Crossbenchers back Lidia Thorpe’s call for federal government to act on deaths in custody reforms (21 Mar 2024)
Article summary: A coalition of crossbenchers, including Independent MP Kate Chaney, has supported Senator Lidia Thorpe's call for the federal government to urgently implement reforms addressing Indigenous deaths in custody and child removals. This push comes in response to the government's stance that state governments should tackle the recommendations from the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and the 1997 Bringing Them Home report. The crossbenchers' united front aims to pressure Canberra into action, highlighting the failure of successive governments to act on these recommendations, which has led to worsening conditions for First Peoples.
Thorpe's proposal suggests empowering the Australian Human Rights Commission to oversee progress on Closing the Gap measures, emphasizing the need for a coordinated approach and swift implementation of these recommendations to prevent further loss of Indigenous lives. The letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, co-signed by Chaney and other crossbenchers, underscores the urgency of addressing these longstanding issues.
The crossbenchers' collective action reflects a broader concern for justice and equity, advocating for changes that are both tangible and achievable within the government's term. This includes better monitoring of the implementation of inquiry recommendations and annual reporting to all governments on progress. Thorpe's call for the Australian Human Rights Commission to oversee deaths in custody recommendations, and for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s commissioner to oversee the Bringing Them Home recommendations, represents a step towards accountability and reform.
This initiative by Chaney and her fellow crossbenchers highlights the critical need for national leadership on key reform areas affecting Indigenous Australians, emphasising the importance of justice, transparency, and the protection of human rights.
