TO THE HONOURABLE THE SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

This petition of citizens of Australia draws to the attention of the House:

The death in custody of Mr Ward who died of heatstroke in inhumane and avoidable

circumstances in January 2008 in Western Australia, the fact the treatment of Mr Ward

violated Australia's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political

Rights, the Convention Against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or

Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the Convention of the Elimination of Racial

Discrimination, and that these violations need to be remedied and their recurrence

prevented.

We therefore ask the House to:

1. Review the legal framework for giving effect to Australia's human rights treaty

obligations and to international standards within the criminal justice system, with

particular attention to the role of imprisonment in punishment, rehabilitation and

public security, the conditions of imprisonment and the transport of prisoners,

and the comparative capacity of private and state run custodial services to

conform with minimum human rights standards and rehabilitate prisoners.

2. Direct and resource the Australian Human Rights Commission to conduct a

public inquiry into systemic rights violations that underpin the extreme over-

representation of Indigenous Australians at all levels of contact with the criminal

justice system and to propose remedies for addressing them, including reviewing

the outstanding recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal

Deaths in Custody.

3. Lead discussions with State and Territory governments to enact reforms that

would create obligations on governments to respond promptly and positively to

coronial recommendations within prescribed time limits.

PRINCIPAL PETITIONER

Mark Newhouse on behalf of the Deaths in Custody Watch Committee of

Western Australia Inc. Signature: ______________________

Address: PO Box 8196, Perth Business Centre, WA 6849.

Email: dicwc@iinet.net.au Telephone: 0415-074-602

Please return this Petition by 30 September 2009 to: Deaths in Custody

Watch Committee PO BOX 8196, Perth Business Centre, WA

6849. This petition must not be altered and only original signatures are

permitted. Faxed copies of signatures cannot be accepted.