WGAR News: State Government apologies 30 years later to the family of John Pat: The Stringer

Newsletter date: 1 October 2013

Contents:

* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: State Government apologies 30 years later to the family of John Pat
* Emma Wynne, ABC Perth: Apology to John Pat's family but Aboriginal deaths in custody on the increase
* NITV News: WA government agrees to John Pat apology
* NITV News: Ben Wyatt's call for a national apology is passed unanimously

* SBS 6:30 News Video reporting back on rallies on National Day of Action to Stop Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
* NITV News: Australians march to stop all deaths in custody
* Photojournalist Richard Milnes: Rally against Aboriginal deaths in custody outside Sydney Town Hall
* PRESS TV: Sydney rally seeks justice for Indigenous deaths in custody
* Green Left TV, YouTube: John Pat commemoration: stop black deaths in custody [Perth]
* SBS News: Protesters march to mark anniversary of death in custody [in Melbourne]
* Recent Rallies on National Day of Action to Stop Aboriginal Deaths in Custody

* NITV Awaken - Stan Grant interviews Mick Gooda on the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and the John Pat family

* Rodney Dillon, Amnesty International's Indigenous Rights Campaigner: My people: losing a generation to jail
* Amnesty International Australia: How many more Indigenous deaths until we address our failings?
* SBS News Audio: Remembering John Pat
* SBS News: Long way to go on deaths in custody: experts
* NIT: John Pat’s anniversary again highlights why Mr Abbott must act
* SBS World News: Decades on, Eddie Murray's family seek justice
* SBS News Audio: Anniversary of deaths in custody Royal Commission

* SBS News Video: Timeline: Aboriginal deaths in custody

* Background to Justice Reinvestment, Aboriginal imprisonment and Aboriginal Deaths in Custody

* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: STATE GOVERNMENT APOLOGIES 30 YEARS LATER TO THE FAMILY OF JOHN PAT

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: State Government apologies 30 years later to the family of John Pat
http://thestringer.com.au/state-government-apologies-30-years-later-to-t...
27 Sep 13: "Thirty years later, the West Australian State Parliament would formally apologise to the family of John Pat for his death – a motion tabled by Yamatji parliamentarian Ben Wyatt calling for the apology was unanimously passed. The apology is long overdue, coming three decades after his death, 28 years after an all-white jury acquitted the five police officers, and more than two decades after the 339 recommendations were handed down at the end of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. Ms Mavis Pat said the loss of her son is felt everyday but that the apology does mean something though it can never return her son." By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist

* EMMA WYNNE, ABC PERTH: APOLOGY TO JOHN PAT'S FAMILY BUT ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY ON THE INCREASE

- Analysis / Opinion

ABC Perth: Apology to John Pat's family but Aboriginal deaths in custody on the increase
Aboriginal deaths in custody in WA are higher than ever, despite the Royal Commission.
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/09/26/3856987.htm
26 Sep 13: "Maisie Pat was just 14 and at high school in Perth when she received a phone call to say her 16 year old brother John had died in the police cells in Roebourne. She flew home the next morning to a town in the grip of grief and anger. Numerous witnesses said that they saw off-duty police officers pick a fight with John Pat and his friends at the local pub on September 28, 1983. He was then arrested and taken to the police lock-up, where he died of massive head injuries later that night. Four officers and a police aide were later charged with his manslaughter but acquitted at trial." By Emma Wynne

Emma Wynne
http://www.abc.net.au/profiles/content/s2362827.htm?site=perth
"Emma is the cross-media reporter at the station, producing radio, video and photo stories. ... "

* NITV NEWS: WA GOVERNMENT AGREES TO JOHN PAT APOLOGY

- Video

NITV: WA government agrees to John Pat apology
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/09/27/wa-government-agrees-john-...
27 Sep 13: "The West Australian Parliament has agreed to make a formal apology to the family of Roebourne Teenager, John Pat who died in police custody in 1983. John Pat's brutal death - along with many others - became a "cause celebre" leading, in the end, to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. WA Deputy Opposition Leader, Ben Wyatt put forward a motion for an apology on Wednesday, which was unanimously supported by the house. The next step is for the apology to be formalised and given, possibly opening a window for legal action by the victim's family."

