Indigenous incarceration costs almost double price of uni education
Queensland Law Society Media Release:
Queensland Law Society president Bill Potts has called for reforms to reduce the nation’s appalling rate of indigenous imprisonment – saying it costs taxpayers almost twice as much to lock people up than provide them with an elite university education.
Mr Potts said it was time for the state and federal governments to set “aspirational targets’’ to reduce incarceration of indigenous Australians and implement strategies and policies to guarantee positive outcomes.
He said the current estimated cost of incarceration in Queensland was $66,000 per prisoner each year – while the cost of keeping a person fed, clothed, with a roof over their head and a university education was about $38,000.
Federal Productivity Commission figures from 2013/14 show the number of Indigenous Australians imprisoned was 16 times higher than non-Indigenous people.
The call follows the recent announcement by the Northern Territory Government to set justice targets aimed at halving the rate of Aboriginal imprisonment by 2030 and a call by the Law Council of Australia for state and federal intergovernmental action.
“Statistics show that it costs more to incarcerate a person for five years than it would to send them to one of Queensland’s best universities. I know how I’d rather my taxes be spent,’’ Mr Potts said.
“Courts like the Murri Court and the Drug Court have been successful in reducing reoffending and incarceration, and it is good to see them on the way back in Queensland.
“Keeping indigenous people out of the prison system through these rehabilitation measures will give them a chance at a better life – and it’s simply good economics. From our point of view, it is much better to educate than incarcerate.’’
View Media Release in Full
25th Anniversary of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
Today is the 25th Anniversary of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Report #RCIADIC
This morning ATSILS CEO Shane Duffy and Dr Jackie Huggins Co-Chairs of Change the Record Coalition are at Parliament House in Canberra commemorating lives lost and working for change.
In the 25 years since the handing down of the RCIADIC report Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander incarceration rates have almost doubled. It time for change. Here’s what’s needed:
https://changetherecord.org.au/blueprint-for-change
Murri Court – official re-opening in Rockhampton
This week staff from our team in Rockhampton attended the official re-opening of the Murri Court – the first re-opening to occur in the State.
The opening ceremony was attended by a number of important dignitaries, including the Attorney-General, the Chief Judge of the District Court, the Chief Magistrate and local Elders (just to name a few).
A number of speeches were made to commemorate the occasion and our dedicated team in Rocky were acknowledged by the Coordinating Magistrate (Mr Press) in his speech. He spoke about the hard work ATSILS does and made particular mention of Tammy House our Court Support Officer in the region. Magistrate Press indicated that he could not imagine how the Court would function without Tammy’s invaluable assistance, particularly helping our clients to properly understand their charges and give instructions.
Great to see this culturally responsive justice alternative re-established and well done to the team in Rocky.
Reparations Scheme – Applications Day Invitation Brisbane
When: Monday, 18 April 2016
Where: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service (ATSICHS) 55 Annerley Road, Woolloongabba 4102
Time: 9am to 12pm
Attend this session if you answer YES to any of the following:
process
1957 and 31 December 1959
If you wish to apply or enquire about your application you must bring documentation that can prove yourdate of birth such as a driver’s licence, birth certificate, health care card or pension card.
More information about the Reparations Scheme is available on freecall
1800 619 505 visit www.qld.gov.au/reparations
Download: Applications Day Invitation
View: Reparations Scheme Eligibility Payments Information Sheet
CAREERS: Court Support and Field Officer Positions in SW & SE QLD
ATSILS (QLD) is seeking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates (only) for the following positions in South East and South West Queensland.
Field Officer Roles
Court Support Officer Roles
These positions offer a fantastic opportunity to strengthen your commitment to social justice for our people and strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the criminal justice systems to better protect their rights. You will assist a highly supportive team of legal staff deliver services that are culturally sensitive and responsive to the needs of the client.
This role encourages a personable, enthusiastic and organised social justice networker to provide support, information and encouragement at a time when clients are often at their most vulnerable. The majority of our client-demand provides excellent opportunity to work on the ground within the justice system – for example, at court, visiting watch-houses and in community, so as to ensure that clients’ legal rights are protected.
So why not head out into the wild blue yonder and forge an exciting legal career whilst enjoying all the lifestyle benefits working on country has to offer?
ATSILS Queensland provides a culturally rich, advocacy-focused workplace and attractive employment conditions including:
View all Vacancies
More Education NOT Incarceration- The Queensland Law Society strengthens calls for justice reforms & targets.
Indigenous incarceration costs almost double price of uni education
Queensland Law Society Media Release:
Queensland Law Society president Bill Potts has called for reforms to reduce the nation’s appalling rate of indigenous imprisonment – saying it costs taxpayers almost twice as much to lock people up than provide them with an elite university education.
Mr Potts said it was time for the state and federal governments to set “aspirational targets’’ to reduce incarceration of indigenous Australians and implement strategies and policies to guarantee positive outcomes.
He said the current estimated cost of incarceration in Queensland was $66,000 per prisoner each year – while the cost of keeping a person fed, clothed, with a roof over their head and a university education was about $38,000.
Federal Productivity Commission figures from 2013/14 show the number of Indigenous Australians imprisoned was 16 times higher than non-Indigenous people.
The call follows the recent announcement by the Northern Territory Government to set justice targets aimed at halving the rate of Aboriginal imprisonment by 2030 and a call by the Law Council of Australia for state and federal intergovernmental action.
“Statistics show that it costs more to incarcerate a person for five years than it would to send them to one of Queensland’s best universities. I know how I’d rather my taxes be spent,’’ Mr Potts said.
