Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Wright for her question. As Senator Wright correctly identified at the outset, this is primarily a matter that is a state issue. Of course, remand is one of the matters that falls directly within state and territory jurisdictions, including in the types of court action that are taken. I can add that if the meeting of the Attorneys-General is able to provide any additional information, I will seek that from the Attorney-General. In terms of addressing the matter of the over-representation of Indigenous Australians in the criminal justice system, Indigenous rates of imprisonment are influenced by complex interactions of Indigenous disadvantage. Ms Macklin is working through closing the gap to improve those issues that sometimes lead to incarceration rates being increased within Indigenous populations, such as the standard of living, employment levels and literacy and numeracy. More importantly, getting back to the primary issue of remand and the opportunity for the Attorney-General to contribute to working with state and territory governments on those issues, it would be better that I seek further and better particulars from the Attorney-General as to the nature of work in that field.