Punishments such as shaming, banishment and other forms of Aboriginal and Islander customary law would be formally recognised under the Coalition policy announced yesterday. Opposition justice spokes man Lawrence Springborg said the policy would be trialled for three years and include serious and violent crimes. Conservative party attitudes to Aboriginal self-determination. Mr Springborg said the policy was designed to restore judicial authority with elders.
Customary law can complement our existing traditional response on crime.
However punishments that infringed human rights such as spearing or floggings would not be sanctioned. Mr Springborg announced the move while visiting indigenous communities in Cape York, including Thursday Island and Kowanyama. Some councils complained juveniles were not deterred by the regular meals, entertainment and security of detention centres. A recent State Government indigenous women's taskforce report found violence in indigenous communities was a daily part of life, and called for ways to restore respect for elders. Kowanyama Aboriginal Council chief executive officer Bob Sands welcomed the move, saying it would lead to a dramatic fall in crime.