ANTaR Qld and Project 10% partners met with the Shadow Attorney General in January to discuss the goal of reducing imprisonment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland. The meeting covered the Just Futures Strategy, Alcohol Management Plans, youth justice, Murri Courts and sentencing options. For more information call the office on 3844 9800.

While ANTaR Qld today welcomed the release of the long awaited Just Futures – the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Strategy 2012 - 2015, it called for a greater focus on youth.

Project 10% welcomes the Queensland Government’s commitment to reduce imprisonment rates in this State. Despite the signing of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Agreement in 2001, imprisonment rates in Queensland for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, women and children have continued to rise.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults represent on average 30% of the Queensland prison population and 50% of the youth detention centre population. In some adult prisons this percentage is as high as 70%.

A coalition of organisations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members have launched a campaign to pressure the Government to implement the 339 Recommendations of the now twenty year old Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

Are you involved in reducing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rates? Come to hear about ‘Justice Reinvestment’. We want to have an open discussion about its relevance for keeping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people out of the criminal justice system.

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ANTaR Qld and Project 10% partners have responded to the Draft Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Strategy 2012 - 2014 released for public feedback in April. The new submission is informed by the campaign's original submission Reducing Imprisonment in Qld made in November 2010 and community consultation with key campaign stakeholders. For a copy of the submission please contact us on 3844 9800 or email office@antarqld.org.au

Write today - The Royal Commission produced a number of reports, including individual reports for each death investigated. These were presented separately as they were completed.

ANTaR Qld and Project 10% partners ATSIWLAS and Murri Watch met with the new Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships, Minister Curtis Pitt, to discuss the urgent need for a new justice strategy in Queensland. The discussion touched on the role of each of the key Departments and the need to mitigate the unintended consequences of any new laws and programs. For more information contact the office on 3844 9800 or email office@antarqld.org.au.

“Queenslanders are shocked that those responsible for the botched investigation into the death of Cameron Doomadgee have not been held accountable and will not be appropriately disciplined” Kitty Carra, President of ANTaR Qld said today.

Project 10% met with the Commissioner for Corrective Services in March to discuss departmental progress on the goal of reducing recidivism rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners in Qld gaols. For more information please contact the office on 3844 9800 or email office@antarqld.org.au.