International Commission of Jurists Australia

present a

Public Forum 

(poster download)

Politicians, Promises and Prisons

Speakers:
Hon. Greg Smith, MP. SC. Attorney General, Minister for Justice, Liberal Party

Hon. Paul Lynch. MP. Shadow Attorney General, ALP.

Hon. David Shoebridge. Justice Spokesperson  Greens Party

Prior to the  2011 NSW State elections the Community Justice Coalition (CJC) made a submission to the political parties asking them to commit to a list of major reforms designed to make the justice and the prison system more just, effective in rehabilitating prisoners, lowering the recidivism rate,  making the systems more socially effective and less costly,  to cease participating in the media “law and order” campaigns which led to the doubling the prison population at a time when the crime rate was falling.

The CJC and ICJ held a Public Forum on the 21st of April 2012 to examine the progress being made with regards to these reforms in order to question each party's commitment to the criminal justice system.

Click below to view a summary of the Forum as presented by the respective speakers:

The CJC has released an exclusive analysis of the major parties' policy responses to the Justice Questionnaire.

The original party responses to the questionnaire have also been exposed on our website.

Click here to read them!

Cross-Examination of Party Policies

“Under cross-examination at the Justice Forum, the major parties revealed their depth of commitment to ending the failed ‘law and order’ campaigns, and focusing on rehabilitation and deterrence” said CJC President David Bitel.

“The parties’ responses show that much needed reforms are likely to occur. For example, all major parties pledged their support for placing computers in cells, in order to lower the recidivism rate. They also confirmed that they will review The Bail Act and re-write it in plain language” said John Dowd, the retired judge and Vice-President of Austcare.

“The CJC has examined the issues that were raised during the open question segment of the Pre-State Election Forum. We have released an analysis of party policy responses to these issues on our website. The issues raised involved community perceptions of the prison system, computers in cells, reforming The Bail Act, homelessness and The Bail Act, implementing a trial needle and syringe program, and mental illness within prisons” said David Bitel.

Community Justice Coalition

Media Release   February 17, 2011

“Political parties have been encouraged to present their policies before the election and will be questioned about them, in response to the Community Justice Coalition questionnaire at the Saturday Forum,” said CJC President David Bitel.

The CJC last November submitted a 33 page Questionnaire to all political parties inviting responses to issues around prison reform. “It is intended to provide the impetus for a serious public debate,” asserted CJC Vice President, Hon John Dowd, AO, QC.

The Attorney General Hon. John Hatzistergos, Mr Greg Smith for the Liberals, and David Shoebridge for the Greens will be responding to questions about their policies at the Forum on Saturday 19th February at the Sydney Mechanics School of Arts 280 Pitt St at 10am.

“The Questionnaire responses are a refreshing change from the normal law and order auction. New policy overturning bail presumptions are likely to be created following the polls with both the Liberals and Greens in favour of fair changes,” said John Dowd.

Download Poster

“For governance and transparency of prisons, the Liberals & Nationals propose the role of Inspector of Corrections, and likewise the Greens assert that “the recent trend of increasing the power and reducing the oversight of the Commissioner must be reversed, whilst the ALP rejects change.” With the endemic health problem of Hepatitis C and AIDS, both the Liberals and Greens support a trial needle and syringe program, whilst the ALP doesn’t intend any change” said David Bitel.

“The Greens and the Liberals support quality educational resources, both in and out of prisons, with a range of appropriate resources and technology. However, the view of the Government is that there should be no prohibition against in-cell study but the Government fails to implement practical structures to ensure access to education,” said David Bitel

Contacts:
David Bitel, on (02) 9286 8700 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Chris Puplick on 0403 223 094
John Dowd on 8249 3221
Joan Bielski 9437 6916
or 9283 0123 ext 12

The Community Justice Coalition comprises organisations including the Aboriginal Legal Service, Unions NSW, the International Commission of Jurists, NCOSS, NSW Aboriginal Land Council, NSW Teachers Federation and NSW Council for Civil Liberties.