Hotline gets reprieve

A HOTLINE credited with preventing Aboriginal deaths in custody has been saved from the axe.

The Federal Government stopped funding the Custody Notification Service in mid-2012, leading to real fears it would cease operating in NSW and the ACT by June 30.

But the Aboriginal Legal Service has received confirmation the service will be funded by the Federal Government for at least another two years. It comes after more than 33,000 people signed an online petition asking for the hotline to stay open.

‘‘We sent a hard copy version of the petitioners’ signatures and heartfelt comments to the Attorney-General of Australia and the AttorneyGeneral of NSW two weeks ago,’’ said ALS CEO Phil Naden.

‘‘And today we finally have a r e s u l t . The Attorney-General of Australia is allocating $100,000 immediately to the CNS, and has agreed to us using $400,000 in 2013-14 and $500,000 in 2014-15 from their 2013 federal budget night allocation to the ALS.’’

NSW and ACT police forces must use the hotline to notify lawyers every time an indigenous person is taken into custody.