STATE member for Mount Isa Rob Katter voiced a strong opinion on social reform in Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Parliament this week.
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His comments came on the back of the state government’s decision to continue the Family Responsibilities Commission and include the Aboriginal community of Doomadgee under the FRC legislation.
“I see the positive ideas behind the FRC, and agree with the principle of indigenous communities being responsible for reform within the confines of their own borders, but I see a further opportunity that goes beyond disciplinary action connected to welfare,” Mr Katter said
“On Mornington Island the Junkuri Laka Community Justice Group have developed a program called AVOID, aimed at reforming, re-educating and rehabilitating community members through concentrated projects that don’t just discourage negative unlawful behaviour but establish whole community social reform.”
After visiting Mornington Island in June, Mr Katter said he wanted to work with government to find financial support for the program.
“The incarceration rate for people from Mornington is almost 30 times as high as for the Queensland population and three times as high as for the Queensland indigenous population,’’ he said.
“The average cost of detaining a prisoner in Queensland is $116,252.50.
‘‘Junkuri Laka believes they can achieve a lot more with only a fraction of the money that is now spent, simply by creating local solutions that will make a difference to the people of Wellesley Islands, reducing reoffending rates and saving the government and the taxpayers’ money.”
Mr Katter plans to meet the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs to discuss the AVOID program later this week.
“We are looking for positive outcomes not only for Mornington Island but all indigenous Australians,’’ he said.
