Kimberley Community Legal Service signs joint letter to Prime Minister on jailing Aboriginal children

Kimberley Community Legal Service has joined a chorus of more than 200 Aboriginal, community and children’s organisations calling for the Prime Minister to act on increasing incarceration rates of Aboriginal children. The Kimberley organisation was one of 206 organisations and leaders from across the country that signed the open letter initiated by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service urging Anthony Albanese to call an emergency summit on youth justice. While the Prime Minister is yet to respond to the call a Commonwealth Government spokesperson said “only States and Territories” can set justice policies. NATSILS acting chair Nerita Waight said the statement was untrue and accused Mr Albanese of “trying to pass the buck” and engaging in “political point-scoring”. “The Federal Government has constitutional authority to override State and Territory justice systems to enforce international human rights obligations. This advice from senior counsel was shared with the Prime Minister last year.” She said Aboriginal children were ‘languishing behind bars” due to the Prime Minister’s inaction. “Not only does Prime Minister Albanese have the power to act, but he also has the moral obligation,” Ms Waight said. “Hundreds of organisations are today urging the Prime Minister to call an emergency summit on youth justice to address this growing crisis. Is the Prime Minister really saying he will do nothing?” It comes after Mr Albanese confirmed in his recent annual closing the gap update that Australia is not on track in reducing incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 37 per cent of the prison population is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people which Ms Waight called a “shameful lack of progress” under the national agreement to close the gap. She said to achieve the goals of the initiative “urgent and meaningful action” was needed to change the justice system. “This shameful crisis is affecting children and communities from all corners of our country, and it requires national leadership, Ms Waight said. “In the past two years alone, we have seen 11-year-olds locked up in watch houses, we have seen the re-introduction of dangerous and cruel spit hoods. We have seen a State premier boasting about introducing laws that could impose life sentences on children as young as 14. “Our letter is a warning flare. Act now, or own the consequences of a new generation being locked up for political gain.”