News archive 2009
Review of youth justice in Western Australia
The Commissioner for Children and Young People WA has released a report by Dr Harry Blagg on young people in the WA criminal justice system.
(18 December 2009)
Emergency Response redesign consultations
The Australian Government has released a report on consultations on the redesign of the NTER. A report on the consultation process has also been released.
Read the report on the process...
(30 November 2009)
Parliamentary Inquiry into Indigenous juveniles and young adults in the criminal justice system
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs is calling for submissions to a new inquiry into the high level of involvement of Indigenous juveniles and young adults in the criminal justice system. Submissions are due by 22 December 2009
(30 November 2009)
Ministers agree to action on Indigenous community safety
The Commonwealth Government hosted a roundtable on Indigenous community safety for State and Territory Attorneys-General, Indigenous Affairs Ministers, Police Ministers and Commissioners and Indigenous professionals working in the field
(6 November 2009)
National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children: implementing the first three-year action plan 2009-2012
The Implementation Plan outlines how all governments, the non-government sector and the broader community will take forward the actions identified in the National Framework's first three-year action plan, and how the progress of these actions will be measured.
(9 November 2009)
Indigenous crime prevention programs win awards
Four Indigenous justice initiatives have been recognised at the Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards in 2009. The Fitzroy Crossing Liquor Restriction Enforcement, the Cross Border Project in the NPY Lands and Queensland's Coordinated Response to Young People at Risk and Barambah Community Support Project have all been acknowledged for their efforts to reduce crime and violence
(6 November 2009)
Closing the gap clearinghouse
A Clearinghouse for evidence-based research on overcoming disadvantage for Indigenous Australians in the six target areas in health, education and employment.
(02 November 2009)
National Indigenous social survey released
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released summary results of the 2008 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey. Data cubes are also available.
(30 October 2009)
Northern Territory Alcohol Court reform
The NT Government has released a discussion paper and is calling for submissions on reforms to the NT Alcohol Court. Submissions close on 27 November 2009.
(29 October 2009)
Indicators of the health of Australian prisoners
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released the a report on indicators to be used in a national statistical collection on the health of Australian prisoners.
(29 October 2009)
What works to keep young Indigenous people strong on release from detention?
The National Justice CEOs group report recommendations for designing programs for post-release success, based on an audit of existing programs, discussions in focus groups and research.
(26 October 2009)
Why are Indigenous imprisonment rates rising?
The New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research has released a paper examining remand, sentencing and offending, concluding that most of the increase is due to increased severity in the criminal justice system's treatment of Indigenous offenders.
(7 October 2009)
Indigenous Young People Crime and Justice conference
Papers and audio recordings from the Indigenous Young People Crime and Justice conference, held in Parramatta from 31 August - 1 September 2009 are now available
(21 September 2009)
Indigenous Justice Clearinghouse year in review
The report of the clearinghouse for 1 July 2008 to 31 June 2009 has been presented to the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General and the National Justice CEOs Group.
(26 August 2009)
NEW Indigenous justice clearinghouse resources
We are pleased to launch a new series on the clearinghouse. Current initiatives will highlight existing and new practices and programs that show promise in Indigenous justice.
(21 August 2009)
Helping Aboriginal defendants through MERIT
The NSW Auditor-General's Ofice has released a report calling for better access for Aboriginal defendants to the MERIT drug diversion program.
(5 August 2009)
Black and white together: a time for hope, a time for change. 2009 National Indigenous Legal Conference
The 4th National Indigenous Legal Conference will be held in Adelaide, 24-25 September 2009. The Conference will canvass topical issues that have a major impact on Indigenous people in Australia and provide a forum for discussing potential long term sustainable strategies to address Indigenous disadvantage in the legal domain.
(3 August 2009)
Indigenous housing indicators report released
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released its 3rd report on Indigenous housing indicators, covering 2007-08.
(30 July 2009)
Fitzroy Crossing alcohol restriction evaluation
The WA Drug and Alcohol Office has released the final report on the 12 month evaluation of liquor restrictions in the Fitzroy Valley.
(29 July 2009)
Queensland family violence strategy
The Queensland Government has For our sons and daughters: a Queensland Government strategy to reduce domestic and family violence 2009-2014.
(17 July 2009)
Indigenous population projections 2006-31
The Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at ANU has developed Indigenous population projections for the next 25 years.
