Aboriginal Law Bulletin --- "ALB News: A Summary of Some of the Demands from the November 1987 CDBR Conference of Aboriginal and Islander Families who have had a Relative Die in Police or Prison Custody; NAILSS and Witness Protection" [1988] AboriginalLawB 36; (1988) 1(33) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 2

• News
• A Summary Of Some Of The Demands From The November 1987 Cdbr Conference Of Aboriginal And Islander Families Who Have Had A Relative Die In Police Or Prison Custody
• Nailss And Witness Protection

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News

A Summary of Some of the Demands from the November 1987 CDBR Conference of Aboriginal and Islander Families who have had a Relative Die in Police or Prison Custody

• That prison witnesses to a death in custody be released from prison during the Royal Commission andplaced on either work releaseorparole orplaced in one common custody-holding place.

• That a record of potential prison witnesses be submitted to put the Commission on notice that some witnesses maybe prevented from giving evidence.

• That the Royal Commission provide funds for services such as:-

(i) A 24 hour Black Lifeline which the families would be able to phone, toll-free, any time of theday.
(ii) to provide extra funds for a staff position in Aboriginal Legal Service throughout Australia to record and publicise any harassments or intimidations.
(iii) that the Royal Commission fund at regular intervals, national conferences to assist families to create and maintain a national network.
(iv) that the Royal Commission provide stiff penalties for those preventing evidence from being presented.
(iv) that evidence gathered showing harassment and intimidation of Aboriginal or Islander families and witnesses be tabled in Federal Parliament at regular intervals during the Commission.

• That the families publicise events of their daily lives to the international arena.

NAILSS and Witness Protection

On the 20th of August 1987 NAILSS made representations to Gerry Hand. The following resolution was put on that date and is now reiterated by NAILSS: Measures for the protection of actual and prospective witnesses must be taken (in consultation with Aboriginal people) and this process should include some form of regular and public monitoring of the treatment of those people at risk.