Wednesday, June 17, 2020

No more imprisonment for unpaid fines in Western Australia


Ms Dhu, a domestic violence victim, died in police custody in South Hedland in 2014.(Supplied: Carol Roe)

West Australians will no longer be locked up for unpaid fines, after long-awaited law reforms sparked by the "inhumane" death of an Aboriginal woman passed State Parliament.

The 2014 death of Yamatji woman Ms Dhu, who died in custody after being locked up for three days for unpaid fines totalling $3,622, was the catalyst for change.

She was taken to hospital three times during her incarceration, and on the third visit died from septicaemia and pneumonia.

An inquest was told nurse Caroline Jones recalled police officers told medical staff Ms Dhu "was faking it" shortly before she went into cardiac arrest and died.

306 people have been imprisoned for unpaid fines this financial year…..


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