Leading figures from Aboriginal communities and experts in the field of criminal justice will look at how the incarceration rates of Aboriginal people in South Australia can be reduced.
The eight-person Advisory Commission, which includes local, interstate and international representatives, has been tasked with providing advice to Government for consideration early next year, and will consist of:
- Chris Larkin
- Heather Agius
- Jonathan Rudin
- Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt AO
- Leanne Liddle
- Major Sumner AM
- Adjunct Associate Professor Scott Wilson
- Professor Tracey McIntosh
The Commission will consider the key issues of drivers of reoffending, interactions of Aboriginal people with the criminal justice system, options to reduce overrepresentation of Aboriginal people on remand and culturally appropriate and culturally responsive custody options.
Key representatives from relevant Government departments will be made available to the Commission to provide any additional information they need in considering their recommendations.
Quotes attributable to Kyam Maher MLC, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
While Aboriginal people constitute about 2.4 per cent of our population, they account for nearly a quarter of the adult prison population, and half of all young people in detention. This is unacceptable and clearly needs to change.
This Commission brings together some of the finest minds the world has to offer to look at a long-standing and, sadly, globally common problem. This is something that all states and territories are grappling with, and closely aligns with broader initiatives under Closing the Gap.
Importantly, half of the Commission members are South Australian Aboriginal leaders with expertise and knowledge in the criminal justice system.
We a/so have world-renowned leaders in their fields - people like Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt, a Professor of Law who has written numerous textbooks on Indigenous legal issues; sociology and criminology expert Professor Tracey McIntosh, Professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Auckland; and Jonathan Rudin, Aboriginal Justice expert, and Constitutional Litigator in Residence at Toronto's David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights.
I'm pleased that such a great wealth of knowledge and experience will be able to consider these issues, look at the approaches taken in other jurisdictions and consider what may work in a South Australian context.
This is part of our commitment to improving outcomes for Aboriginal people, alongside our commitment to Voice, Treaty and Truth.
Quotes attributable to Joe Szakacs MP, Minister for Police
The work of this Commission will form an important step forward in tackling the over representation of Aboriginal people in South Australia's criminal justice system.
I look forward to learning of the Commission's findings when their insights are presented to Government early next year.