The Australian Greens are today calling for State and Federal Governments Australia wide to urgently work to overhaul approaches to youth justice, including legislating to raise the criminal age of responsibility to 14 years old.

This Reconciliation Week the Australian Greens are calling on the Government to begin their term with a commitment to First Nations peoples to address Australia’s unfinished business, close the gap and achieve justice for First Nations peoples.

Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said a commitment to self-determination must be at the heart of closing the gap, and that this approach has been sadly lacking.

“I congratulate Minister Wyatt on being appointed Minister for Indigenous Australians.

Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert today announced that the Australian Greens would stand with the Message Stick Walk to take care of unfinished business and start a Treaty process to heal the nation.

The Australian Greens have slammed the 11th hour approval of the Yeelirie Uranium Mine proposal in WA, labelling the decision as purely political and a slap in the face to traditional owners.

The mine had been recommended against by the West Australian EPA, a recommendation that was overruled by the then WA Liberal Government in 2017, shortly before losing power. The approval is currently being fought in the Supreme Court.

The Australian Greens have today reaffirmed their commitment to work with First Nations peoples to take urgent action on youth justice issues in Australia.

“What has been done to young people in Don Dale and other youth detention facilities is shameful and both state and federal Governments have failed to act, despite the devastating evidence we heard at the Royal Commission and the continued problems at the facility,” Australian Greens spokesperson on First Nations issues Senator Rachel Siewert said.

The Australian Greens will work with First Nations peoples to take urgent action on youth justice issues in Australia, especially in the Northern Territory. We have a human rights approach and support First Nations peoples having control over the development, design and implementation of youth justice policies.

OVERVIEW

The ALP was tonight complicit in extending a social experiment on the people of Ceduna, the East Kimberley and the Goldfields by rubber stamping the Government’s extension to the Cashless Debit Card for another year.
 
“This is a sad day for people in our community who are suffering  on a coercive, controlling card that flies in the face of self-determination, Senator Rachel Siewert, Spokesperson on First Nations issues said today.
  
“How can the ALP stomach let alone support this type of policy approach?
 

The Greens have today tabled a dissenting report to the Senate committee inquiry scrutinising legislation that seeks to extend the Cashless Debit Card in the trial sites of Ceduna, East Kimberley and the Goldfields until 2020.

Senator Rachel Siewert said today after visiting Darwin this week that it is clear that the NT Government blindsided stakeholders and the community when it rammed through changes to youth justice laws that go against recommendations of the Royal Commission.

“I’ve been in Darwin this week and key stakeholders have been blindsided by this legislation and didn’t know about the changes to youth justice that go against the findings of the Royal Commission until a day before it was rushed through," Senator Rachel Siewert said.