Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy has called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to convene a national cabinet on Indigenous incarceration and deaths in custody.
Her push comes after tens of thousands of people defied public heath orders to march in protests held throughout Australian cities over the weekend.
The anti-racism protests were sparked by the killing of African-American man George Floyd, who died after being pinned by the neck for nearly nine minutes by a police officer in the US.
Senator McCarthy told SBS News national leadership was needed to bring appropriate attention to the plight of Indigenous Australians.
Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said national cabinet should consider the high rates of Indigenous incarceration and deaths in custody. Source: SBS News
“Focus on First Nations People and the high incarceration rates and the deaths in custody through a national cabinet – that’s the challenge for you now,” she said.
“This country screams out for the cries of those families who have lost over 430 people in the custody system … they’re crying out for something to be done.”
She made the call to action after condemning Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, who previously criticised the timing of the protests as “reckless” and “irresponsible”.
“What’s reckless is Mathias Cormann’s inability to see the pain and suffering of the First Nations people,” she said.
“I’m saying to the Prime Minister, to Mathias Cormann – listen to the hearts of the people and you can do something about this.”
There have been 434 indigenous deaths in custody since a Royal Commission held into the problem ended in 1991.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults also constitute 28 per cent of prisoner numbers, despite making up two per cent of the national population.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann on Monday stood firm on his opposition to the Black Lives Matter protests being held during the pandemic.
Mathias Cormann at Parliament House in Canberra. Source: AAP
“The issue at hand is a very important and legitimate issue of course,” Mr Cormann told Channel 9.
“But right now in the middle of a pandemic to pursue these sorts of mass gatherings is completely reckless and irresponsible.”
He said he believed there is a “real effort” all around Australia to “close the gap” and better respond to issues faced by Indigenous Australians.
The Australian Medical Association has also expressed caution over the mass public gatherings, asking those who attended the Black Lives Matter rallies to closely monitor themselves for symptoms.
“Mass gatherings in the middle of a pandemic is only going to put the community at risk,” Australian Medical Association president Tony Bartone told reporters.
“Anyone who develops symptoms should get tested for COVID-19.”
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth offered the same health advice saying authorities would be monitoring for any potential surge in cases.
"Anybody with symptoms who attended those protests get tested so the public health officials can be aware of an issue if it happens," he said.
A Deloitte review in 2018 found two thirds of the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody had been implemented in full.
Fourteen per cent had been mostly implemented, 16 per cent partially implemented and six per cent not implemented across all levels of government.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt said the government was continuing to work to overcome the concerns being raised by protesters.
“It’s how we work across this nation at all tiers of government and the way in which we work with police forces that will see hopefully a downward trend in the matters that the protesters were marching about,” he told the ABC.
“The trouble is, the jails are in all reality managed by states and territory jurisdictions. But collectively, as leaders, there are things we need to revisit and consider.”
With AAP
