Tag Archives: oceania

Family fights for change ahead of inquest into Indigenous man’s death in custody

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains the name of a person who is deceased.

The family of an Aboriginal man who died in custody in 2022 hopes his inquest will bring about change in the justice system.

Clinton Austin, a 38-year-old Gunditjmara and Wiradjuri man, died at Loddon Prison in Victoria on September 11, 2022.

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Shaun Austin (centre), twin brother of Clinton Austin reads a statement outside the inquest into death of Clinton Austin, at the Melbourne Coroners Court, in Melbourne, Monday, March 24, 2025. Clinton Austin, a 38-year-old Gunditjmara and Wiradjuri man died at Loddon Prison after being found unresponsive in his cell.

His brother Shaun delivered an emotional statement outside the Coroners Court of Victoria today, ahead of the inquest.

"I will not stop fighting for you," he said.

"I will fight to make a change, any change possible, not only for Aboriginal people going through the justice system, but anyone who has to go through it.

"I know that's what Clinton would want."

His family has said he was a proud father and artist who had a big heart and wanted to be an art teacher.

"His heart was for his son and his art," the family said in a statement in 2022.

Clinton had already served his two-year non-parole period in prison when he died, he was the second Indigenous person to die in custody in Victoria within the space of a month.

Almost 600 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have died in police or prison custody since the Royal Commission into Indigenous Deaths in Custody handed down 339 recommendations in 1991.

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Many of these recommendations have not been fully implemented.

Shortly after Clinton's death, the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, which is helping the family in the coronial process raised concerns about the quality of healthcare provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in prisons in the state.

Today, flanked by family and supporters wearing shirts featuring a photo of Clinton, Shaun said he hoped his brother's inquest would lead to "meaningful and significant change".

"I believe that my brother deserved better from the justice system and it failed him," he said.

The inquest is scheduled to continue for three weeks.

For 24/7 crisis support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).

Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636.

‘Revolting’: Footage appears to show delivery driver’s gross act in Sydney elevator

A delivery driver has been reported to police after allegedly urinating in an elevator inside a Sydney apartment building.

Footage captured from an apartment complex in Artarmon, North Sydney on March 10 shows a driver getting into a lift clutching a food order.

The man then appears to undo his pants and urinate near the elevator door.

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Delivery driver appears to urinate on the floor in Sydneyhttps://omny.fm/shows/ben-fordham-full-show/exclusive-delivery-driver-caught-urinating-in-elev/embed

Residents say they were were left "furious" after spotting the stain on the floor and said the lift needed to be deep cleaned following the incident.

Apartment resident and building secretary Geoffrey Grasso told Ben Fordham Live! he was appalled by the footage.

"I'm a little disgusted after seeing this video, it's appalling," he said.

"Unfortunately I was probably the first one to encounter it, not knowing that it was."

Grasso said he accidentally walked over the wet patch with his dog before reporting it to the building manager.

"It's revolting, I don't know what goes through someone's mind to think that is in any way, shape, size or form acceptable," he added.

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Delivery driver appears to urinate in lift Sydney

Grasso claims the evidence points to the driver being from Uber Eats.

"I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that it wasn't malicious," he told 9news.com.au.

Grasso said the apartment complex has public toilets on level one and claims if the driver asked to use a bathroom, he likely would have been allowed to use one.

He reported the matter to Uber's head office and was told he would be contacted by a supervisor.

Grasso told 9news.com.au he still hasn't heard back from Uber.

"All we want is recompense," he said.

The incident has also been reported to local police.

"The one thing that literally disgusted me is the fact that he is holding those people's food, while he is urinating," Grasso added.

"The elevator actually still smells, I suspect it soaked through to the underlay."

Grasso said it could cost upwards of $2000 to clean the elevator carpet and even more if it needs to be replaced completely.

In a statement, Uber said: "We strongly condemn this kind of behaviour, which has no place on the Uber platform. We are currently investigating and will be taking necessary action.

Our community guidelines clearly set out the rules that we expect all users including delivery people to follow, and breach of these guidelines can result in loss of access to the Uber app."

NSW Police said an investigation is now under way into the incident.

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