Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes with concern the recent death of an 18-year-old Murri youth in Brisbane after his repeated requests for medical attention were allegedly denied by staff at the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre;

(b)

expresses concern at the growing disproportionate and alarmingly high rates of incarceration of Indigenous Australians, with a national rate of 171 per 100 000 incarcerated and a staggering 646 per 100 000 incarcerated in the Northern Territory;

(c)

notes that new ‘tough on crime’ laws introduced by state and territory governments invariably lead to higher rates of Indigenous incarceration but produce little change in Australia’s comparatively low rates of serious crime; and

(d)

calls on the Federal Government and the Council of Australian Governments to act to implement the recommendations of the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move an amendment to the motion as circulated in the chamber:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes with concern the recent death of an 18-year-old Murri youth in Brisbane after his repeated requests for medical attention were allegedly denied by staff at the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre;

(b)

expresses concern at the growing disproportionate and alarmingly high rates of incarceration of Indigenous Australians, with a national rate of 171 per 100 000 incarcerated and a staggering 646 per 100 000 incarcerated in the Northern Territory;

(c)

notes that new ‘tough on crime’ laws introduced by state and territory governments invariably lead to higher rates of Indigenous incarceration but produce little change in Australia’s comparatively low rates of serious crime; and

(d)

calls on the Federal Government and the Council of Australian Governments to act to implement the recommendations of the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

Senator O’Brien, by leave, moved the following amendment:

Omit paragraph (d), substitute:

(d)

notes that the Government has worked with the states and territories to develop the National Indigenous Law and Justice Framework, the first comprehensive national policy document to address Indigenous law and justice matters; and

(e)

notes that the Government will continue to provide leadership at the national level to prevent deaths in custody, reduce over-representation in jails and recidivism, and provide full and equitable justice to Indigenous communities.

Question—That the amendment be agreed to—put and passed.

Main question, as amended, put and passed.

Question agreed to.

Original question, as amended, agreed to.