Calling for an Inquiry into First Nation Women In Custody
Author – Christine Cooper, Assistant Federal Secretary, Independent Education Union of Australia
Petition Reason
We call upon the House of Representatives to establish an inquiry into First Nation Women in Custody. It has been almost 30 years since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody released its 339 recommendations.
Since that time more than 400 First Nation people have died in custody and the number of First Nation people in custody and under remand has risen. First Nation women are at risk with an alarming number of women remanded in custody for minor offences. The legal system as it relates to women is over burdened and under resourced. The various bail laws place an increased burden on the system resulting in a high proportion of First Nation women remaining in custody for minor offences. The current laws and processes around bail and remand are inadequate to deal with the complex and traumatic histories of vulnerable First Nation Women More resourcing for community services, including legal services that help women are needed.
Petition Request
We therefore ask the House to initiate a committee inquiry into and report on the intergenerational trauma for First Nation Women and the underlying causes relating to their interactions with the justice systems. In particular, the inquiry needs to investigate the current laws and processes around bail and remand, the provision of medical care to First Nation Women whilst in custody and the inadequacy of levels of resourcing and support for community services in order to prevent First Nation Women from being incarcerated.
