The Wire

The nation’s peak Indigenous Justice Body is standing up against claims by the Federal Justice Minister that Aboriginal customary lore does not have a place in Australia’s legal system. And the Human Rights watchdog, HREOC is planning to intervene in the case which continues to cause so much uproar, of an Aboriginal man sentenced to one month for raping his 14-year old promised bride. During sentencing in August, Chief Justice Brian Martin said he recognised the man believed his actions were allowed in customary lore. Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison says the case is horrific and Aboriginal lore has no place on the legal system. Alf Bamblett, National President of the Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee, says in any society rape won’t be tolerated, and in this case, Aboriginal lore was abused by the white system when used as a mitigating factor in sentencing.