In response to consultation held to date on the draft Indigenous Justice Strategy, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Curtis Pitt said all Queenslanders now had until 29 July to provide feedback.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from across Queensland have asked for more time to review the draft strategy and we’re listening,” Mr Pitt said.
“Queenslanders who provide feedback have an opportunity to help shape the strategy and to bring about real and tangible reform.”
Mr Pitt said the draft Justice Strategy stands on four pillars of reform, with policies that aim to be fair, culturally aware and responsive to the justice needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“We know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are much more likely to be in prison than non-Indigenous people and we’re working with communities to change that,” he said.
“We need real and practical ways to address issues like poverty, alcohol and drug misuse, employment, health, housing and education. It’s about getting back to basics.
“The strategy outlines a number of ways we plan to tackle the underlying causes of crime, but we need community support for these changes to have any chance of working.”
Initiatives in the Justice Strategy include:
- Community safety plans in Cairns, Townsville, Mount Isa, Rocky and Brisbane;
- Early engagement with children and young people, encouraging healthy active lifestyles and educational opportunities that will set them on the right path;
- ‘Turnaround teams’ to improve school attendance;
- Creating training and employment opportunities, getting ‘at risk’ kids into jobs and striking up partnerships with mining, construction and tourism companies.
The draft Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Strategy is available on the web at www.atsip.qld.gov.au
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