Page 2146 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 3 August 2021
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performance of this minister and the actions of this government. In relation to the abhorrent regime of strip searches conducted at the AMC under the current minister, Mr Stanhope said:
Of 796 occasions of women being stripped in this period (incidentally while being filmed) a total of only 12 or 0.015 per cent were found to have contraband on their persons. In other words, in 784 of 796 searches no contraband was discovered and the consequent trauma, humiliation and degradation suffered by the women was unwarranted and unjustifiable.
If members opposite do not want to believe us, if they do not want to believe the corrections officers and if they do not want to believe the detainees, they should at least believe what our community Aboriginal elders are saying. In response to the minister’s refusal to launch an investigation into systemic racism at the AMC, Winnunga Nimmityjah’s Julie Tongs said:
This Labor-Greens Government are progressive on selective issues. Unfortunately, Aboriginal disadvantage isn’t one of them. It reinforces the belief across the Aboriginal community that their concerns are not a priority with this so-called progressive government.
An Aboriginal person in Canberra is 19.4 times likelier to go to prison than a non-Aboriginal person. Why would any Aboriginal person have any faith in the ACT Justice System.
These are the words, the desperate words, of a woman who has seen the horrendous impact of prison in our community. These are the words, the desperate words, of a woman who knows this government has the power to do something, and is bitterly disappointed and angry that nothing is being done. Ironically, the ACT Greens told us during the 2020 campaign that they would fight for—and I quote:
The criminal justice system to respect the human rights of victims, alleged and convicted offenders.
To end racism, racial bias and racial profiling across the criminal justice system.
For people held in correctional facilities to be provided with a standard of care that ensures they exit detention in good health and with a reduced likelihood of reoffending.
They squandered the opportunity to achieve this last time. I urge them not to squander it today. Is this the “better normal” that they want to see for our city?
Let us not forget that this minister has allowed, through his gross negligence and lack of care, our corrections officers to come into harm’s way. This is the same minister who has the responsibility to support and protect our workers in this city. This is untenable.
Mr Braddock talked about the difficulties with managing prisons, and that they are difficult places. That does not give this minister an excuse not to step up. In fact, it is
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