Page 2284 - Week 07 - Thursday, 16 June 1994

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT FOR THE ACT 1992-93 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO ABORIGINAL DEATHS

IN CUSTODY

PRESENTED BY TIE CHIEF MINISTER

ROSEMARY FOLLETT MLA

Today I am pleased to table in the Assembly the ACT Government's first annual progress

report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into

Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

The tabling of this document demonstrates the substantial progress the ACT Government,

together with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, has made already in

implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission in the ACT.

The Royal Commission was established in October 1987 to investigate the number of

deaths in custody of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders and the lack of

satisfactory public explanations concerning the cause of deaths.

The Commission investigated the deaths of 99 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

peoples between 1 January 1980 and 31 May 1989. The Commission not only inquired

into how those people died but also why they died. In doing so, it took into account social,

cultural and legal factors which may have had some bearing on these deaths.

2284