The Victorian government
has announced it will decriminalise public drunkenness, just
days before the CoroniaI Inquest into the death of Indigenous woman
Tanya Day.
The death of Tanya Day
The 55-year old Yorta Yorta woman caught a train from Echuca to
Melbourne on 5 December 2017 to see her family.
She was heavily intoxicated and fell asleep during the trip,
with her legs said to be blocking the aisle.
As the train pulled in to Castlemaine station, the conductor
called police to request help with an "unruly" passenger
who he said could not find her ticket.
Police arrived at 3.10pm and shook Ms Day awake. They then
arrested her for being drunk in public and and took her to the
police station.
