Page 3786 - Week 12 - Thursday, 25 November 2021
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Ms Berry: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
The Reference Group identified the following key recommendations as priority actions from the We Don’t Shoot Our Wounded Report:
• establish a specific service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women where a range of legal, advocacy, practical and healing activities can be delivered;
• develop a coordinated approach to supporting children and young people affected by family violence that recognises the importance of education and of family; and which offers practical, sustainable and non-punitive support to the parent who is also a victim of violence;
• provide advocacy, assistance and support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women from the time they report to police through to prosecution and court process and linked to victim support measures aimed at securing their personal, financial and social stability and security; and
• identify and implement a range of healing, supportive, advocacy and other interventions focused on addressing the trauma and harm from family violence.
The ACT Government continues to work with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Domestic Violence Prevention Council Reference Group (the Reference Group) to co-design new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander domestic and family violence programs and services to respond to these priority recommendations. To support this work, the ACT Government has allocated $790,000 over four years in the 2021-22 budget. An additional $198,000 has also been rolled over from 2020-21 to further boost delivery against the recommendations.
The initial work requested by the Reference Group has centred around possible models of service suitable for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experiencing domestic and family violence, which goes to a range of the recommendations. While the COVID-19 emergency has affected the progress of this work it remains a priority of the ACT Government.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders—legal services
(Question No 499)
Mrs Kikkert asked the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 8 October 2021:
(1) In relation to government funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander interview friends as mandated by section 24A of the Crimes (Forensic Procedures) Act, when exactly did the Justice and Community Safety Directorate stop providing funding to the Aboriginal Legal Service to operate an interview friends program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
(2) What were the reasons behind this decision.
(3) Since this decision was made, has the ACT Government provided funding to any other entity to operate an interview friends program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people since this decision was made; if so, which entity and how much in funding.
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