This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jul/27/pat-dodson-urges-turnbull-to-include-all-states-in-detention-royal-commission

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Pat Dodson urges Turnbull to include all states in detention royal commission Pat Dodson urges Turnbull to include all states in detention royal commission
(30 days later)
The Labor senator Pat Dodson has called on Malcolm Turnbull to widen the royal commission into Northern Territory juvenile detention to examine systemic practices across all states, while making the link between juvenile detention and Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers.The Labor senator Pat Dodson has called on Malcolm Turnbull to widen the royal commission into Northern Territory juvenile detention to examine systemic practices across all states, while making the link between juvenile detention and Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers.
At the same time, the conservative Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has urged the prime minister to examine the “system and parenting” that resulted in the children being held in detention at the Don Dale facility.At the same time, the conservative Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has urged the prime minister to examine the “system and parenting” that resulted in the children being held in detention at the Don Dale facility.
In his weekly newsletter, Bernardi suggested children had been left with dysfunctional families because “authorities are fearful of being accused of racism or similar slurs by PC [politically correct] leftists”.In his weekly newsletter, Bernardi suggested children had been left with dysfunctional families because “authorities are fearful of being accused of racism or similar slurs by PC [politically correct] leftists”.
Related: The story of the chair: how a brutal device was brought in to Australia's youth jails
Pressure continued to mount on Turnbull to finalise the terms of reference, before the cabinet discussion on Thursday. But the prime minister restated his view that the royal commission into the abuse of children in juvenile detention should focus on the Northern Territory.Pressure continued to mount on Turnbull to finalise the terms of reference, before the cabinet discussion on Thursday. But the prime minister restated his view that the royal commission into the abuse of children in juvenile detention should focus on the Northern Territory.
The draft terms of reference, including the potential commissioners, will go to cabinet for discussion on Thursday. Both the terms of reference and the choice of commissioner need to be approved by the governor general, Peter Cosgrove, as a matter of course.The draft terms of reference, including the potential commissioners, will go to cabinet for discussion on Thursday. Both the terms of reference and the choice of commissioner need to be approved by the governor general, Peter Cosgrove, as a matter of course.
The NT chief minister, Adam Giles, said he also had been sent the draft terms of reference, which he would discuss with the attorney general, George Brandis, on Wednesday afternoon.The NT chief minister, Adam Giles, said he also had been sent the draft terms of reference, which he would discuss with the attorney general, George Brandis, on Wednesday afternoon.
Dodson, who was a royal commissioner into Indigenous deaths in custody in 1989-1996, said there was a nexus between the juvenile detention issue and the way Australia treated asylum seekers offshore.Dodson, who was a royal commissioner into Indigenous deaths in custody in 1989-1996, said there was a nexus between the juvenile detention issue and the way Australia treated asylum seekers offshore.
“It’s part of a culture, there is a nexus between this and way we treat people in asylum overseas and it raises big challenges,” Dodson said.“It’s part of a culture, there is a nexus between this and way we treat people in asylum overseas and it raises big challenges,” Dodson said.
“Our society tolerates it because we have [been] led to fear people on the basis they are going to do us harm. Aboriginal people are like the canaries in the coalmine. So we should look at how systemic practices pertain across all jurisdictions.“Our society tolerates it because we have [been] led to fear people on the basis they are going to do us harm. Aboriginal people are like the canaries in the coalmine. So we should look at how systemic practices pertain across all jurisdictions.
“There is the bigger issue in the juvenile justice landscape and, for whatever quick return a royal commission can deliver, I do hope the terms of reference deal with the pathways by which young people end up in detention.”“There is the bigger issue in the juvenile justice landscape and, for whatever quick return a royal commission can deliver, I do hope the terms of reference deal with the pathways by which young people end up in detention.”
Dodson said there were many issues brewing in Indigenous communities, including foetal alcohol syndrome, and, unless the causes of the detention were addressed, the royal commission would be a “waste of time”.Dodson said there were many issues brewing in Indigenous communities, including foetal alcohol syndrome, and, unless the causes of the detention were addressed, the royal commission would be a “waste of time”.
“These young people are not all angels but they are affected [by these issues],” Dodson said. “Unless we address the issues, we will end up with lots of young people in detention without finding alternative ways, apart from lock them up or chain them up or gas them or torture them. Is that best methodology?”“These young people are not all angels but they are affected [by these issues],” Dodson said. “Unless we address the issues, we will end up with lots of young people in detention without finding alternative ways, apart from lock them up or chain them up or gas them or torture them. Is that best methodology?”
