The Honourable Peter Johnstone, Adjunct Professor at the University of New England’s (UNE) School of Law, has spent his career advocating for justice reform and truth-telling, particularly for Aboriginal communities.
As a featured speaker at the upcoming Myall Creek 25th Anniversary Symposium, Johnstone will share insights from his decades of legal experience and commitment to addressing systemic inequities.
Born and raised in Armidale, Johnstone’s legal journey began with his graduation from the University of Sydney’s Law School in 1973. After 35 years at Ashurst, where he rose to partner, he was appointed as a District Court Judge in 2006. His judicial career included serving as President of the Children’s Court of NSW (2012–2021) and Chief Magistrate of the Local Court of NSW (2021–2024). During his tenure, Johnstone focused on reforming youth justice, particularly for Aboriginal children.
“I was keen to address the problem of overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in the youth justice system,” says Johnstone.
He championed initiatives such as the Youth Koori Court, established in 2015, which integrates restorative justice practices and cultural perspectives. “Sentencing should focus less on punishment for the sake of retribution and more on addressing the underlying causes of criminogenic behaviour,” he says.
Johnstone’s advocacy extended to improving cultural planning for Aboriginal children in care and protection cases. “I saw inadequate cultural planning for Aboriginal children removed from their families and incomplete attempts to locate placements with wider family or kin”.
The Myall Creek 25th Anniversary Symposium, held on Friday, 6 June at UNE’s Oorala Aboriginal Centre, will explore themes of truth-telling, law, and governance.
The event commemorates the infamous 1838 Myall Creek Massacre and serves as a platform for discussions on embedding Aboriginal knowledge into governance frameworks. Johnstone believes organisations must go beyond tokenism. “Adequate training, education, and robust recruitment strategies for Aboriginal people are essential,” he says.
Reflecting on broader lessons, Johnstone emphasises the importance of restorative justice and community involvement.
“The key lessons from the Youth Koori Court include the involvement of Aboriginal elders and respected persons, focusing on rehabilitation rather than incarceration.”
Johnstone also urged attendees to focus on socio-economic drivers of youth crime rather than sensationalised narratives. “We need greater investment by government in youth programs and services, particularly in regional locations,” he says.
The symposium is a precursor to the annual Memorial Day gathering on Sunday, 8 June, commemorating the 28 Wirrayaraay people killed in 1838. Johnstone encourages attendees to embrace fact-based solutions and truth-telling as vital steps toward healing and justice.
To register for the symposium and view the full program, visit UNE Myall Creek Symposium.
