March 23, 2020
The peak national body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services has called called for urgent action to protect Indigenous inmates from COVID-19.
The group released a statement after meeting with Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt and representatives from the Attorney-General’s Department on Monday.
NATSILS called for the Prime Minister, Attorney-General and “all levels of State and Territory Government” to take immediate action to protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in prison, including early release.
“Most of our people in prison have chronic health issues and are living with disability; they are most at risk. With the over-representation of our people in prison, our lives are on the line,” a statement released by NATSILs said.
“People in prison are extremely vulnerable to COVID-19.
“This is why we are calling for immediate early release, particularly people who are on remand, women who are victims of family violence and sentenced for lesser offences like fines and public order offences, young people and those most at risk of transmitting COVID-19, (the) elderly and people with health conditions.
“At all costs, we must prevent any Aboriginal deaths in custody from COVID-19.
“Globally, governments are using early release to contain the virus, including Ireland’s proposal to release prisoners with less than 12 months to serve, and elsewhere in the United States and United Kingdom.
“We are concerned about the impact of policing, the closure and delay of courts during the COVID-19 pandemic. There must be more focus on alternatives to imprisonment, on diversion, and on providing communities the support that we need to survive this pandemic.
“We are also concerned about the civil law impacts for our people, particularly on fines and tenancy, administrative proceedings, and the impact on child protection and law. There are measures such as freezing rental and rate increases that governments can take.
“We discussed with Minister Wyatt the impact of COVID-19 in remote communities. Right now, our lives depend on having full access to social safety nets without any strings attached. Bush courts and circuit courts have now stopped, and ATSILS are working on ways to provide services without face to face contact to remote communities.
“When courts resume, this will place unprecedented need on our legal services. We require urgent additional resources to adequately respond to this pandemic.
“This pandemic will have a huge impact on our communities, our lives, and our services for many months to come. It is vital that the Prime Minister and all levels of government act now to show leadership for First Nations people.”
