on being awarded the 2016 NT Human Rights Award for Justice…… On 7 December, Wendy Morton and Priscilla Collins proudly accepted the NT Human Rights award for Justice (organisations and groups) on behalf of the Making Justice Work coalition.

Making Justice Work was recognised for its role in

• Promoting human rights and peace through education, sports or other practical activities and/or advocacy
• Promoting equal opportunity and non-discriminatory attitudes and practices
• Increasing community understanding of human rights for the promotion of greater respect, diversity, inclusion and harmony
• Challenging human rights barriers and/or breaches

Here is our acceptance speech read by Wendy Morton.

7 December 2016

Winner – 2016 Fitzgeralds NT Human Rights Award for Justice

Firstly, we are grateful to our members and supporters – individuals and organisations – for being involved our campaign. We acknowledge friends of the campaign from across the NT, interstate and overseas. We acknowledge our relationships in the media, government, the judiciary, and the community. We acknowledge our funders – OXFAM, NT Public Purposes Trust and NTCOSS.

We acknowledge those who have spoken up for so long about the injustices and violence experienced by children and adults in our criminal justice system, including those who spoke on Four Corners. We acknowledge our big sister campaign Territorians for Effective Sentencing who, in 1997 said
…we are members of the community who are concerned about crime prevention and the way crime and social problems are dealt with in the Northern Territory.

We believe that the large amount of money being spent on enforcing these laws would be more effectively spent on such strategies as early intervention programs and restorative justice, and looking at effective ways to deal with alcoholism and homelessness: the social problems which cause much of the petty crime in our society.

In accepting this award tonight, we draw a line in the sand. We accept this award for all Australians who want our kids to grow up being cared for, feeling respected, having a sense of possibility about their future.

Gunner’s Labor government has put children at the centre of government. They seek to return decency, dignity, and justice to all Territorians coming into contact with the criminal justice system. They are listening to us, their door is open to us, but we will continue to hold them to account. The eyes of the nation are watching our response to the Royal Commission.

We saw the ground swell of community support following Four Corners. The stars have aligned and give us a once in a generation opportunity to lead the national on responses to justice.

We want Labor to think big, to be bold enough to stand with us to build an innovative, compassionate, and effective justice system. No longer will the NT be devoid of human rights. We will not settle. We will not be embarrassed by our record. We know Territorians are entitled to human rights. We know our justice system can be innovative fair and decent, restorative, and therapeutic. We know our justice system can be a positive impact on people’s lives. We will take this once in a generation opportunity to lead the nation in proven and cost effective responses to justice.

We will be led by our imagination and the possibility that all Territorians are free and respected, living to their fullest potential. We need you to join us in making justice work for all Territorians.