Yorta Yorta women Tanya Day (55) died in police custody in 2017. The second week of the coronial inquest into her death continues this week in Melbourne. Ms Day was arrested for public drunkenness and later died in police custody. The coroner is investigating whether systemic racism played a role in her death.

In 1991 the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody made 339 recommendations mainly concerned with procedures for persons in custody, liaison with Aboriginal groups, police education and improved accessibility to information. Recommendation 79 advised states to de-criminalize the offence of public drunkenness.

Breakfast host Tess Connery spoke to Karly Warner CEO of Aboriginal Legal Service about the challenges Indigenous people face and how systemic racism effects their communities.

Photo Credit: ABC Jeremy Story Carter