How can First Nations lawyers improve the justice system? (w/ Josh Creamer & Alicia George)

Joshua Creamer is a Waanyi and Kalkadoon barrister, and Alicia George is the inaugural recipient of a new Griffith University law scholarship.They speak with Jess about the following Closing the Gap targets:(7) Youth are engaged in employment or education; (10) Adults are not overrepresented in the criminal justice system;(11) Young people are not overrepresented in the criminal justice system; and(15) People maintain a distinctive cultural, spiritual, physical and economic relationship with their land and waters.In this episode, Josh describes First Nations women being misidentified as perpetrators under Queensland's newly expanded definitions of domestic violence. The state Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce recommended in 2021 recommended the government not pass laws to criminalise coercive control until it had a strategy, co-designed with First Nations peoples, to address their overrepresentation as offenders in the criminal justice system. The legislation was passed in 2022 without this strategy. The government's latest annual update in May 2023 said it could do both simultaneously: ""Work has commenced with a strong focus on strengthening partnerships with Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Coalition members. This is a critical first step for co-design of the justice strategy. A First Nations Justice Officer has been appointed, and a First Nations Justice Office established, to lead development of the justice strategy."Information about the Joshua Creamer and Kara Cook Excellence in Law Award is available on the Griffith University website.ABOUT LISTEN, LEARN, RESPECTListen, Learn, Respect is the National Apology Foundation’s motto – and the name of this podcast. The not-for-profit foundation was set up after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd left politics to monitor progress in Closing the Gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.In this series of Listen, Learn, Respect, host and National Apology Foundation co-chair Jessica Rudd takes a closer look at some of these targets with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are working to close the gap. This podcast is recorded in Meanjin/Brisbane. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land – the Turrbal and Jagera peoples – and the Traditional Owners of the lands you are listening on. Feedback: info@nationalapology.org.auCREDITSHost: Jessica RuddGuests: Joshua Creamer and Alicia GeorgeExecutive Producer: Melanie ArnostMusic: Tioli by RONA.Recording: River City Studios