Canberra, Australia – A group of federal crossbench MPs, led by Senator Lidia Thorpe, is raising concerns about the high number of First Nations children being forcibly removed from their families and the alarming rate of Indigenous deaths in custody. They are calling for immediate action from the Labor government to implement all the recommendations from the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and the 1997 Bringing Them Home report on the Stolen Generations.
Senator Thorpe emphasized the urgency of the situation, urging the prime minister to take decisive leadership to address the long-standing issues in the country’s First Nations justice system. The MPs penned an open letter to the prime minister, Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney, and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, demanding new powers for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner to oversee the progress on the recommendations that have remained unimplemented for decades.
In addition to seeking greater oversight on the implementation of the recommendations, the MPs are advocating for the appointment of a new national commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People to ensure the Bringing them Home report recommendations are put into action. Their efforts are part of a broader push for systemic change to tackle the ongoing issues facing Indigenous communities in Australia.
Health ministers from various states and territories are set to convene with federal health minister Mark Butler for a roundtable discussion with Indigenous health leaders. The meeting will likely include a focus on addressing the longstanding recommendations from the royal commission, particularly regarding culturally safe healthcare in prisons. Senator Thorpe highlighted the need for urgent action, pointing out specific recommendations such as removing hanging points from prisons to prevent tragic deaths in custody.
Senator Jacquie Lambie echoed concerns about the high number of deaths among First Nations people in custody, noting that little progress has been made in implementing the recommendations outlined in the 1991 royal commission. The grim reality is underscored by recent data showing worsening rates of Indigenous suicide, adult incarceration, and children in out-of-home care, with no improvement in the rates of imprisonment of First Nations children. The continued failure to address these issues is described as unacceptable by MP Andrew Wilkie, who emphasized the need for tangible reforms to protect and promote the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
As calls for action grow louder, the pressure is mounting on the government to deliver meaningful change to address the deep-rooted issues facing Indigenous communities in Australia. The time for promises and reports without action is over, with MPs urging decisive steps to prevent further harm and injustice to First Nations peoples.