this Assembly. Since colonisation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have faced oppression, systemic social disadvantage, social exclusion and racism.
The key issues and drivers of the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the criminal justice system today often stem from these experiences. We know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are affected by intergenerational trauma, poverty, unemployment, higher levels of family separation and violence. These cycles of disadvantage are hard to break.
The ACT has experienced a steady increase in the numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detainees from 2014 onwards, with a small decrease in the 2019-20 financial year. While the decision to place a person in custody lies with the judiciary, ACT Corrective Services is committed to addressing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through maximising culturally responsive practices and rehabilitation.
In my short time in this portfolio, I have met with our Corrective Services officers several times and have seen firsthand that they come from all parts of our community and reflect the values of this city. They are committed to the work that they do, the detainees and the community that they serve. I am committed to working with our corrections staff to improve and enhance our service. I am confident that these dedicated officers are devoted to improving inequality. They have a number of initiatives to address this important issue, which I will speak to.
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