* NITV NEWS: BEN WYATT'S CALL FOR A NATIONAL APOLOGY IS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

- Video

NITV News: Ben Wyatt's call for a national apology is passed unanimously
By Craig Quartermaine
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/09/26/ben-wyatts-call-national-a...
26 Sep 13: "Western Australian shadow Indigenous Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt has made a motion for a formal apology from the state government for the death of Roebourne teenager John Pat, in 1983. Protesters and supporters rallied outside Parliament House today as the motion was unanimously passed. The rally was the first of a series of protests aimed at ratifying recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. As protesters and supporters arrived for the rally, Mr Wyatt spoke about his intended motion for a formal apology."

* SBS 6:30 NEWS VIDEO REPORTING BACK ON RALLIES ON NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION TO STOP ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY

- Video

SBS 6:30 News - 28 September part 2
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/video/50761795857/SBS-630-News-28-September-p...

[Reportback starts 3 minutes 15 seconds into video. Expires on 5 October 2013.]

* NITV NEWS: AUSTRALIANS MARCH TO STOP ALL DEATHS IN CUSTODY

- News

NITV News: Australians march to stop all deaths in custody
By Malarndirri McCarthy
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/09/30/australians-march-stop-all...
30 Sep 13: "Marches were held in a number of cities across the country over the weekend to call on Australians to stop deaths in custody. The Indigenous Social Justice Association says the commemoration march is for all individuals who die in custody, including asylum seekers. Rallies held in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney highlighted concerns around the failure to implement all of the recommendations from the 1987 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody." By Malarndirri McCarthy

* PHOTOJOURNALIST RICHARD MILNES: RALLY AGAINST ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY OUTSIDE SYDNEY TOWN HALL

- Photos

Photojournalist Richard Milnes: Rally against Aboriginal deaths in custody outside Sydney Town Hall
Demotix - The Network for Freelance Photojournalists: http://www.demotix.com/news/2811379/rally-against-aboriginal-deaths-cust...
28 Sep 13: "A national day of action was held to protest against deaths in custody on the 30th anniversary of Australian Aborigine John Pat’s death at a rally outside Sydney Town Hall."

"Richard’s photojournalism work has appeared in media outlets around the world including the Daily Mail, Mirror, Independent and Guardian newspapers in the UK."

* PRESS TV: SYDNEY RALLY SEEKS JUSTICE FOR INDIGENOUS DEATHS IN CUSTODY

- Video

PRESS TV: Sydney rally seeks justice for Indigenous deaths in custody
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/09/28/326571/sydney-rally-seeks-justic...
28 Sep 13: "Supporters and family members of indigenous Australians who died in police custody thirty years ago rallied outside Sydney’s Town Hall, demanding justice. Carrying earth-tone banners and the Aboriginal flag, protesters wore T-shirts with their deceased loved ones printed on them and raised their voices in defense for their rights. Eddie Murray died in a police cell in northern New South Wales 32 years ago. He was only twenty-one years old. Sadly, there were many others who faced his same plight. " Anusha Menon, PRESS TV, Sydney

* GREEN LEFT TV, YOUTUBE: JOHN PAT COMMEMORATION: STOP BLACK DEATHS IN CUSTODY [PERTH]

- Video

Green Left TV, YouTube: John Pat commemoration: stop black deaths in custody
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuYhWd3eHp0
26 Sep 13: "Rev Sealin Garlett reads a poem for John Pat at the Perth commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the death in custody of 16 year old Aboriginal man John Pat. The poem was by the late elder Jack Davis. Didgeridoo in the background is from the Wadumbah Dance group that also performed at the Perth commemoration. The commemoration was organised by the Deaths in Custody Watch Committee as part of a national day of action to stop Black deaths in custody."

