Top law officers as Cape crusaders for justice
29.04.2000
THE marked differences in justice, delineated by Australia's inhospitable geography, were never so well defined as yesterday on Cape York.
The Queensland Government jet flew north, carrying the state's most senior law officers.
Their purpose was to promote fairness in justice administration, particularly where juvenile and indigenous offenders were concerned.
Yet the land mass west of the Gulf of Carpentaria persists with the opposite -- mandatory sentencing laws which ensure such young offenders are cast into prison for minor offences.
Court house complexes incorporated into culturally appropriate all-purpose community justice centres were officially opened by Attorney-General Matt Foley at Kowanyama on the Cape's west, and Bamaga, on the tip.
He was accompanied by Chief Justice Paul de Jersey, Appeals Court president Justice Margaret McMurdo, District Court Chief Judge Patsy Wolfe, Chief Stipendiary Magistrate Di Fingleton and Transport Minister Steve Bredhauer.
As Justice de Jersey emphasised, involving the community in administration was paramount, as was the need to bring justice as conveniently as possible.
Both he and Mr Foley congratulated communities on the success of their Community Justice Groups -- appointed elders who deal with offenders on a local basis for lesser misdemeanors.
For instance, errant children who are committing minor offences, or adults who peddle rumours which cause family upheavals that sometimes escalate into drunken riots, are dealt with and shamed by peer groups.
Last Sunday, six boys, aged between nine and 13, broke into council offices at Kowanyama and stole $6800 in cash.
All but $1200 was recovered. The three eldest boys were dealt with under the Juvenile Justices Act and given police cautions.
The three pre-teenagers came before the Community Justice Group which could not deal with the stealing offence but looked at their ``future behaviour''.
The CJG ordered that a night curfew be imposed on the boys and that they not be allowed to associate with each other.
