The democratically-elected Aboriginal representative body for Victoria, the First Peoples’ Assembly, has said it is unacceptable in the Treaty era that the Victorian government is seeking to rush through proposed changes that would allow children to receive life sentences.
Over the last year, the Assembly negotiated Australia’s first Treaty between First Peoples and government. The Treaty will commence later this year.
The Treaty will require the Victorian Government to consult the First Peoples’ Assembly on any policies and programs that affect Aboriginal people.
It will also require every Bill to report on its compatibility with the Treaty.
Assembly Co-chair and Wamba Wamba, Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung and Dhudhuroa woman Ngarra Murray said the Assembly was deeply disappointed by the government’s announcement that came as Treaty is set to be signed.
“Our peoples are already over-policed and over-represented in prison populations. Aboriginal communities will again bear the brunt of the government’s proposed changes, which will result in Aboriginal children being locked up in prison and kept away from their families for longer. Rather than setting children on the right path, this risks pushing them into a lifetime of offending.”
Assembly Co-chair and Gunditjmara man Rueben Berg said that safe and strong communities are built by addressing the root causes of crime and that the government should be focusing on “prevention, not prison”.
“Our kids thrive when they are grounded in community and culture. The government should be prioritising prevention, healing and support for children who are at risk or have offended, not throwing them behind bars. This is what will actually make the community safer,” Rueben said.
