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| David Dungay Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Name | David Dungay Jr. |
| Birth date | 1984 |
| Birth place | Grafton, New South Wales |
| Death date | 2015-12-29 |
| Death place | Long Bay Correctional Complex |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Known for | Death in custody, Indigenous rights activism |
David Dungay Jr. was an Indigenous Australian man from Weemelah, New South Wales who died in custody at Long Bay Correctional Complex in Sydney on 29 December 2015. His death became a focal point in debates involving Indigenous activism, Australian Human Rights Commission, and scrutiny of prison officer conduct in New South Wales. Multiple inquiries, coronial proceedings, and public protests linked his case to broader issues seen in cases like George Floyd and inquiries such as the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.
Dungay was born into a family from the Gomeroi nation in northern New South Wales, raised in communities around Weemelah, New South Wales and Moree, New South Wales. He spent his youth navigating systems including Aboriginal Legal Service programs, interactions with New South Wales Police Force, and community health services associated with clinics modeled on Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. His life intersected with institutions such as Corrective Services NSW and local advocacy groups including Black Lives Matter chapters in Australia.
Prior to his death, Dungay was incarcerated at Lithgow Correctional Centre and later transferred to Long Bay Correctional Complex to serve sentences related to offences prosecuted by New South Wales Police Force and adjudicated in courts such as the Local Court of New South Wales and the District Court of New South Wales. Medical records documented by correctional health staff and experts from services modeled on Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network indicated he had type 2 diabetes and a history of obesity, conditions discussed in submissions referencing guidance from organisations like World Health Organization and Australian frameworks from Royal Australasian College of Physicians clinical guidelines. His interactions with custodial staff involved protocols influenced by manuals produced by Corrective Services NSW and training curricula with input from institutions like the University of Sydney and University of New South Wales forensic programs.
On 29 December 2015, while detained at Long Bay Correctional Complex, Dungay was restrained by custodial officers after being served a standardised prison meal; reports indicated he repeatedly said "I can't breathe," paralleling language that later became emblematic in international cases such as the Death of Eric Garner. Emergency response involved staff trained under programs influenced by the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and protocols from St John Ambulance-style responders. After his collapse, paramedics from New South Wales Ambulance declared his death, prompting notification to the New South Wales Police Force and referral to the Coroner's Court of New South Wales.
Dungay's death generated investigations by the New South Wales Police Force Professional Standards Command, reviews by the Corrective Services NSW internal oversight, and a coronial inquest conducted by the Coroner's Court of New South Wales. Family legal representatives engaged with organisations including the Aboriginal Legal Service and civil rights lawyers who have worked on matters before the High Court of Australia and the Federal Court of Australia. The coronial findings addressed use-of-force issues, custodial restraint policies, and compliance with guidelines from bodies such as the Australian Medical Association; subsequent appeals and public interest legal actions drew attention from international human rights monitors including submissions referencing the United Nations Human Rights Council and non-governmental entities like Amnesty International.
The death sparked local and national protests organized by groups including Black Lives Matter Australia, relatives and community activists associated with the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples, and allied organisations such as Change the Record and Amnesty International Australia. Demonstrations occurred in precincts linked to institutions like Long Bay Correctional Complex, outside courthouses such as the Downing Centre, and in city centres like Sydney CBD and Melbourne. Media coverage by outlets including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Guardian (Australia) amplified calls echoed by figures from the Australian Greens, Australian Labor Party, and community leaders from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission-era networks.
His death contributed to renewed advocacy for reforms urged by reports aligned with recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, calls for implementation of oversight mechanisms similar to those in jurisdictions influenced by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (New South Wales), and policy changes debated in the Parliament of New South Wales and at federal forums in the Parliament of Australia. Campaigners have sought improved custodial health protocols drawing on research from institutions such as the Kirby Institute, adoption of body-worn camera policies debated with reference to practices in the New South Wales Police Force and international counterparts like the Metropolitan Police Service, and implementation of independent investigative bodies akin to the Police Integrity Commission (New South Wales). The case remains a touchstone in broader movements addressing Indigenous deaths in custody and has been commemorated by community memorials, legal scholarships, and advocacy initiatives supported by networks including the Australian Human Rights Commission and grassroots organisations.
Category:2015 deaths Category:Indigenous Australian people