Community support for the Board of Inquiry
The Board of Inquiry into the treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) is an important step toward justice, truth, and healing. We have lost too many of our people in custody. Every loss deeply affects our families and our communities, continuing into the next generations.
Our community called for greater accountability and transparency within the justice system. In particular, Julie Tongs OAM, CEO of Winnunga Nimmitiyah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, has been a powerful voice on this issue. Leaders like Julie, and the determination of families who have continued to speak up through their grief, have turned our calls into reality.
The ACT Government has answered with a decision to establish the Board of Inquiry. The Inquiry means a focus on systemic issues rather than individual cases. It’s about changing the structures rather than responding.
The commitment to genuine community involvement is welcome through establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee to guide the terms of reference. Ensuring culturally safe engagement is a crucial step. We’ll continue to advocate for a trauma-informed, well-resourced, and culturally appropriate process that truly listens to the voices of our people.
Our community deserves answers. But more than that, we deserve change. We look forward to working closely with the ACT Government on meaningful reform. The future of the justice system is fair, accountable, and safe for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT.
