A national justice reinvestment body
Recommendation 4–1 Commonwealth, state and territory governments should provide support for the establishment of an independent justice reinvestment body. The purpose of the body should be to promote the reinvestment of resources from the criminal justice system to community-led, place-based initiatives that address the drivers of crime and incarceration, and to provide expertise on the …
Publications
Read moreTorres Strait Islander peoples
2.107 While this Inquiry focuses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander incarceration rates, it is important to recognise that Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people have significantly different histories and culture. Dr Anna Shnukal has observed that, ‘Torres Strait Islanders are not mainland Aboriginal people who inhabit the islands of Torres Strait. They are …
Publications
Read moreApproach to reform
1.11 While the Inquiry examined options for law reform that can reduce the incarceration rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the recommendations and commentary in the Report do not seek to excuse or minimise violent or abusive behaviours for which incarceration is the appropriate response. It is the intention of the ALRC that …
Publications
Read moreConsultations
NameLocationAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategic Directions Steering Committee, NSW Police ForceDubbo—FebruaryAboriginal Coordination Team, NSW Police ForceSydney—AprilAboriginal Employment Programs Unit, NSW Police ForceTeleconference—MarchAboriginal Family Violence Prevention Service Melbourne—AprilAboriginal Interpreter ServiceDarwin—MarchAboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT)Sydney—MarchAboriginal Legal Service of WAPerth—MarchAssociate Professor Thalia Anthony, Faculty of Law, UTSSydney—MarchZachary Armytage, Community Legal Centres NSWSydney—FebruaryAustralians for Native Title and Reconciliation Brisbane—MarchJustice …
Publications
Read moreImproving responses
Aboriginal women experiencing family violenceQuestion 12–1 How can police work better with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to reduce family violence?12.16 The prevalence of family violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities has been recognised as a key driver of the incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and, increasingly, women.[13] Family …
Publications
Read moreUnderlying factors
9.3 The vast majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women will never enter the criminal justice system as offenders, or be incarcerated.[1] However, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander female offenders are the fastest growing prison cohort in Australia, growing at a rate which significantly exceeds the growth rate of other offenders, including Aboriginal and …
Publications
Read moreAssessing solutions
Question 8–1 Noting the link between alcohol abuse and offending, how might state and territory governments facilitate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, that wish to do so, to:(a) develop and implement local liquor accords with liquor retailers and other stakeholders that specifically seek to minimise harm to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, for …
Publications
Read moreApproach to reform
Disproportionate representation1.29 As the Inquiry concerns the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australian prisons, the ALRC focuses on those areas where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are disproportionately represented.1.30 Aboriginal and Torres Strait people represent just 3% of the Australian population, but account for 27% of the adult prison population. …
Publications
Read moreElder Abuse—A National Legal Response | 2017 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Forum
Elder Abuse Reform Symposium, Melbourne Town Hall, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 15 June 2017, Emeritus Professor Rosalind F Croucher AM, President, Australian Law Reform Commission*AudioTranscript[Note: Professor Croucher spoke to this paper, so the text below is not an exact transcript of the recording of the presentation—some comments were added, especially at the beginning; and some …
News/Media Release
Read moreAdult safeguarding laws
Recommendation 14–1 Adult safeguarding laws should be enacted in each state and territory. These laws should give adult safeguarding agencies the role of safeguarding and supporting ‘at-risk adults’. A duty to protect14.12 The starting point for responding to elder abuse, Professor Jonathan Herring has written, should be thatolder people have a fundamental human right to …
Publications
Read more