AOS3 - Indigenous Australians

Question 1

History of FNP in Australia

Answer 1

• FNP have lived here for 65K+ years, far longer than British colonisation + ‘terra nullius’
• numerous FNP groups, all of which have direct + strong links to Country + rich culture
• 3.8% of national population + 1% of Vic population
• suffered significant injustices + breaches of human rights (massacres, slavery, dispossession and Stolen Generations)
• discriminatory laws/policies have led to systemic racism + loss of self-determination

Question 2

Overrepresentation of FNP in incarceration 1

Answer 2

• population:
  
  • 96.2% non-indigenous
  • 3.8% FNP
• incarceration:
  
  • 67.6% non-indigenous
  • 31.8% FNP
  • 0.6% unknown

Question 3

Overrepresentation of FNP in incarceration 2

Answer 3

• 30 June 2022 - 30 June 2023 = FNP prisoners increased by 7% (950) to 13,852
• FNP imprisonment rate rose by 5% (2,330 -2,442) per 100K FNP
• at 30 June 2023:
  
  • FNP = 33% of all prisoners
  • 78% had experienced prior adult incarceration

Question 4

Cultural differences

Answer 4

• in customary law, elders are involved in sentencing and offender and potentially carrying out the punishment
• in the criminal justice system, independent judges and magistrates have this responsibility
  ALSO
• in customary law, punishment is aimed at restoring balance and maintaining and recognising relationships
• sentencing in Vic courts is more aimed at retribution and making examples out of offenders to deter them or others