Minister for Indigenous Australians
The Albanese Government is delivering on community-led justice reinvestment with early funding for two priority sites – Alice Springs (NT) and Halls Creek (WA).
The October 2022-23 Budget, included $69 million for a National Justice Reinvestment Program, to support 30 community led place-based justice reinvestment initiatives across Australia. This was the largest commitment to justice reinvestment ever delivered by the Commonwealth.
The Albanese Government is pleased to announce a consortium of three organisations – Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation, Desert Knowledge Australia and Anglicare NT – will drive community engagement and justice reinvestment in Alice Springs.
This announcement comes after significant engagement with Aboriginal leaders, local service-providers and the Northern Territory Government to ensure justice reinvestment in Alice Springs is community-led.
In the Kimberley region of Western Australia, the Government has provided funding to the Olabud Doogethu justice reinvestment project in Halls Creek to support young Aboriginal men, fathers and sons.
These investments reflect the Government’s commitment to working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations to achieve better justice outcomes.
They are in line with Priority Reforms of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, and Targets 10 and 11, aimed at reducing the over-representation of young people and adults in the criminal justice system.
Justice reinvestment involves community-led and holistic approaches to programs and initiatives aimed at keeping at risk youth and adults out of the criminal justice system and improving community safety.
A National Justice Reinvestment Program will open for grant applications later this year, which will inform the selection of 28 other communities to receive funding for a justice reinvestment initiative.
Work is underway through partnerships with Jumbunna Institute of Education and Aboriginal experts and leaders in justice reinvestment to ensure that the grants program will be accessible for communities that wish to apply for justice reinvestment.
Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Dreyfus:
“Turning the tide on the unacceptably high incarceration rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait people is achievable and vital.
“But we cannot achieve the justice targets under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap without listening to the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“These are the first justice reinvestment commitments delivered under the Government’s landmark First Nations Justice package.”
Quotes attributable to Minister Burney:
“Justice reinvestment needs to be community-led, tailored to local needs and developed in partnership with First Nations communities and organisations.
“We are absolutely committed to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to create change and see better justice outcomes in communities like Alice Springs and Halls Creek.”
Quotes attributable to Senator Dodson:
“Tackling youth crime in both Halls Creek and Alice Springs, is a priority for the Federal Government.
“I visited Olabud Doogethu last year and it’s great to see this funding supporting Aboriginal men in the community to prioritise their health and relationships, and keep out of trouble.”
Quotes attributable to Marion Scrymgour
“We are facing challenges with youth justice, not just in Alice Springs and Central Australia, but right around the nation.
“For too long there has been a policy void in this space – a void that is now being filled by the National Justice Reinvestment Program being implemented by the Albanese Labor Government.
“I am proud to be a part of a government that is stepping up to the plate to deliver real change for communities on the ground. I am particularly proud of the involvement of Traditional Owners and Aboriginal leadership in tackling this issue.”
