Walton, Alastair --- "ALS Fires" [1985] AboriginalLawB 15; (1985) 1(13) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 3

• Als Fires
• Redfern
• Central Australia

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ALS Fires

by Alastair Walton

The Redfern Aboriginal Legal Service fire occured on Saturday 2 March, just after noon, while the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service, in Alice Springs, was totally destroyed by fire in the early hours of Saturday 16 March. The fires, though unrelated, are believed to have been deliberately lit. In both cases police have charged local youths in connection with the fires.

Redfern

The extent of the damage at Redfern was mostly confined to the upstairs section of the building. The fire started in two separate offices, the head solicitor's and another solicitor's room opposite. Their files, books, briefs and office equipment were completely consumed by the fires. Most of the files in relation to criminal matters, including 'half a dozen murder cases' and 150 'very serious matters' were lost.

Chair of the Redfern ALS, Mr Lyall Munro, was quoted in a newspaper (S.M.H. 6.3.85) article saying:

Many people, perhaps hundreds, have had their cases prejudiced. But the fire is not just a disaster for the ALS, it is also a disaster for the Aboriginal community.

A meeting of the directors and staff on the Monday after the fire decided to notify the various court administrations of the ALS's difficulties. The meeting also believed that no new work could be accepted until the backlog was dealt with.

Smoke and water damage has severely hampered the service's opera tions with three solicitors having to work from home and two solicitors with no files whatsoever. The ALS and its insurance company are in the process of negotiation.

The Redfern ALS is the original ALS in Australia and occupies an important role as a political and legal centre for the Aboriginal community in New South Wales.

However, as always the ALS is still going and continuing with projects and clients both major and minor.

Central Australia

The premises rented from the Centralian Advocate housing the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service and the Central Land Council were gutted by fire.

The CAALAS was renting because its own premises are being renovated and will not be functional to the end of April. Pat Miller, the CAALAS administrator, said the staff and supporters arrived at the scene Saturday morning and proceeded to clear up and organise new accommodation. She added that the CAA LAS was open for business at 10 a.m. on the Monday morning due to the great effort and assistance they received.

The extent of the damage was that everything was burnt, office equipment and files. The Central Land Council lost many important documents including archives and manuscripts relating to land claims and Aboriginal history in Central Australia.

At the moment the legal service is operating from a warehouse in Alice Springs. It is impressive that the CAALAS was able to continue a service. The people involved in responding to the emergency should all be congratulated for a job well done.