The government is committed to mandatory sentencing for those who assault police officers. I do not think that many would argue with the proposition that our police need to be supported, I am not sure if mandatory sentencing is needed. Should not the judiciary be given the discretion to treat each case according to the particularities of its circumstances? And how is mandatory sentencing consonant with a commitment to reduce rates of aboriginal imprisonment and deaths in custody?

Tags: justice, custody

A question which is raised by the case is how a society which would like to think of itself as being civilised, could allow a human being to be transported in such circumstances' (Alastair Hope, State Coroner). I would challenge anyone to read the Coroner's record of investigation into the death of Mr Ward and be unmoved by it. It catalogues a list of terrible decisions made by many people and he rightly asks of us, all of us, how we could be indifferent to the treatment meted out to our own brothers and sisters. 'Inasofar as you did this to the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.' We can say, 'I did not know.' I wish I could say it with an easy conscience, but I fear that I was just not interested. The Four Corners report on ABC reveals that the issue of prisoner transport was raised in parliament a while before this latest terrible incident; nothing was done. The challenge placed before you and me is to care, to make sure that our government acts and acts swiftly. It is also hard not to wonder if the same contempt for life and dignity would have been shown to Mr Ward if had been white. I think that we know the answer. We need to take a stand against racism in all its forms, including the 'harmless' joke or easy characterisations we let slide. 'Insofar as you did this to one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine you did it to me.' The Lord meant us to take his words seriously.

Tags: justice, custody