Courts Adopt Reconciliation Plan

Barambah Local Justice Group chairman Bevan Costello, a member of the Cultural Advisory Group which advised the working group on the development of the RAP, spoke at the launch … earlier this year Bevan was appointed to the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council (Photo: Cherbourg Radio)

The artwork on the cover of the RAP represents the Magistrates Courts and Murri Courts (the outer circles), community justice groups (inner circle) and the five elements of Unity, Historical Acceptance, Equality and Equity, Institutional Integrity and Race Relations (Photo: Cherbourg Radio)

November 16, 2018

A Reconciliation Action Plan developed by the Magistrates Courts of Queensland was officially unveiled in Cherbourg last week.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Terry Gardiner explained the history of the document, which was developed by a working group appointed by the Chief Magistrate.

This team worked in consultation with a Cultural Advisory Group consisting of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives from across Queensland.

Barambah Local Justice Group chairman Bevan Costello was one of the advisers in this group.

Mr Gardiner said work on the RAP began in April 2017.

“The RAP looks to tackle the barriers that exist for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people when coming into contact with the criminal justice system,” he said.

“The purpose is to build a culturally appropriate approach and provide equal opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people coming to the court.”

Mr Gardiner said there were 14 initiatives and 72 actions plans in the RAP which would be implemented during the next three years.

“At the end of 2021, a new RAP will be developed,” he said.