The Shame of the
Northern Territory
11 February 2000
Northern Territory News - Mandatory Sentencing
Page 1 - 'NT Boy, 15, dies in Jail' - main headline
'He stole pens, textas and paints. He copped a mandatory 28 days' - sub-headline
'No blood on my hands, says Burke' - sub headline
Page 2 - 'Furore over boy's death in custody'
'Govt 'to blame' for waste of life'
'Burke rejects calls for repeal of law'
Page 11 - Editorial 'This law is unjust'
2 letters - one in support and one against
Page 12 - 'Hot dog, towel and a lighter lead to jail'
There can be absolutely no doubt that mandatory sentencing combined with a lack of fundamental government service provision for remote areas has contributed to this boy's suicide. The child was imprisoned over 800 kilometres from home and given the materials with which to commit suicide, which incidentally shows lack of action following the various studies into Aboriginal deaths in custody. The Government continues to dig itself further into a deep pit of shame by rejecting outright calls by the United Nations, Federal, State and Territory politicians, legal practioners, aborginal leaders and most reasonable thinking Australians to repeal the legislation.
There are no figures which illustrate that mandatory sentencing reduces crime, acts as a deterrent or even discourages offenders repeating again. What it does do, however, is to remove the flexibility of a magistrate to fit a punishment appropriate to the individual and the crime. Jailing in many cases can reasonably be expected to harden a criminal mind and for adults with a single trivial offence, this is simply absurd. The government does not care at all about rehabilitation, but simply wants retribution to satisfy the rednecks in the community who believe in 2 eyes for an eye etc. Despite the Foundations For the Future, the NT Government has done little to improve the lot of Aboriginal people in the Territory. There are poor education services, no interpreter services, poor health services and there is little co-ordination between government departments providing services. Can our Chief Minister detail all occasions he has met with Aboriginal leaders since being elected leader of his party?
There may be only one way to rid the Territory of this shameful law and supporting policies - get rid of this government and soon. Please.
And other news
'Redback attack' - page 3
A woman was rushed to hospital with a suspected redback spider bite. She was released several hours later but there was no statement on her condition. According to a 1991-1992 study quoted in the paper there is a serious bite rate of .36 per 1000 population in the NT..
'Saltie eyes jail bait' - page 3
A 1.64m saltwater crocodile was found on the boundary fence of Berrimah Jail. A chief from a local crocodile farm said the sighting was unusual and that residents should not be concerned. He was quoted as saying 'Crocs are mobile and it is common around the coast and creeks but around the jail is uncommon'. It follows the discovery of a 1.61m freshwater crocodile nearby last November. Hmmm.