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Will Abbott’s Aboriginal Advisory Committee represent prison issues? by Joyce Capewell 29 October 2013
I
, along with others, are wondering and questioning ‘does the Australian Government need to wait for confirmation from an Aboriginal Advisory Council regarding the consequential horrors of generational racism injustice incarceration of Aboriginal people?’ Included is Deaths in Custody and repetitive racism injustice incarceration of Aboriginal people? The continuing practice of Stolen Generations in the government’s DCS systems is also demonstrated. Recognition and acceptance of these out of control horrendous issues is long overdue from Government and the consequential actions of these issues - speak louder than words! Actually, it appears Aboriginal Incarceration repercussions issues is something not too many in society care to discuss. When discussed the ugly hardcore nitty gritty issues associated with imprisonment is pushed aside (so to speak). Mind you, many in society are not familiar and are oblivious of what actually happens in prisons, unless they have encountered the true horrors of having been incarcerated or have worked in a prison. And those in DCS (including recent foreigners) will certainly do all they can by threats and bullying to cover up all their neglectful and wrong operational procedures. I believe I am certainly in a
Joyce Capewell. Image supplied
position to qualify to bring forth the dreadful issues of Deaths in Custody and generational racism injustice Incarceration along with the continuing Stolen Generations of Aboriginal people within the DCS systems. These horrific incarceration matters regarding Aboriginal people seem to be deliberately overlooked and denied by the Australian Government. Catastrophic issues such as these noted needs to be urgently amended, not denied and delayed by the Government. The Government should not need to wait for an Aboriginal Advisory Council to validate and determine the significant crises related to generational racism
injustice incarceration and Deaths in Custody of Aboriginal prisoners. Is this impending Aboriginal Advisory Council going to be in a position to verify and assist Mr Abbott and his government to rectify the continuing racism practices towards Aboriginal People? These practice procedures towards Aboriginal people appear to stem from the Government and demostratedly infiltrated throughout their justice systems, specifically so it’s prisons. I, and others, certainly wonder will these selected people on Mr Abbott’s Advisory Aboriginal Council have experienced, witnessed and able to give a firsthand account of the accuracy of
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the horror of what is happening to Aboriginal People within prisons? Including, attending the aftermaths of suicides and attempted suicides within prisons. I can certainly vouch of witnessing and experiencing first-hand accounts of these appalling issues, numerous times. I also can vouch the racism practices are alive and well within the Government, its justice systems and in its prisons, due to my 20 year experience as an Aboriginal Visitors Scheme Employee, now ex-Employee due to whistleblowing. I can vouch for the continuing soul destroying horrors Aboriginal People experience and are subjected to in Prisons. My whistleblowing was due to the attempted near fatal suicide of 2 young Yamaji Aboriginal brothers within a span of 12 hours within the Western Australian Greenough Regional Prison. These young brothers were denied culturally appropriate assistance from the Aboriginal Visitors Scheme during and after the fact. At this current time, any suicidal Aboriginal Prisoner within GRP is denied assistance at all times from the Culturally Appropriate AVS service - as there is not one! Just as there has not been an AVS service at the local Geraldton Police Station for the past 5 years
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(a skeleton service between this period lasted several months). The lack of AVS services in lockups is also contributing to causing further barriers between Police and the Yamaji communities. Is the Australian Government also waiting for confirmation from this impending Aboriginal Advisory Council that the Royal Commission recommendations of the prevention of Deaths in Custody has failed to be abided by and virtually abolished by the Government and its Justice System, including the DCS systems? Does confirmation from Mr Abbott’s proposed AAC need to be submitted, referring to the continuing Stolen Generations of Aboriginal people within the Australian Government DCS system, before prevention measures from Government is sought? Government should now clearly be in a position to begin acknowledging and accepting this also is happening and needs urgent action to be amended on the basis of humanity. Another destructive plight for prisoners in the Western Australia DCS prison systems is that of, being subjected to a second invasion from recent foreigners. This repeated invasion procedure is adding further chaos and emotional trauma to Aboriginal
Prisoners especially more so those experiencing severe mental health problems. With all due respect to Mr Abbotts charitable intentions, regarding the proposed Aboriginal Advisory Council, it should not be required his AAC bring these documented terrible destructive repercussion issues relating to Aboriginal incarceration, to the Australian Governments attention. The Australian Government should currently be in a position to begin to realize Aboriginal incarceration consequential matters are now a prominent catastrophic emergency crisis that needs to be urgently amended. Matter of fact it is not only suicides in custody but suicides of Aboriginals in Communities are now considered to have reached national epidemic levels. Where is the humanity that should be displayed and practiced by Government towards the Traditional Owners of this land? The Government certainly should not demonstrate the pathetic lame excuse of waiting for an Aboriginal Advisory Council to submit to their attention these documented significant and critical issues relating to appalling repercussions stemming from generational racism within the Government justice system including the DCS systems.