* SBS NEWS: PROTESTERS MARCH TO MARK ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH IN CUSTODY [IN MELBOURNE]

- News

SBS News: Protesters march to mark anniversary of death in custody
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/09/28/protesters-march-mark-anni...
28 Sep 13: "Protesters have taken to Melbourne streets today, calling for justice for Indigenous Australians on the 30th anniversary of the death in custody of Aboriginal teenager John Pat. Founding member of the Indigenous Social Justice Association, Alison Thorne says the Royal Commission made the right recommendations, but the situation hasn't improved. ... "The problem is racist over-policing," Ms Thorne told SBS Radio. "The problem is the over imprisonment of Indigenous Australians and the recommendations of the Royal Commission was that imprisonment should be the last resort ... ""

* RECENT RALLIES ON NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION TO STOP ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY

- Past Events

Event: Wed 25 September 2013: Parliament House, Perth, WA
Stop Aboriginal Deaths in Custody - National Day of Action
"John Pat died 30 years ago - but still no justice!
Remembrance ceremony - Rally and March.
Apology motion. Parliament House."
Event details: http://www.deathsincustody.org.au/mediarelease17sept
Event details: http://www.amnesty.org.au/wa/event/32538/
Event details: https://www.nteu.org.au/sydney/article/The-John-Pat-Memorial-Day-Rally--...
Event details: http://www.greenleft.org.au/events/54542
Event details: [scroll down page] http://www.greenleft.org.au/calendar/2013-09/
Background: http://indymedia.org.au/2013/05/02/historic-national-stop-deaths-in-cust...
Background: http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/54006
Analysis: https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/54989
Analysis: http://thestringer.com.au/30-years-on-john-pat-not-forgotten/
Analysis: http://thestringer.com.au/deaths-in-custody-when-will-something-be-done/
Audio: http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=10855
Audio: http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/290241/Anniver...

Event: Fri 27 September 2013: Castlemaine, Vic
Castlemaine Vigil - Remembrance:
Stop Aboriginal deaths in custody
"A number of groups have got together to instigate a
National Day of Action: Stop Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. ...
The Castlemaine Vigil in Recognition of Sovereignty and in
Solidarity with Refugees will be holding
'Remembrance: Stop Aboriginal deaths in custody'
on the eve of this Day of Action."
Event details: http://galbraithjanet.wordpress.com/2013/09/23/castlemaine-vigil-remembr...
Background: http://indymedia.org.au/2013/05/02/historic-national-stop-deaths-in-cust...
Background: http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/54006
Analysis: https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/54989
Analysis: http://thestringer.com.au/30-years-on-john-pat-not-forgotten/
Analysis: http://thestringer.com.au/deaths-in-custody-when-will-something-be-done/
Audio: http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=10855
Audio: http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/290241/Anniver...

Event: Sat 28 September 2013: Adelaide, SA
National Day of Action to Stop Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
30 Years and still no justice
12 noon
Parliament House - North Terrace
Background: http://indymedia.org.au/2013/05/02/historic-national-stop-deaths-in-cust...
Background: http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/54006
Analysis: https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/54989
Analysis: http://thestringer.com.au/30-years-on-john-pat-not-forgotten/
Analysis: http://thestringer.com.au/deaths-in-custody-when-will-something-be-done/
Audio: http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=10855
Audio: http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/290241/Anniver...

Event: Sat 28 September 2013: Sydney, NSW
ISJA Day Of Action John Pat Day (~RIP~)
Rally: 30 Years and still No Justice!
Stop Aboriginal deaths in custody
"John Pat died 30 years ago in Roeburne, WA, ... "
"So, a national body has begun to coordinate actions to
stop deaths in custody. With the blessing of Mavis Pat,
mother of John, we intend to start this campaign
on the 30th anniversary of his death."
Sydney Town Hall, march to Circular Quay
Organised by: National Stop All Deaths in Custody and
Indigenous Social Justice Association:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/439781042698959/
Event details: http://indymedia.org.au/isja-day-of-action-john-pat-day-rip
Event details: https://pt-br.facebook.com/events/398708553564719/?ref=22
Event details: http://www.sa.org.au/index.php?view=details&id=905%3Arally-30-years-and-...
Background: http://indymedia.org.au/2013/05/02/historic-national-stop-deaths-in-cust...
Background: http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/54006
Analysis: https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/54989
Analysis: http://thestringer.com.au/30-years-on-john-pat-not-forgotten/
Analysis: http://thestringer.com.au/deaths-in-custody-when-will-something-be-done/
Audio: http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=10855
Audio: http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/290241/Anniver...

