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THE RECOGNITION OF ABORIGINAL CUSTOMARY LAWS - 747. The Syddall Inquiry.
The system of 'Aboriginal courts' in Western Australia [198] was
introduced by the
Aboriginal Communities Act 1979
(WA). It stemmed largely from the efforts of Mr Terry Syddall MBE
who for varying periods, commencing in 1970, worked as a stipendiary
magistrate in the North West of the State. He had adopted a
practice of inviting local elders to sit with him in the courtroom
while Aboriginal defendants were being dealt with, and of discussing
possible penalties with them. In 1977 he was asked by the Western
Australian Government to conduct an inquiry into aspects of
Aboriginal law and to formulate plans to improve the understanding
of the law by Aboriginal communities. The inquiry was to be limited
to the Kimberley area, on the basis that any decisions made
following it could if appropriate be later extended to other parts
of the State later. As a result a system of 'Aboriginal courts' in
Western Australia was introduced in an experimental basis in 1980 at
La Grange and One Arm Point. [199]
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