NOONGAR ADVOCATE CALLS FOR MEETING WITH MCGOWAN OVER BANKSIA HILL

BY GERARD MAZZA

Deaths in Custody Watch Committee Deputy Chair Desmond Blurton. Credit: Nancye Miles-Tweedie.

A well-known Ballardong Noongar activist has called for WA Premier Mark McGowan to meet with the Aboriginal community to discuss reforms to the youth justice system.

Deaths in Custody Watch Committee Deputy Chair Desmond Blurton has called for a meeting with the Premier in the wake of last week’s major riot at Banksia Hill.

“There’s more to be done about it, not just building more prisons,” Mr Blurton said.

“We’ve got to start sitting down with Mark McGowan and coming up with solutions, because we know how to deal with our people. We’ve been doing that for 60+ thousand years under our lore.”

Premier McGowan was widely criticised for comments made after the riot, claiming the actions of children in Banksia Hill were a “form of terrorism”.

Yesterday, Premier McGowan reinforced his belief that there were “no excuses” for detainees to cause disruption at Banksia Hill.

He said the damage bill following last week’s riot will exceed $30 million and the children responsible “need to be held to account.”

Mr Blurton fears a harsh approach to Banksia Hill could have disastrous consequences.

“We don’t want any more deaths in custody, especially of children,” he said.

“We need them protected.”

Listen to the full interview with Mr Blurton below.

Ngaarda Media began by asking him how he felt when he first saw images of armed guards pointing weapons at Banksia Hill detainees during the riot.