Dodson said Indigenous populations had been “traumatised by these matters” since the previous royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody finished 25 years ago.Dodson said Indigenous populations had been “traumatised by these matters” since the previous royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody finished 25 years ago.
“We have not had confidence in the criminal justice system, it hasn’t translated into the [institutional] culture and, still, Indigenous people are overrepresented in custody, there is a growing rate of women taken into custody and there are 15,000 kids placed in out-of-home care,” he said.“We have not had confidence in the criminal justice system, it hasn’t translated into the [institutional] culture and, still, Indigenous people are overrepresented in custody, there is a growing rate of women taken into custody and there are 15,000 kids placed in out-of-home care,” he said.
The Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, also urged the Turnbull government to allow the royal commission to investigate cases nationally.The Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, also urged the Turnbull government to allow the royal commission to investigate cases nationally.
“We, as a community, have failed the 10, 11 and 12-year-olds who have ended up locked behind bars, and we will fail them again unless the prime minister gives the royal commission the scope to investigate the incarceration, abuse and treatment of children wherever they are – and commits to implementing the commission’s recommendations,” Di Natale said.“We, as a community, have failed the 10, 11 and 12-year-olds who have ended up locked behind bars, and we will fail them again unless the prime minister gives the royal commission the scope to investigate the incarceration, abuse and treatment of children wherever they are – and commits to implementing the commission’s recommendations,” Di Natale said.
Bernardi described the Four Corners report as horrific and asked why authorities did not take “at-risk children” away from dysfunctional families before the children ended up in detention.Bernardi described the Four Corners report as horrific and asked why authorities did not take “at-risk children” away from dysfunctional families before the children ended up in detention.
“I think we all know the answer … fear,” Bernardi wrote. “Authorities are fearful of being accused of racism or similar slurs by PC [politically correct] leftists. And now the blame falls upon those trying to prevent harm to the victims of this neglect, the children themselves.“I think we all know the answer … fear,” Bernardi wrote. “Authorities are fearful of being accused of racism or similar slurs by PC [politically correct] leftists. And now the blame falls upon those trying to prevent harm to the victims of this neglect, the children themselves.
“I don’t doubt that some of the actions were heavy-handed but the inquiry needs to examine the system and parenting that resulted in children finding themselves in such a circumstance and why the guards felt they could act as they did.”“I don’t doubt that some of the actions were heavy-handed but the inquiry needs to examine the system and parenting that resulted in children finding themselves in such a circumstance and why the guards felt they could act as they did.”
He noted that the prime minister had yet to announce the full terms of reference and appeared to also advocate the broadening to include behaviour in some communities.He noted that the prime minister had yet to announce the full terms of reference and appeared to also advocate the broadening to include behaviour in some communities.
Related: After the horrific footage from Don Dale, we need to see what hasn't been shown
“I hope it shines a light on the hidden horrors of sexual and physical abuse and criminal behaviour that occurs in some communities ... We can no longer excuse, cover up, justify or fail to act in the face of facts that too many don’t want to acknowledge.”“I hope it shines a light on the hidden horrors of sexual and physical abuse and criminal behaviour that occurs in some communities ... We can no longer excuse, cover up, justify or fail to act in the face of facts that too many don’t want to acknowledge.”
The new Labor Northern Territory senator Malarndirri McCarthy called on Turnbull to invite Indigenous legal services and the Northern Territory children’s commissioner to be involved in setting the terms of reference.The new Labor Northern Territory senator Malarndirri McCarthy called on Turnbull to invite Indigenous legal services and the Northern Territory children’s commissioner to be involved in setting the terms of reference.
“The best thing [Indigenous affairs minister] Nigel Scullion could do is to lobby the prime minister to make sure he is working with Aboriginal organisations, the Labor party and CLP,” McCarthy said. “It is disturbing that an Indigenous affairs minister can be alerted to the Four Corners program and still choose not to watch it.”“The best thing [Indigenous affairs minister] Nigel Scullion could do is to lobby the prime minister to make sure he is working with Aboriginal organisations, the Labor party and CLP,” McCarthy said. “It is disturbing that an Indigenous affairs minister can be alerted to the Four Corners program and still choose not to watch it.”