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. Information about the Joshua Creamer and Kara Cook Excellence in Law Award is available on the Griffith University website.

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 that the government "immediately progress amendments to the definition of ‘domestic violence’ ... to make it clear that domestic violence includes coercive control and can be a series or combination of acts, omissions or circumstances over time, in the context of the relationship as a whole". The legislation was passed in 2022.

The taskforce also recommended laws criminalising coercive control not proceed until there is "a specific whole-of-government and community strategy to address the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland’s criminal justice system and meet Queensland’s Closing the Gap justice targets". 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."

Listen 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. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work – the Turrbal and Jagera peoples – and the Traditional Owners of the lands you are listening on. Feedback: info@nationalapology.org.au

Credits Host: Jessica Rudd. Executive Producer: Melanie Arnost. Music: Tioli by RONA. Recording: River City Studios. News grabs courtesy of: 7 News and 10 News