The Claim
“Cut funding for an anti deaths in custody service, the creation of which was recommended by the 1991 Deaths in Custody Royal Commission.”
Original Sources Provided
✅ FACTUAL VERIFICATION
The claim refers to the Custody Notification Service (CNS) operated by the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT), which was indeed at risk of losing federal funding in 2015 [1][2]. The CNS is a 24-hour legal advice and welfare hotline for Aboriginal people taken into police custody, established in 2000 as Recommendation 224 of the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) [3][4].
In May 2015, New Matilda reported that the Aboriginal Legal Service's application for funding under the Coalition's Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) had been rejected, and the service faced closure by June 30, 2015 [1]. The service cost approximately $526,000 annually to operate and had been credited with preventing Aboriginal deaths in custody in NSW and the ACT since its inception in 2000 [1][2].
However, the funding crisis was resolved in December 2015 when the Federal Government (under Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion) announced $1.8 million in funding to continue the service until June 2019 [2].
Missing Context
The claim omits several critical pieces of context:
Federal-State Funding Dispute: The NSW Government had historically refused to fund the service, despite it being mandated under NSW state law (cl. 37 of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Regulation 2016) [2][4]. The service had only survived through one-off Commonwealth grants since its inception [1]. The Coalition government criticized the NSW Government for "wiping its hands" of responsibility, with Minister Scullion stating it was "an indictment on the Attorney General and the State government that they've failed to put a dollar of funding into the CNS" [2].
Historical Funding Instability: The funding uncertainty was not new to 2015. In 2012, the federal government (Gillard Labor government) had also sought to offload funding responsibility to the state [1]. The ALS had absorbed costs, frozen staff wages, and diverted funds to keep the service running [1]. The service had survived on one-off grants for years, not permanent funding [1][2].
Outcome: The service did not actually close. Following public campaigning and the December 2015 funding announcement, the CNS continued operating with federal funding extended to June 2019 [2].
Service Effectiveness: The CNS had been highly effective—there had been no Aboriginal deaths in custody in NSW or ACT police cells since the service began in 2000 until 2016 (when police failed to notify the CNS in one case) [3][4].
Source Credibility Assessment
The original source is New Matilda, an independent online media outlet founded in 2004 [1].
Credibility analysis:
- New Matilda positions itself as independent journalism "speaking truth to power" [1]
- The article was written by Amy McQuire, a Darumbul woman and former editor of National Indigenous Times and Tracker magazine, indicating expertise in Indigenous affairs [1]
- The outlet is reader-funded and describes itself as "small" and "independent" [1]
- New Matilda has a left-leaning editorial stance, which should be considered when evaluating framing
- The factual claims in the article are corroborated by ABC News reporting [2]
- The source appears credible on this specific issue, though users should be aware of potential advocacy positioning
Labor Comparison
Did Labor do something similar?
Search conducted: "Labor government 1991 Deaths Custody Royal Commission implementation funding"
Finding: The 1991 Royal Commission was commissioned by the Hawke Labor government, which received the final report in April 1991. However, implementation of the 339 recommendations was inconsistent across subsequent governments of both parties:
Labor Era (1991-2013):
- The CNS for NSW/ACT was established in 2000 under the Howard Coalition government, not during the 13 years of Labor government (1983-1996, 2007-2013) [3]
- In 2012, the Gillard Labor government also sought to transfer CNS funding responsibility to NSW state government [1]
- By 2015, only NSW and ACT had implemented the CNS despite Labor holding federal government for 6 of the 24 years since the Royal Commission [3]
Key Comparison: Both major parties failed to fully implement the CNS nationally. The 1991 Royal Commission made 339 recommendations; by 2018, only NSW and ACT had legislated CNS services [3]. The Coalition government in 2016-2017 actually offered federal funding to states that would implement CNS, leading to NT (2018), WA (2019), Victoria (2020), and SA (2020) finally establishing services [3].
Significant Point: The Coalition government (2016-2017) was actually more proactive in expanding CNS nationally than previous Labor governments, offering federal funding to incentivize state implementation [3].
Balanced Perspective
The claim presents a one-sided narrative that obscures important complexities:
What the claim gets right:
- The CNS was indeed at risk of losing federal funding in 2015
- The service implements a 1991 Royal Commission recommendation
- The funding uncertainty created genuine concern for the service's future
What the claim omits or misrepresents:
- The service ultimately continued with renewed federal funding
- The funding crisis was partly due to NSW state government refusal to fund a service it legally mandated
- The 2012 Gillard Labor government also attempted to transfer funding responsibility to the state
- Despite 13 years of Labor federal government since 1991, the CNS was not established nationally
- The Coalition government (2016-2017) subsequently expanded CNS to additional states
The full picture: The CNS funding situation reflects a long-term failure by both federal and state governments of all political persuasions to properly fund Indigenous legal services. The service had operated on unstable one-off grants for 15 years. While the 2015 funding crisis was real, the Coalition government ultimately provided $1.8 million to secure the service through 2019, and subsequently used federal funding offers to incentivize other states to implement the service.
Key context: This is not unique to the Coalition—both parties share responsibility for the 24-year delay in implementing Royal Commission recommendations, and the Coalition's 2016-2017 CNS expansion initiative actually exceeded Labor's record on this specific issue.
PARTIALLY TRUE
5.0
out of 10
The core factual claim—that the CNS faced a funding cut in 2015—is accurate. However, the framing is misleading because it omits: (1) the service was ultimately saved with renewed federal funding, (2) NSW state's refusal to fund its own legally mandated service, (3) Labor governments also failed to establish the service nationally during 13 years in power, and (4) the Coalition government subsequently expanded CNS nationally in 2016-2020 beyond what Labor had achieved. The claim presents a complex, long-term governmental failure as a unique Coalition action when both parties share responsibility for the 24-year implementation gap.
Final Score
5.0
OUT OF 10
PARTIALLY TRUE
The core factual claim—that the CNS faced a funding cut in 2015—is accurate. However, the framing is misleading because it omits: (1) the service was ultimately saved with renewed federal funding, (2) NSW state's refusal to fund its own legally mandated service, (3) Labor governments also failed to establish the service nationally during 13 years in power, and (4) the Coalition government subsequently expanded CNS nationally in 2016-2020 beyond what Labor had achieved. The claim presents a complex, long-term governmental failure as a unique Coalition action when both parties share responsibility for the 24-year implementation gap.
Rating Scale Methodology
1-3: FALSE
Factually incorrect or malicious fabrication.
4-6: PARTIAL
Some truth but context is missing or skewed.
7-9: MOSTLY TRUE
Minor technicalities or phrasing issues.
10: ACCURATE
Perfectly verified and contextually fair.
Methodology: Ratings are determined through cross-referencing official government records, independent fact-checking organizations, and primary source documents.