Funding boost for indigenous Community Justice Groups

Justice services in Queensland’s Indigenous communities will be enhanced through additional funding for Community Justice Groups, Attorney-General and Justice Minister Kerry Shine said today.

Mr Shine said the Queensland Government had approved an additional $4 million over four years to help Community Justice Groups (CJGs) better deliver their services.

“CJGs play an important role in the implementation of a range of initiatives which aim to address the over-representation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system,” Mr Shine said.

“Their members support Indigenous victims and offenders at all stages of the legal process, encourage diversionary processes and develop networks with other agencies to ensure that issues impacting on Indigenous communities are addressed.”

Mr Shine said the funding would provide $1 million in 2006-07 and would include $200,000 to expand CJG activities in the Torres Strait.

“Specifically, we will be providing additional training to members of the justice groups from the outer islands to support locals who are facing charges,” he said.

“The CJGs will be able to increase their activities, provide additional support with such issues as language difficulties and improve people’s understanding of court terminology and processes.”

Mr Shine said $300,000 would enable regional training forums to be held for CJG members in Toowoomba, Rockhampton, Townsville, Cairns and MountIsa this year.

“These five-day forums will provide an opportunity for training, development and to establish networks with other CJG members,” he said.

“Participants will participate in training which will include communication skills, a basic conflict management process as well as training in making court submissions.”

A total of $185,000 will be allocated for 2006-07 towards local-level social justice initiatives, with applications to be invited from CJGs in the coming weeks.

“A wide range of projects will be considered for funding,” Mr Shine said.

“Examples of eligible initiatives could include assistance for CJG members to visit and support Indigenous people who are in police custody outside of their own communities, or to help a community with vehicle costs associated with operating night patrols.”

Mr Shine said the remaining $315,000 would be used to supplement the existing base-level funding provided to groups to support their everyday operations. Groups will now receive a minimum of $70,000 this financial year if they have operated for the full year.

CJGs were established in 1993 in response to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. There are currently 40 statutory and non-statutory groups located throughout Queensland.

The statutory CJGs are established under statute in Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT) communities, and carry out a range of local strategies to address justice issues. They also have a legislated role in dealing with alcohol management issues.

Non-statutory CJGs (which operate in non-DOGIT communities) focus on the diversion of Indigenous people at various stages of the criminal justice process and make submissions to the courts under the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992, the Juvenile Justice Act 1992 and the Bail Act 1980.

Media contact: Kirby Anderson (Mr Shine’s office) 3239 6400 or 0418 197 350
kirby.anderson@ministerial.qld.gov.au