A law meant for disrupting serious crime is disproportionately targeting Indigenous people and continues to be used on children, legal groups say.
The Aboriginal Legal Service New South Wales (NSW)/Australian Capital Territory (ACT), the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and the NSW Bar Association on Wednesday called on the state parliament to narrow the scope of the consorting law and ban its use on those under the age of 18.
It follows similar calls by the police watchdog after its three-year review showed most of the 105 warnings issued every week related to comparatively less serious potential offending.
The consorting law allows police to warn a person for associating or keeping company with those convicted of an indictable offence. After two warnings, a person can be charged and face up to three years in jail if convicted….