What action is the Government taking to reduce Aboriginal overrepresentation in the juvenile justice system?
The Hon. CARMEL TEBBUTT: I think all honourable members would agree that reducing the overrepresentation of young Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system is a major challenge facing not just the Government but the broader New South Wales community. No-one who understands modern Australia doubts that disadvantage is disproportionately greater for indigenous Australians. Added to reduced life expectancy, lower education outcomes and higher unemployment are the higher rates of incarceration for both adult and juvenile Aboriginal offenders. Far too many young indigenous people end up in detention or gaol. The Government has taken many steps to improve that situation, including the introduction of youth justice conferencing in 1998, formalising police warnings and cautions and the Premier’s recent announcement of a trial of circle sentencing for young indigenous adults. These provisions are attempts to address overrepresentation at its starting point: the first point of contact wit