Event: 28 September 2013: Melbourne, Vic
Melbourne - Thirty Years But Still No Justice!
National Day of Action to Stop Aboriginal deaths in custody!
Remember John Pat and the hundreds who have died in custody since!
"Support these demands made by John Pat’s mother, Mavis Pat:
* An apology from the WA government for my son’s death in custody
* An ex-gratia payment as compensation
* That the police officers involved need to be brought to account and
* a re-opening of the coronial inquiry into my son’s death ... "
Organised by:
Indigenous Social Justice Association - Melbourne
Event details: http://isja-msg.com/coming_events.htm
Event details: http://galbraithjanet.wordpress.com/category/resources/
Event details: http://www.greenleft.org.au/events/54921
Event details: http://www.facebook.com/events/232079390250476/
Background: http://indymedia.org.au/2013/05/02/historic-national-stop-deaths-in-cust...
Background: http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/54006
Analysis: https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/54989
Analysis: http://thestringer.com.au/30-years-on-john-pat-not-forgotten/
Analysis: http://thestringer.com.au/deaths-in-custody-when-will-something-be-done/
Audio: http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=10855
Audio: http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/290241/Anniver...

Event: 29th September 2013: Fremantle, WA
Murru: In Memory of John Pat Album Launch
"Big hART and the community of Ieramugadu (Roebourne)
proudly present the Album Launch of Murru
- a music collaboration between John Bennett, Shellie Morris,
Emma Donovan, Archie Roach, Lucky Oceans, Harry Hookey,
Bill Chambers, the Last Kinection, Trevor Jamieson,
David Hyams and the Roebourne community."
"Murru is dedicated to John Pat, a 16-year old young man
who died in police custody in Roebourne 30 years ago
and is the product of two and a half years of song-writing
and music workshops as part of the Yijala Yala Project
- a long-term, multi-platform social change through the arts project.
Proceeds from ticket and album sales go towards the building
of a memorial for John in his home-town of Roebourne."
Event details: http://www.deathsincustody.org.au/events
Event details: https://www.nteu.org.au/sydney/article/The-John-Pat-Memorial-Day-Rally--...

* NITV AWAKEN - STAN GRANT INTERVIEWS MICK GOODA ON THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY AND THE JOHN PAT FAMILY

- Video

NITV Awaken - 27 September
http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/48207427570/Awaken

[Mick Gooda interview starts 14 minutes 30 seconds into video. Expires on 5 October 2013.]

* RODNEY DILLON, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL'S INDIGENOUS RIGHTS CAMPAIGNER: MY PEOPLE: LOSING A GENERATION TO JAIL

- Analysis / Opinion

Amnesty International Australia: My people: losing a generation to jail
http://www.amnesty.org.au/indigenous-rights/comments/32860/
27 Sep 13: "Hearing a family member is in trouble is enough to make anyone want to do all they can to help. When it’s not just one family member, but many of them, you can understand how you’d feel helpless. ... Growing crisis: As a proud Palawa man from Tasmania, the work we’re doing looking at Indigenous incarceration gives me that heartbroken feeling but it has also made me want to do more to stop this pain being felt within my community. To put things into perspective: Aboriginal people make up just over 2 per cent of the population but over 28% of Australia’s prison population." Rodney Dillon, Amnesty International's Indigenous Rights Campaigner

* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA: HOW MANY MORE INDIGENOUS DEATHS UNTIL WE ADDRESS OUR FAILINGS?

