Kevin Rose to the challenge with ATSILS
Representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in region’s courts
IN HIS job as regional manager of the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Legal Service, Kevin Rose sees a lot of south-west Queensland.
His legal work takes him to courts in Toowoomba, Oakey, Dalby, Chinchilla, St George, Warwick and Goondiwindi.
“I also appear every month in the Murri Court (in Toowoomba),” he explained.
“The Murri Court is aimed at reducing the gross over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) persons in the criminal justice system and the jails by providing a structured program of counselling aimed at addressing the underlying factors which cause Aboriginal people to offend.
“The Murri court is not a ‘soft option’.
“The Toowoomba Murri Court is arguably one of the most, if not the most, efficacious in the state due to the involvement of a committed community justice group and elders, a good working relationship between all stakeholders involved in the process including lawyers, police and corrections staff, and highly committed, dedicated and effective counsellors.
“My personal experience of the magistrates courts in the Toowoomba region is that overall they operate very effectively and efficiently with large workloads, all with highly experienced magistrates who bring a fair and balanced mind to their deliberations.
“I have to say that the level of experience, knowledge, ethical behaviour and dedication shown by the court staff, stakeholders and legal profession in the Toowoomba region is outstanding.”
Mr Rose said indigenous
❝court The Murri is not a ‘soft option’.
people were 14 times more likely to be imprisoned in Australia than non-indigenous people and more likely to become recidivist offenders, hence the need for the Murri Court.
Our region was not exempt from the scourge of illicit drugs in the community.
“In my opinion, Toowoomba region has a major drug problem generally, especially ‘ice’,” he said.
“There is a very strong correlation between substance abuse and criminal offending.
“We are fortunate to have some effective drug rehabilitation centres in the region.”