Submission to the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug Ice
- Publisher:
- NSW Parliament
- Publication Type:
- Report
- Citation:
- 2019
- Issue Date:
- 2019-07-18
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This submission arises from the findings of an Australian Research Council (ARC) Project that I lead on the criminal sentencing of Aboriginal women in New South Wales. This research is guided by a group of Aboriginal women from organisations and services that provide support for Aboriginal women. The group is known as sista2sista. As part of the ARC research, we have interviewed and surveyed 40 Aboriginal women in NSW correctional centres, held focus groups with 40 lawyers from Aboriginal legal services who represent Aboriginal women in cities and towns in various parts of NSW and interviewed 8 judicial officers at all levels of NSW courts. The main issues are identified are as follows: First, Aboriginal women in NSW prisons have consistently told us that issues relating to drugs, including ‘ice’, arise due to deep-seated trauma and grief. Second, Aboriginal women in prison need to part of the policy discussion as they experience some of the worst consequences of using this drug, including its criminogenic effects. Third, our research has found that drug taking is a minor issue facing Aboriginal women in prison, who associate their concerns and identifies more with their roles as mothers, grandmothers, sisters and partners. I caution the ‘Ice Inquiry’ against associating the drug with Aboriginal people. Finally, Aboriginal women, lawyers and judges have expressed that where there is a need for rehabilitation for drug use, there are few options for Aboriginal women.
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