ABORIGINAL PEOPLE DEMAND CHANGE AHEAD OF YOUTH JUSTICE CRISIS TALKS

Yesterday, Tootsie Daniel (front left), Camilia Samson (front right) and Desmond Blurton (back right) had a wangka about youth justice in the Ngaarda Media studios.

BY GERARD MAZZA.

Aboriginal people have shared advice for Premier Mark McGowan ahead of the youth justice crisis talks he is holding in Perth today.

Yindjibarndi Elder Tootsie Daniel says Premier McGowan should act under cultural guidance from Indigenous people.

“I feel sorry for Mark McGowan,” Ms Daniel said.

“I don’t think he’s had cultural awareness about Aboriginal culture which he must understand.

“He must attend a workshop of cultural awareness where all lore-people are there and can direct him in his path.

“If he wants to remain Premier, he needs to involve more Aboriginal cultural people.”

Ngarluma woman Camilia Samson says Aboriginal children belong on country, rather than in prisons.

“We want an input into our children in the justice system,” she said.

“We want our teaching, our way of life, our punishment, our lore.

“We don’t want this law anymore. This law’s kept us too long hands in chain.

“We want our kids back, on country, looking after country, looking after ngurra, growing on country, doing what’s supposed to be done.”

Ballardong Noongar man Desmond Blurton says the age of criminal responsibility should be raised from ten years old.

“The world is looking at Mark and what they’re doing to our kids right now,” he said.

“Mark better start doing something for our children, and that’s to raise the age limit to 14, and make sure our Elders can have access to detention centres at any given time.”

Confirmed attendees at the emergency talks today include Corrective Services Minister Bill Johnston, Inspector of Custodial Services Eamon Ryan, Police Commissioner Col Blanch, Commissioner for Children and Young People Jacqueline McGowan-Jones, former Australian of the Year professor Fiona Stanley and representatives from Telethon Kids Institute.