Justice Reform Initiative’s national conference was held this week in Mparntwe/Alice Springs where more than 350 advocates for reforming Australia’s crisis-ridden justice system echoed Children’s Commissioners nationwide call for the federal government to intervene. Territory and several state governments have been making ‘tough on crime’ reforms, which advocates say will only increase the cost of the nation’s prison system and result in more young people – particularly indigenous children – leading a life of crime.
The Initiative’s chairman and former federal Indigenous Affairs minister Robert Tickner said jailing was failing those it was meant to rehabilitate and more investment and leadership from the federal level was critical. Arrernte man and managing director of Kings Narrative Tyson Carmody said while funding was needed, relying on government grants was subject to the whims of politicians and real investment in local, indigenous led solutions were critical. Chief executive the national voice for indigenous children, SNAICC, and local Arrernte-Luritja woman Catherine Liddle said the federal government had largely left action on the Closing the Gap initiatives in justice and child protection to states and territories, which were failing to meet the agreement’s targets.
Pictured: Tyson Carmody