[Greens-Media] Senate calls for Government action on justice targets and the interpretation services

[Redman, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

24 November 2014

Senate calls for Government action on justice targets and the interpretation services

The Senate has backed two Australian Greens motions calling for action to address the increasing rate of incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

"In supporting my two motions, the Senate has sent a clear message to the Government that action is needed to address the shameful incarceration rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues said today.

"The Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage report has highlighted the growing gap in incarceration rates, and it is time the Government listened to the communities and organisations who have been calling for a justice target to be established.

"The adult imprisonment rate increased 57 per cent between 2000 and 2013, with juvenile detention rates at around 24 times the rate for non-Aboriginal youth. 

"There are clear failures in our justice system, and the establishment of justice targets will help provide a clear framework for the Federal Government to work with communities, peak Aboriginal organisations and the states.

"The Government's cuts to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs will only make this situation worse, as we see crucial services lose funding or have their futures put at risk.

"There must be a commitment to fund crucial legal services and other community programs as part of meeting a justice target.

"In WA, the future of the Kimberley Interpreting Service (KIS) is in serious doubt due to a lack of funding. The services provided by KIS are fundamental to ensuring people can have interpreters in local language. Without this service, their access to justice is significantly reduced.

"Noting the seriousness of this situation, the Senate has called on the Government to work with WA and ensure critical programs such as these continue to operate," Senator Siewert concluded.



Motion Text:

*516 Senator Siewert: To move-That the Senate-
(a) acknowledges that the gap between life expectancy, health outcomes and incarceration rates of Aboriginal to non-Aboriginal people remains unacceptable;
(b) notes:
	(i) the release of the Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage report on 19 November 2014 which finds:
		(A) the adult imprisonment rate increased 57 per cent between 2000 and 2013,
		(B) juvenile detention rates increased sharply between 2000-01 and 2007-08, and have fluctuated since at around 24 times the rate for non-Indigenous youth, and
		(C) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians make up only 2.3 per cent of the adult population, but as of 30 June 2013 made up over a quarter (27.4 per cent) of the adult prison population, and
	(ii) that peak Aboriginal organisations have been calling for justice targets to address the unacceptably high incarceration rates of Aboriginal people; and16 No. 66-24 November 2014
(c) calls on the Government to take leadership on this issue and introduce a national justice target.

515 Senator Siewert: To move-That the Senate-

(a) acknowledges:
	(i) that being understood is essential in accessing justice,
	(ii) the importance of interpreting services in the justice system, and(iii) the unacceptable rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander incarceration;
(b) notes:	
	(i) the Kimberley Interpreting Service (KIS) has around 100 interpreters who speak over 30 Indigenous languages,	
	(ii) that in many Western Australia communities English is not the first language, and
	(iii) since 2006 KIS has been funded through a state and federal government partnership which ended in June 2014, and the Western Australian Government has said it was not in a position to provide any more funding; and
(c) calls on the Commonwealth Government to work with the Western Australian Government to ensure ongoing funding for essential interpreting services.