May 3, 2020
The Australian Indigenous Doctors Association has joined the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services in supporting a call to release Indigenous prisoners due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
They supported an open letter written by 10 families who either have had loved ones die in custody in other circumstances or currently have family members in prison.
“Governments must listen to the voices of these courageous families who have banded together to prevent COVID-19 black deaths in custody,” NATSILS co-chair Cheryl Axleby said.
“The families are calling for the immediate release of First Nations people from prison. An outbreak in prisons is imminent and our health system will not be able to cope.”
AIDA said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities were at a high risk of contracting COVID-19 because of the high levels of chronic disease.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in prisons throughout Australia already have compromised health conditions, and we must protect them from this virus, as well as prevent its spread to our communities,” AIDA president Dr Kris Rallah-Baker said.
NATSILS co-chair Nerita Wright said it was essential the government listened to the families.
“We need priority testing and appropriate medical care for First Nations people who have symptoms or are suspected of having COVID-19,” she said.
“There also needs to be widespread testing where there have been positive cases. The longer governments wait to act, the worse this will be, more lives will be lost.
“COVID-19 is spreading like wildfire in prisons overseas. Many people in custody as well as corrections officers have already contracted the virus and died.
“The United Kingdom, Canada, Indonesia, Germany and the United States have already released people to contain the spread of the virus. We must follow their example to prevent any COVID-19 black deaths in custody.”
