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Since 1991 - 30 years ago - more than 450 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have died in custody. Why is 1991 important? Because that is when the Royal Commission into Deaths in Custody made 339 recommendations to governments to ensure that there were no more deaths in police custody and in prisons. 339 recommendations that still haven’t been implemented.

Each of the more than 450 deaths in custody were preventable. It’s simple: the recommendations need to be implemented. Some of those key recommendations like tackling the root causes of imprisonment, diverting people away from prisons, and removing hanging points from prisons, are yet to be actioned. What’s even worse is that no one has ever been convicted or held accountable for these deaths. 

The community has been fighting for action for years and years. Families, even through their suffering, continue to campaign for justice. Amnesty International stands by their side.

Join us in calling on the Federal Attorney-General and Minister for Indigenous Australians, and state and territory Attorneys-General and Minister for Indigenous Affairs to end Aboriginal death in custody, hold those responsible deaths in custody to account, and support the families suffering without justice.

Sign the Petition

  Our Petition
 
 

To Australia's Indigenous Affairs Ministers and Attorneys-General, 

It has been 30 years since the Final Report was handed down from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, and since then there have been over 450 Black deaths in custody. 

The Royal Commission recommended that prison be used as a last resort for First Nations People, and yet the number of Aboriginal imprisonment has risen across the country.

This is unacceptable. Black deaths in custody must end. People and authorities must be held accountable for these deaths. Justice must be given to families who have lost their loved ones. 

I call on you urgently to act and hold accountable the institutions responsible for Black deaths in custody. 

Sincerely, 
Your name

Indigenous Affairs Ministers

Linda Burney, Federal; Rachel Stephen-Smith, ACT; Benjamin Cameron Franklin, NSW; Selena Uibo, NT; Craig Crawford, Queensland; Kyam Maher, SA; Gabrielle Williams, VIC; Tony Buti, WA

State/Territory Attorney-Generals

Mark Dreyfus, Federal; Shane Rattenbury, ACT; Mark Speakman, NSW; Chansey Paech, NT; Shannon Fentiman, QLD; Kyam Maher, SA; Elise Archer, TAS; Jaclyn Symes, VIC; John Quigley, WA

Postal addresses