Siewert, Sen Rachel

Senator Siewert asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General , upon notice , on 17 February 2012: Given that on 5 January 2012 Terrance Briscoe, an Aboriginal man, died in the Alice Springs watch-house after being arrested for drunkenness, and that the investigation into his death is being carried out by the Northern Territory Coroner, Greg Cavanagh, while the police are responsible for collecting all evidence and witness statements: (1) Is the Minister aware of: (a) calls for an independent investigation into the death of Terrence Briscoe while in police custody; and (b) a letter sent to the Minister on 2 February 2012. (2) Is the Minister aware that in Queensland, following three inquests into the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee, the Coroner rather than the police now investigates deaths in custody. (3) Will the Minister commit to ensuring that investigations into deaths in custody will no longer be undertaken by police where police are involved. (4) Is the Minister aware that, 20 years after the release of the report of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, the majority of the Royal Commission's recommendations have not been fully implemented; if so, what does the Minister intend to do to address this.