September 2020

Almost 30 years ago, the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody highlighted the mass incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia.

Since then, there have been numerous other Royal Commissions, inquiries, reports and recommendations which have focused on ending the imprisonment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and preventing Aboriginal deaths in custody. Yet many of these reports continue to sit on the shelf gathering dust, and many of their recommendations remain unimplemented. Aboriginal people continue to offer up solutions, but they continue to be ignored. 

It is critical that the NSW Government acts without delay to rapidly and radically transform the justice system – Aboriginal peoples’ lives depend on it. We recognise the advocacy work and fight for justice that has been undertaken for generations - by Aboriginal people who have lived experience of the justice system and families who have had loved ones die in custody. It is vital that all law reform and policy responses centre their voices and experiences.

Click the link below to read our full submission.