JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT: Condemning the state sanctioned abuse and mass incarceration of First Nations children with disability

The significant over-representation of First Nations children in custody, especially those with cognitive or intellectual disabilities, is an ongoing and well-documented national crisis.
We stand together with our national peak bodies to condemn the abuse and mass incarceration of First Nations children with disability.
FPDN, NATSILS, ATSILS and SNAICC call upon the Qld Government to immediately reinstate the Human Rights Act 2018 (Qld), abolish the practice of solitary confinement for children, improve intersectional disability data collection, implement effective screening and supports and mandate disability rights informed training for all custodial staff.
Date: 25 July 2024

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The Queensland State Budget delivers a welcome funding boost for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd – (ATSILS).

An additional $9.165 million in funding will be provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd (ATSILS) by the Queensland State Government for the 2023/24 financial year. The additional funds will be used to increase service delivery capacity and to implement a more competitive salary structure across every position within the business.

ATSILS CEO Shane Duffy said, “We welcome this response from the State Government who have been acutely aware of the funding crisis causing temporary service suspensions and negatively impacting access to justice in a number of locations across Queensland.”

Date: 23 June 2023

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NATSILS – A small increase to ATSILS funding will help keep the lights on, but won’t stop all service freezes
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE  Issued in partnership with National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement South Australia, Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd, North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service Friday 19 May 2023   Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) around…

Date: 19 May 2023

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Another Tragic Loss of Life – Mareeba

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS) extends our deepest sympathies to the family and community of the young man who tragically lost his life during a police response in Mareeba.

ATSILS CEO Shane Duffy said, “Our legal team are working with the family of the deceased and are providing legal assistance and advice in relation to the investigation.”

Date: 29 March 2023

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(*Please note: all documents prior to the 2022/2023 financial year use our previous branding. ATSILS (QLD) formally adopted new branding on 1/02/2023).

 

Another day and sadly another Aboriginal life has been lost in police custody.

The team at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS) are extremely saddened to hear of the death of a man in the Kowanyama Police Watchhouse on Wednesday, November 9, 2022.

ATSILS CEO Shane Duffy said, “In this day and age, people should not still be dying in police watchhouses. This is another tragic loss of life; we extend our thoughts and deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased man. I have been in contact with the Mayor of Kowanyama and our Coronial lawyers will be respectfully providing support to the family to offer legal assistance.

Date: 10 November 2022

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Another death in custody due to human rights breaches?

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd is appalled at the state of play for children and juveniles currently languishing in police watch houses across Queensland. It is totally unacceptable that such vulnerable young people are being subjected to this type of traumatic treatment whilst under the care of the state. Holding kids in these facilities is extremely dangerous and simply creates an unsafe environment where another death in custody is more likely to occur due to human rights abuses.

Date: 14 May 2019

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The Australian Labor Party announce critical funding measures to address the disadvantage experienced by First Nations people in the justice system.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd (ATSILS) has welcomed the funding commitments announced today by The Australian Labor Party (ALP) in relation to addressing family violence and the disadvantage experienced by First Nations peoples in the justice system.

Date: 26 April 2019

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Morrison’s LNP Government commits funding to ensure critical access to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is maintained. 

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd (ATSILS) welcomes news out of the federal budget announcement last night that indicates planned cuts to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) funding have been overturned.

Date: 03 April 2019

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Historic legislation passed in Queensland Parliament today will better protect the rights of the most vulnerable in the state.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) LTD (ATSILS) commends the Palaszczuk Government for their unwavering commitment to advancing and protecting the rights of Queenslanders, especially the most vulnerable with the passing of Queensland Human Rights Bill today.

Date: 27 February 2019

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A Human Rights Act for Queensland is powerful medicine for advancing and protecting the rights of vulnerable Queenslanders.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) LTD (ATSILS) commends the Palaszczuk Government for their steadfast commitment to advancing human rights protections for all Queenslanders with the introduction of a human rights bill in parliament today.

Date: Wednesday, 31st October 2018
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ATSILS calls for Government to act on ALRC recommendations to tackle soaring incarceration rates
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd welcomes the report and recommendations of the Australian Law Reform Commission’s ‘Pathways to Justice – Inquiry into Incarceration Rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ tabled in Parliament today.

Date: Wednesday, 28th March 2018
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Queensland Government announce independent review into the State’s youth detention centres.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd – (ATSILS) has welcomed today’s announcement by the Queensland Government of an independent review into the State’s youth detention centres. ATSILS commends the Government on their commitment to independence and calls for the terms of reference to be developed with significant engagement and oversight by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and their representative organisations.
Date: Friday, 19th August 2016
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Don Dale and beyond: A broken juvenile justice system is failing our kids across the nation.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd is appalled and concerned by yet more reports of alleged mistreatment of vulnerable youth, this time from within the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre and Cleveland Youth Detention Centre in Townsville.
Date: Friday, 19th August 2016
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Federal Labor commits to reversing cuts to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd (ATSILS) welcomes the news announced today by the Australian Labor Party that should they win government, they would reverse the 24 million dollar cuts announced by the Federal Government due to begin on July 1 this year.
Date: Friday, 10th June 2016
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Australia’s Human Rights Review: Time to Change the Record
(As Australia’s human rights record is reviewed by the UN, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd urges the government to strengthen its commitment and action to address the nation’s unacceptable record of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment.)
Date: Monday, 9th November 2015
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TOGETHER: We Can Put an End to Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland.
Date: Wednesday, 19th August 2015
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Putting ‘Smarts’ back into the Queensland Justice System
(ATSILS response to the Palaszczuk Government’s first state budget).
Date: Wednesday, 15th July 2015
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Smarter justice needed in the former ‘Smart State’
Date: Wednesday, 3rd June 2015
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