Aboriginal Law Bulletin
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Approximately 600 people attended a public meeting organised by the NSW Deaths in Custody Watch Committee in Sydney on 1 October. The meeting was chaired by 'Diamond' Jim McClelland. Guest speakers were Hal Wooten. QC, Gary Foley, Brian Toohey, Paul Coe, Duncan Kerr M.P., representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Chris Miles, Opposition Spokesperson, Relatives of Aborigines who died in custody also addressed the: meeting.
Duncan. Kerr announced that the Commission has been established to examine 53 Aboriginal deaths in custody. The Federal Government has allocated $900,000 to meet the costs for legal representation of the 'direct relatives' of the deceased. Other persons who claim an interest in a case before the Commission, will be considered for financial assistance on a 'merits basis'.
The meeting was informed that the Royal Commissioner, Mr Justice Muirhead, would seek 'proper input' from the. Aboriginal community. However, under heated questioning from members of the public, Mr Kerr was unable to provide details about the Commission's personnel and structure. He outlined certain measures, enshrined in a draft code of procedures and practices. which are to be initiated by the Federal and State Governments to try to prevent further Aboriginal deaths in custody.
Paul Coe raised three main concerns of the Aboriginal Legal Services:
Mr Coe did not mince words-he accused police of carrying out the killings of Aboriginal people, under the belief that they could take an Aboriginal life with immunity. 'There is a perception in the community that Aboriginal people are not worth protecting, that Aboriginal lives are not worth living, he said.
It is to be hoped that the terms of reference of the Royal Commission will be widened to empower f to carry out not only a rigorous investigation into Aboriginal deaths in custody, but also an inquiry into all the surrounding circumstances. in so doing, the Commission may be instrumental in heralding a radical change in attitude amongst the white community of Australia.
The Watch Committee is calling for membership. It is a voluntary organisation, established in June 1987. Its alms are to prevent further deaths in custody and to work to cards abolition of the conditions which lead to these deaths.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Watch Committee, send in your name, address and contact numbers A list of any skills access to equipment or links with other organisations would be helpful to the work of the Committee. Membership fees. individual $10; small organisation $30; large organisation $100.
Address: WATCH COMMITTEE
PO Box 65
BROADWAY NSW 2007
WE DO by these Our Letters Patent issued in Our name by Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on the advice of the Federal Executive Council and in pursuance of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Royal Commission Act 1902 and every other enabling power, appoint you to be a Commissioner to inquire into:
(a) the deaths in Australia since January 1980 of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders (including any such death that may occur after the date of these Our Letters Patent) whilst in police custody, in prison or in any other place of detention; and
(b) any subsequent action taken in respect of each of those deaths including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the conduct of colonial, police and other inquiries and any other things that were not done but ought to have been done.
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URL: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AboriginalLawB/1987/43.html