Institutionalised Racism in Western Australia
The Campaign Against Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
Sep 22, 2009
Mr. Ward, whose first name cannot be used for cultural reasons, was an Aboriginal elder from the remote community of Warburton, about 1540 km from Perth. In January, 2008, he died in the back of a prison van while being transported non-stop from Laverton to Kalgoorlie. The air conditioning in the back of the van was not working and the temperature during the three-and-a-half hour trip was above 50C.
When he was taken to Kalgoorlie Hospital, Mr Ward was unconscious and his body temperature was 41.7C. He had also suffered third degree burns after his skin came into contact with the metal surface in the back of the van.
State coroner Alastair Hope concluded that the Department of Corrective Services, private security company G4S, and the prison officers who drove the van all contributed to Mr Ward's death. It was also noted in the coroner's report that the attending Justice of the Peace had acted against legislation in not considering bail for Mr. Ward, which would have saved him enduring the trip in the first place.
Ward Campaign for Justice
The Deaths in Custody Watch Committee has called for charges to be laid against the Department, G4S, the officers, and the JP involved. Committee chair Marc Newhouse said those who ignored the safety and conditions of prisoners should face serious legal consequences.
“Our view is that institutionalised racism is alive and well and needs to be acknowledged by the public at large as well as governments,” Mr. Newhouse told Suite101.
The committee's Ward Campaign hopes to ensure what happened to Mr Ward does not happen again.
“We all have a moral and international human rights obligation to ensure that Mr Ward’s death is the catalyst for far reaching change in the justice system not only here in WA but also nationally,” Mr Newhouse said.
Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
In 1983, 16-year-old John Pat died of head injuries after being bashed by off-duty police officers as he tried to break up a fight outside a hotel in Roebourne, WA. The incident sparked national outrage and was instrumental in the formation of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 1987. The final report was released in 1991 after examining all deaths in custody in Australia between January 1, 1980 to May 31, 1989. The commission made 339 recommendations mostly related to custodial procedures, police education, and greater co-operation with Aboriginal groups.
Aboriginal Legal Services chief executive Dennis Eggington said little had changed in the justice system since the Royal Commission released its findings.
"People need to once again consider the recommendations of the Royal Commission and voice their concern that so many years later, this report seems to have been shelved," he told Suite101.
Tackling Institutionalised Racism in WA
On September 16, 2009, the Deaths in Custody Watch Committee held a public forum entitled Institutionalised Racism Kills as part of their ongoing campaign.
Dennis Eggington was one of the guest speakers. He told Suite101 the motivation behind the forum was threefold.
"It's about justice for Mr Ward, continuing to push the government to make sure proper compensation is awarded to Mr Ward's family, and to make sure the system changes," Mr Eggington said.
He cited the recent electrocution death of a toddler in state housing in Roebourne as further evidence of institutionalised racism in WA. The house had not been fitted with a compulsory safety switch.
"It's the same in the Justice Department where people don't seem to mind if it's Aboriginal people who are the ones that are suffering," he said.
He hoped the Ward Campaign would influence the government to address the underlying social circumstances affecting Aboriginal people.
“The police and the media are driving public opinion against Aboriginal people and while the public are very happy to see Aboriginal people being locked up and imprisoned, politicians aren’t going to make the changes because they know the public aren’t going to care,” he said.
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