Question On Notice No. 1710 asked in the Legislative Council on 18 October 2018 by Hon Alison Xamon
Question Directed to the: Leader of the House representing the Attorney General
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I refer to recommendation 16–2 of the Australian Law Reform Commission
Report, Pathways to Justice,
regarding the development of Aboriginal Justice Agreements, and I ask:
(a) does the McGowan Government support the redevelopment of a Western
Australian Aboriginal Justice Agreement;
(b) if yes to (a):
(i) when will a new agreement be developed; and
(ii) which organisations or individuals will be involved in the development
of the agreement; and
(c) if no to (a), why not?
Answered on 22 November 2018
We acknowledge the development and implementation of the Aboriginal Justice Agreement model is a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, 1991.
The Commonwealth recently published a Report of the Review into the Implementation of the Recommendations of the Royal Commission.
The McGowan Government will be working with the Commonwealth on the appropriate strategies to ensure the recommendation of this report are implemented and aligned with the State’s own strategies to address is the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the justice system.
The development a new Aboriginal Justice Agreement will be considered in light of these current discussions.
Further, the McGowan government has prioritised a whole of government response to actively reduce the incarceration of Aboriginal people in prison. This effort involves strategic policy setting and coordinated frontline service delivery.
Existing initiates to work cooperatively with Aboriginal people and communities to understand issues impacting on their engagement with the justice system include:
- The Open Day Program delivered in partnership with other Departments, Aboriginal and other non-government organisations which provides a focused approach to address, outstanding fines, motor drivers’ license matters and identification deficits in Aboriginal communities.
- Driver education and training programmes.