Justice Action

‘The Extra Bit’ Report aims to shed light upon the lack of individual empowerment afforded to mental health consumers. It is crucial that consumers are encouraged to adopt an active role in their own treatment.

Review of the Royal Commission Inquiry

An End of Decade View of the Royal Commission Recommendations into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. April 1991/April 2001.   

In late 1987 the Hawke Government finally relented and called for the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. 124 deaths were presented to the Commissioners but they only investigated 99 which occurred between 1980 - 1989. Not one police, custodial or jail officer was found guilty of any substantial wrongdoing.

During April 1991, the Commissioners handed down their collective wisdom in the form of 339 Recommendations. Roughly half of these dealt with the so-called justice system for Indigenous people. These Recommendations were mainly intended to keep Aboriginal people out of jail and stressed the need for prisons as a last resort. They were aimed at bringing about change relating to the involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with the police, courts and jails. With what success?

The United Nations Human Rights Committee has ruled that Corey Brough, an adolescent Aboriginal man with a mild intellectual disability, has been the victim of human rights violations at the hand of the New South Wales prison officials whilst being detained at Parklea Correctional Centre in Sydney.

The Australian government, a signatory to the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, has refused to acknowledge the Committee’s decision and are currently ignoring calls for an effective remedy.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee has ruled that Corey Brough, an adolescent Aboriginal man with a mild intellectual disability, has been the victim of human rights violations at the hand of the New South Wales prison officials whilst being detained at Parklea Correctional Centre in Sydney.

The Australian government, a signatory to the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, has refused to acknowledge the Committee’s decision and are currently ignoring calls for an effective remedy.

Media release: September 25, 2008 download pdf

 

VICTORY FOR MENTAL PATIENTS LONG BAY LOCKDOWN
“Finally the government has acknowledged the right of mental patients to treatment that respects their special needs. To cause vulnerable citizens to suffer for administrative purposes is essentially torture and diminishes us as a community” said JA spokesperson Brett Collins.

{YouTubeVideo id=VtZY159f0p0}

A short version of the 63 minute documentary concerning the 11th International Conference on Penal Abolition held in Tasmania over the 9-11th February 2006. The documentary addresses penal abolition as a concept and issues surrounding that policy.

The full video is now available on DVD - Aust$30 incl post - email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

{YouTubeVideo id=VtZY159f0p0}

A short version of the 63 minute documentary concerning the 11th International Conference on Penal Abolition held in Tasmania over the 9-11th February 2006. The documentary addresses penal abolition as a concept and issues surrounding that policy.

The full video is now available on DVD - Aust$30 incl post - email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Victory for the Long Bay mental patients time out of cells isn't over! Campaign report. It went to Parliament for an Urgency Debate on 12/11/08, and we had the majority. But Minister Hatzistergos' promises were not kept. Media release 2nd Dec Patient statement

The twelth International Conference on Penal Abolition - ICOPA XII - "Creating a scandal: prison abolition and the policy agenda" was held in July 2008, in London.  YouTube presentation   Report download (1.6mb) Photos and papers are on The Howard League site

The twelth International Conference on Penal Abolition - ICOPA XII - "Creating a scandal: prison abolition and the policy agenda" was held in July 2008, in London.  YouTube presentation   Report download (1.6mb) Photos and papers are on The Howard League site