- Analysis / Opinion

Amnesty International Australia: How many more Indigenous deaths until we address our failings?
http://www.amnesty.org.au/news/comments/32798/
25 Sep 13: "Amnesty International stands with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in remembering the tragic event 30 years ago that culminated in the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. John Pat was 16-years-old when he died in Police custody on the 28th of September 1983 at Roebourne police station in Western Australia. A subsequent autopsy revealed he had suffered a fractured skull, hemorrhage and bruising and tearing of the brain. In the 30 years since the death of John Pat, there has been no rigorous investigation into his death ... "

* SBS NEWS AUDIO: REMEMBERING JOHN PAT

- Audio

SBS News: Remembering John Pat
Rallies have been held around Australia to mark the 30th anniversary of the death of a 16-year-old Aboriginal boy.
By Ryan Emery in Perth
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/09/30/remembering-john-pat
30 Sep 13: "Protestors gather at the front of Western Australia's Parliament House. They've come here to remember 16-year-old John Pat. He died thirty years ago in police custody after a drunken brawl with off-duty police officers outside the Victoria Hotel in Roebourne, Western Australia. His mother, Mavis Pat, is in the crowd. "I'd like to see justice be done, you know. It's been so long and nothing has been done for it."" By Ryan Emery in Perth

* SBS NEWS: LONG WAY TO GO ON DEATHS IN CUSTODY: EXPERTS

- Analysis / Opinion

SBS News: Long way to go on deaths in custody: experts
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2011/04/14/long-way-go-deaths-custody...
23 Aug 13: "Twenty years after a royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in police custody released its findings, experts say more work is needed to address the issue. ... The Royal Commission releases its final report 20 years ago this Friday. It investigated 99 official indigenous deaths in custody and offered 339 recommendations, including ridding prisons of potential points for hanging and new funding processes for Aboriginal organisations. The heralded report focused on procedures for people in custody, liaison with Aboriginal groups, and police education."

* NIT: JOHN PAT'S ANNIVERSARY AGAIN HIGHLIGHTS WHY MR ABBOTT MUST ACT

- Analysis / Opinion

National Indigenous Times: Your Say: John Pat’s anniversary again highlights why Mr Abbott must act
http://www.nit.com.au/your-say.html
"There are so many issues confronting Indigenous Australians it is difficult to nominate one which is more critical than another but if Prime Minister, Tony Abbott genuinely wants to deliver a positive message about his intentions he would win many plaudits by immediately insisting each State and Territory government implement the recommendations of the 1987 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody."

* SBS WORLD NEWS: DECADES ON, EDDIE MURRAY'S FAMILY SEEK JUSTICE

- Video

SBS World News: Decades on, Eddie Murray's family seek justice
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/video/50836547995/Decades-on-Eddie-Murrays-fa...
29 Sep 13: "Amidst the protesters calling for justice on Aboriginal deaths in custody, the family of Eddie Murray are still fighting what they say was a false verdict of suicide in 1981."

[Expires on 14 November 2013.]

* SBS NEWS AUDIO: ANNIVERSARY OF DEATHS IN CUSTODY ROYAL COMMISSION

- Audio

SBS News: Anniversary of deaths in custody Royal Commission
By Ryan Emery
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/09/22/anniversary-deaths-custody...
22 Sep 13: "It was a fight that went international - gathering the support of Amnesty International and the Anti-Slavery Society. It ended after four years, in 1987, when a Royal Commission began into Aboriginal deaths in custody. The push for the commission was led in part by Noongar woman Helen Corbett. She was shocked into action when, as the Director of Studies at Tranby Aboriginal College in Sydney, she read about the manslaughter trial of five police officers. They were accused of causing the injuries that led to the death of Aboriginal teenager John Pat who had a fractured skull and torn aorta."

* SBS NEWS VIDEOS: TIMELINE: ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY

- Videos

SBS News: Timeline: Aboriginal deaths in custody
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/09/26/timeline-aboriginal-deaths...
28 Sep 13: "Thirty years from the controversial death of 16-year-old John Pat in police custody in Western Australia, there are still calls for some of the recommendations of the 1987 Royal Commission into Deaths in Custody to be implemented. Learn more about the issue here."

* BACKGROUND TO JUSTICE REINVESTMENT, ABORIGINAL IMPRISONMENT AND ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY:

Last updated: 27 September 2013

http://indymedia.org.au/2012/12/17/background-to-aboriginal-imprisonment...

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