(14 July 2009)
State-wide Reference Group meets in Brisbane
The Queensland State-wide Community Justice Reference Group (SWRG) met in Brisbane on 26-27 May 2009 to discuss a range of issues and justice areas currently impacting Indigenous people.
Issues discussed at the meeting included child protection, alcohol management, justice of the peace, the magistrate's court, criminal history checks, cultural protocols, the National Indigenous Law and Justice Framework and restorative justice. Each issue was then assigned to a community or government agency to progress and report on at the next SWRG meeting in late 2009.
The Queensland Government's Department of Justice and Attorney-General (JAG) established the SWRG following recommendations contained in Professor Cunneen's Evaluation of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Justice Agreement in 2005. The SWRG is a representative body comprised of 16 members elected by Community Justice Groups across Queensland.
(6 July 2009)
For further information about the SWRG contact JAG on 07 3109 9185.
Policing substance abuse in Indigenous communities
This report from the Australian Institute of Criminology reports from a workshop designed to highlight good practice from New South Wales and Victoria.
(3 July 2009)
Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage: key indicators
This report includes chapters on family and community violence, and imprisonment and juvenile detention, as well as a range of other measures of Indigenous disadvantage.
(2 July 2009)
Indigenous young people, crime and justice conference, 31 August-1 September 2009
Aims to identify and share the research and practice most relevant to addressing the problem of overrepresentation of Indigenous young people at all stages of the criminal justice system.
To register or submit a paper...
(26 June 2009)
NIDAC report on Indigenous prisoners
An important paper on Indigenous prisoners and health issues from the National Indigenous Drugs and Alcohol Committee.
(25 June 2009)
Senate Select Committee on Men's Health
The Senate Select Committee on Men's Health includes a statistics and a chapter on Indigenous men's health.
(29 May 2009)
Social justice report
The Australian Human Rights Commission has released the 2008 Social justice report. This year the rpoert focuses on human rights protections for Indigenous peoples, remote Indigenous education, Indigenous healing and progress on achieving health equality by 2030.
(28 May 2009)
Protecting Children is Everyone's Business
The Protecting children report identified significant over-representation of Indigenous children in child abuse and neglect substantiations. It outlines plans at all levels of government to support families and children into the future.
(30 Apr 2009)
Time for Action to Reduce Violence against Women and Children
The Australian Government has released the report of the National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children. a plan providing clear directions to enable women to live free of violence, in respectful relationships and in safe communities and to address the particular issues affecting Indigenous women.
(29 Apr 2009)
ACT report on Indigenous family violence
The ACT Victims of Crime Coordinator has released a report on family violence in the ACT Indigenous community.
(30 Mar 2009)
Draft National Indigenous Law and Justice Framework released for consultation
The draft National Indigenous Law and Justice Framework has been developed by the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General. It follows from the consultation on a 'National Indigenous Law and Justice Strategy' in late 2007. At its April 2009 meeting, SCAG agreed to release the draft Framework for a three month targeted consultation. The draft Framework takes a holistic approach to addressing the underlying causes and ongoing consequences of crime in Indigenous communities, including the associated disproportionately high rates of incarceration of Indigenous Australians.
SA Aboriginal Justice Action Plan released
The South Australian Department of Justice have released a plan identifying the strategic directions, roles and responsibilities of Justice agencies and opportunities for cross-agency collaboration, which will improve criminal and social justice outcomes for Aboriginal South Australians.
NSW Circle Sentencing Program to expand
NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos has announced that the Circle Sentencing program will be expanded. The program will be rolled out to Nambucca, bringing the total number of locations where the Aboriginal justice program operates to 10.Mandatory reporting of domestic violence in NT
The reporting of domestic violence will become mandatory in the Northern Territory, following the passage of new laws.
Judicial Commission of NSW holds Ngara Yura conference for judicial officers and Aboriginal community members
A two-day residential program to be held on the 16-17 May will provide an important opportunity for social and professional interaction between judicial officers and Aboriginal community members, and some insights into Aboriginal culture. The conference will be structured around two interwoven themes: contemporary social issues which impact on Aboriginal communities, and contemporary legal matters arising from these issues.
National Indigenous law and justice advisory body
The Australian Government is establishing a new national Indigenous law and justice advisory body to provide high level policy advice to government as part of its commitment to Closing the Gap on Indigenous disadvantage. Nominations for membership are sought from individuals with experience and expertise on law and justice issues across a range of sectors including academia, police, corrections, legal and support services, education, health and employment.
For more information see the Attorney-General's Department website
(16 Jan 2009)