Page 493 - Week 02 - Thursday, 14 May 1992
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That is good; but I wonder why it has not started before now. We are, as I have mentioned, getting our fair share - - -
Mr Berry: Not enough and not soon enough - the old cry of the Opposition.
MR HUMPHRIES: That is a good point, Madam Speaker. We have a problem here which was identified some time ago and there is no evidence to date that we have even started to collect details of what Aboriginal people are going into our gaols or our detention centres. There is no evidence at all. There has been no attempt to start to collect data on it, as far as I am aware, and that, I think, is reprehensible. It really is reprehensible.
We are going to get a share of that Commonwealth money, of course, as has been indicated. The $150m over five years is welcome, although I do note that Victoria's Minister for Aboriginal Affairs said that the amount was inadequate and that the $30m a year over five years was less than the amount spent to hold the royal commission in the first place. I assume that that is based on the assumption of one amount of $30m per year. I do not know how much of that the ACT will get, but in due course we will see.
The Chief Minister's statement covers commitments in the areas of policing, custodial facilities and procedures, proclaimed places, legislative reform, health, housing, education, cross-cultural training, data collection and monitoring. In each of these areas we welcome the initiatives and will support them, even if they are not borne out by what is actually said in the royal commission's findings for the whole of Australia in terms of the ACT.
There is one last comment I wish to make, Madam Speaker. In the section on legislative reform the Chief Minister states:
Legislation enforcing the principle that imprisonment should be utilised only as a sanction of last resort is also being prepared.
That particular sentence gave me a bit of concern. I believe, and the Liberal Party believes, that equality before the law is paramount. Obviously, we accept the penalties that people might face once they - - -
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Humphries, I am sorry to interrupt you, but it is 4.30. I point out that you are entitled to another four minutes for your speech. Perhaps you would like to pick that up when this debate is resumed.
MR HUMPHRIES: Do you assume that we are going to adjourn, Madam Speaker?
MADAM SPEAKER: There is an automatic adjournment at 4.30, and I am about to propose that. I wanted to allow you the right to continue with your final four minutes at another time.
Debate interrupted.
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