The Experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Participants in Australia’s Coronial Inquest System: Reflections from the Front Line
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Macquarie University
Australia -
Macquarie University Australia
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University of Technology Sydney Australia
Abstract
This article explains the way that Australian coroners’ courts often fail Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We discuss the gap between the expectations of families of the deceased and the realities of the process of the coroner’s court. The discussion is illustrated with reference to real-life examples, drawn from the authors’ experiences representing the families of the deceased.
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Author Biographies
George Newhouse is a prominent Australian human rights lawyer, Adjunct Professor at Macquarie Law School and an advocate for law reform and social justice. Newhouse is the principal solicitor and a director of the National Justice Project. He is well known for his work with marginalised individuals, in particular the mentally ill, First Nations peoples, Aboriginal youth, refugees, detainees and prisoners.
Daniel Ghezelbash is an Associate Professor and founder and director of the Social Justice Clinic at Macquarie Law School. He is a Special Counsel at the National Justice Project and a member of the management committee of Refugee Advice and Casework Services.
Alison Whittaker is a Gomeroi woman and Senior Researcher at the UTS Jumbunna Institute.