JULIE TONGS
writes that we have to face the awful truth, the worst-performing government in Australia, when it comes to locking up Aboriginal peoples, is the ACT government. And enough is enough.
FOR years, I have been advocating loudly and regularly about the disgraceful over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in prison or otherwise involved with the ACT criminal justice system.
Julie Tongs.
As painful as it is to have to face the awful truth, the worst-performing government in Australia, when it comes to locking up Aboriginal peoples, is the ACT government.
The latest data on indigenous incarceration in the ACT reflects the depth of the crisis, in fact an ever worsening and festering crisis, in the nature and extent of the over-representation of Aboriginal peoples in the justice system.
Federal court judge admits error when jailing man in routine property dispute
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Indigenous leaders accuse ACT of trying to cover up strip-search of sexual assault survivor
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Last modified on Fri 15 Jan 2021 14.02 EST
Trapped in a prison van, terrified and confused, Mr Stradford began to hyperventilate.
The claustrophobia and anxiety was overwhelming him, according to court documents.
He says he started banging on the van’s door, begging to be let out.
The only response to his distress was from the two detainees being transported with him, he says.
One allegedly put his handcuffs around Stradford’s neck and tried to strangle him from behind.
“Shut the dog up,” the man uttered.
It had been about four days since Stradford stood in the federal circuit court before judge Salvatore Vasta, where, self-represented and without any legal experience, he was arguing a routine property settlement dispute with his ex-wife.