“Courts like the Murri Court and the Drug Court have been successful in reducing reoffending and incarceration, and it is good to see them on the way back in Queensland.
“Keeping indigenous people out of the prison system through these rehabilitation measures will give them a chance at a better life – and it’s simply good economics. From our point of view, it is much better to educate than incarcerate.’’
View Media Release in Full
Change The Record Coalition meeting in Sydney today calls for national action on justice issues
MEDIA RELEASE – 25.02.16
A coalition of organisations meeting in Sydney today have called for national action on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment and violence rates, following recent positive initiatives by governments in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The group includes leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, human rights and legal organisations.
Change the Record Coalition Co-Chair Shane Duffy said, “In the past few weeks, positive steps forward have been taken. We welcome for instance the inclusion of justice targets in the Northern Territory’s new Aboriginal Affairs Policy. We have long called for the development of national justice targets and it is important to see the Territory taking initiative in this area”.
“We also welcome a recent commitment by the Western Australian Government to work towards supporting prevention and diversion initiatives to keep people out of the criminal justice system in the first place. It was also encouraging to hear that Western Australian Government has expanded a support service for Aboriginal people in custody; however what is really needed is a commitment to fund and legislate for a ‘Custody Notification Service’, an independent and mandatory service administered by an Aboriginal community-controlled legal service.”
“Actions speak louder than words, and we remain deeply concerned by the ongoing impact of laws, such as mandatory sentencing and the Northern Territory’s Paperless Arrests scheme, which disproportionately impact upon Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
“It was also extremely distressing to hear reports from a Senate Inquiry last week that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, who are victims/survivors of domestic violence, have intentionally breached bail in order to go back to prison due to a lack of safe support services available in their communities”.
“Governments must translate their plans into tangible and meaningful action. This can only be achieved in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and community-controlled organisations,” said Mr Duffy.
View Media Release in Full
National mood for change on Indigenous incarceration must be seized by COAG – The Law Council of Australia
The Law Council of Australia has called on the Federal and State Governments to act on Australia’s disastrous rate of Indigenous imprisonment, following recent positive steps in the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
Earlier this week, the Northern Territory Government announced plans to set justice targets, to halve the rate of Aboriginal imprisonment by 2030, while Western Australia will establish a new 1800 hotline for Aboriginal prisoners in Western Australia, which will help to reduce instances of self-harm and suicide in custody. Law Council of Australia President Stuart Clark AM called on the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to seize the opportunity for intergovernmental action.
“Australia’s Indigenous incarceration rates represent a national crisis. Justice targets and an intergovernmental strategy on imprisonment and community violence must be on the agenda at the next COAG meeting,” Mr Clark said.
“Indigenous people represent just 2.5 per cent of the population, but 27 per cent of the prison population. Indigenous children represent 50 per cent of those in juvenile detention. This cannot be allowed to continue.
“Until governments commit to targets and genuine, evidence-based measures, Indigenous incarceration will continue to grow,” Mr Clark said.
View Media Release in Full
ATSILS currently have a range of job opportunities available for suitably experienced Legal Practitioners across Civil, Family and Criminal Law jurisdictions throughout the state.
To view our current vacancy list click here
We employ nearly 200 staff in 25 offices located throughout Queensland. As one of Queensland’s largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employers, we provide a culturally rich workplace within a social justice framework. We also offer attractive employment conditions, including:
Job Vacancies
MEDIA RELEASE: ‘Justice targets critical to ‘Closing the Gap’
Change the Record Coalition (CTR)
Change the Record Coalition Co-Chair Shane Duffy said, “These statistics are a sad indictment on our nation. The over-representation of our peoples in the criminal justice system, and high rates of violence being experienced, is both cause and effect for the poor state of health, education and employment outcomes of so many of our families and communities”.
“It is long past time for measurable justice targets to be adopted as part of the COAG Closing the Gap Strategy, and we welcome this renewed call for action from the Close the Gap Campaign. The safer communities ‘building block’ remains the only area without targets attached” said Mr Duffy.
https://changetherecord.org.au/blog/news/justice-targets-critical-to-close-the-gap
Media Release: Legal Services to continue in the Torres Strait Region and Northern Peninsula Area
Communities in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) will have continued access to
legal services thanks to a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Torres Strait
Regional Authority and Attorney-General’s Department.
Since 2011 the agencies have cooperated to fund the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal
Service (ATSILS) (QLD) Ltd, to deliver Indigenous legal services in the Torres Strait and NPA region.
The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) Chairperson, Mr Joseph Elu, said the partnership is an
important step in ensuring quality legal assistance, advice and representation for Torres Strait
Islander and Aboriginal clients in the region.
“The renewed MOU between the TSRA and Attorney-General’s Department secures the funding for
Indigenous legal services in the Torres Strait and NPA until 2018,” Mr Elu said.
“The ATSILS receives funding each year from the TSRA to enable them to provide these services.”
The ATSILS works together with Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal communities, key government
and non-government stakeholders to manage the delivery of services in a professional, culturally
competent and community-sensitive manner, to influence policy change, and to deliver high quality
legal services for Indigenous people within or exposed to the justice system.
“ATSILS staff in the region provides vital services in criminal, civil and family law and plays an
important role in delivering education programs to enhance individuals’ understanding of the legal
system,” Mr Elu said.
“The TSRA looks forward to its continued partnership with the Attorney-General’s Department and
ATSILS in delivering quality legal services in our region.”
Community members in the Torres Strait and NPA can contact ATSILS by calling 07 4069 1091
(Thursday Island office) or 07 4069 3970 (Bamaga office).
View Media Release