Weekly News In Review

This week has seen the release of heartbreaking deaths in custody data.

Over the last financial year 33 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders passed away in custody, the highest number in over 40 years.

It means there have been 617 recorded deaths since the landmark Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 1991.

Other stories this week include:

• The Victorian Government apologises to First Nations people across th...

A new report released this week has highlighted the need for national leadership on youth justice policies.

It shows inconsistencies in the way each state and territory approach youth crime laws.

Advocates are now calling for a national youth justice standard that is in line with human rights obligations.

Other Highlights:

• Four Indigenous tenants have taken on the Northern Territory government in the High Court and won. 
• ...

For the first time in decades Australia’s environment laws will be getting an overhaul.

With the help of the Greens the Albanese government has passed changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

The reforms look to provide stronger protections for the environment, while also supporting businesses.

The changes have been welcomed by some environment groups but some industry bodie...

Two uncles from the Torres Strait will take their fight to protect their islands, to the full Federal Court.

Uncle’s Paul Kabai and Pabai Pabai, are appealing a Federal Court Justice ruling from earlier this year which found the commonwealth is not legally responsible for the impact the climate crisis is having on the Torres Strait.

The Uncles say rising sea levels have damaged culturally significant sites and are forcing Isl...

Victoria has made history this week with the signing of Australia’s first ever Treaty with Indigenous people.

The signing is the result of nearly a decade of negotiations and generations of advocacy.

A new independent body, Gellung Warl, will be established to oversee the Treaty process and speak directly to the Victorian government about laws that affect First Nations People.

Other Highlights include:

• The impact Victori...

New Data from The Australia Institute is raising concerns that gambling companies are targeting Indigenous people.  

The institute’s found communities with high numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have 50 per cent more poker machines than other areas.

Other Highlights:

• Cape York Traditional Owners speak out over the removal of a culturally significant crocodile.
• The Australian Museum encourages people ...

Tens of thousands of job seekers across 60 remote areas will find it easier to get a job and work on projects befitting communities. 

That's what the Federal Government hopes as the Remote Australia Employment Service (RAES) replaces the Community Development Program (CDP). 

Other Highlights:

• Indigenous communities feel ignored amid the debate on Federal environmental reforms.
• NSW Government advised to increase diver...

The men's and women's Indigenous cricket teams have been at a camp in Melbourne that's focused on cricket and culture.

The long-term goal is to develop more First Nations players for Australia's national teams.

Other Highlights:

• The Victorian Government's has been accused of lacking ambition in its response to a 100-page review of the state's wildlife act.
• Former Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt announced as the h...

Australia’s first ever Treaty is one step closer after being passed in Victoria’s Lower House in state parliament.   

It’s a crucial step in a lengthy process that’s involved truth-telling, advocacy and community consultation.

Proud Gunditjmara man Ruben Berg is the Co-Chair of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, the body which has helped the government develop the Treaty.

Other highlights inc...

Do you ever think about what you're leaving behind for the next generation?

Well how this generation leaves the planet so future generations can be around longer is one of the key talking points of an upcoming gathering in Mbantua/Alice Springs next Friday. 

The Social Good Summit Australia is also putting Indigenous wisdom at the centre of talks which will cover the climate crisis and collective wellbeing. 

Other Highlig...

Recent changes to the Northern Territory's Sacred Sites Act have paved the way for the development of an 11 storey hotel that will affect an important site for Larrakia people.

It has led to calls for the Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians to intervene.

Other Highlights:

• The Victorian government has announced it's scrapped plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14, after increasing it to 12 this week.&nb...

The family of an Aboriginal man who died in police custody want an independent review into his death. 

24-year-old Warlpiri man, Kumanjayi White died after being restrained by plain clothed police officers at an  Alice Springs supermarket in May.

This week, the Northern Territory Police have given their brief of evidence to the Territory's Director of Public Prosecutions for review.

Other Highlights:

• Indigenous right...

The Federal Government's intervention in Tasmania's Franklin Dam project in the 1980s, shows the Commonwealth can intervene in State and Territory affairs. 

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services and the Justice and Equity Centre want the Albanese Government to use those powers now to protect the rights of children.

They sought advice from barristers Kate Eastman SC and Emma Dunlop, who say the feder...

Pacific Island leaders have been gathering in the Solomon Islands for the Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting this week.

High on the agenda has been the impacts of climate change, regional security and the relationships between the nations. 

Other highlights:

• The Northern Territory's pepper spray trial has raised concerns on the ground.
• More than a hundred women came together in Western Australia's port city of Bunbury f...

It's been a week with a heavy focus on race and racism and the fallout from Sunday's attack on Camp Sovereignty has played out in court in Melbourne this week.

A group of armed men attacked the people gathered at the camp. They tore down and stomped on Aboriginal flags following the anti-immigration rally in Melbourne.

Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivarama speaks to NIRS.

Other Highlights:

• Levitt Robinson are pr...

Thousands of language speakers from First Nations mob from across the globe to share ideas on how to keep their languages alive.

Passionate language advocate, Daryn McKenny, has been running Puliima since it began and this year there was an international component.  

We also hear how Indigenous business are impacted by US tariff changes and the decision by Australia Post to stop parcel delivery to the states.

Plus a speci...

Warning this week’s episode includes the name of an Indigenous person who has passed away.

For the first time an Australian Royal Commission has created its own Indigenous committee.

South Australia’s Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence handed down its report this week.

It’s Indigenous partnership committee helped Commissioner Natasha Stott-Despoja produce a 667-page report which has made 13...

65 cents for every dollar earned by Australian men in the same positions. 

That's the reality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. 

A new Jobs and Skills Australia study has found this week that Indigenous women have the largest gender pay gap in this country. 

So how is this 35 percent pay gap affecting Indigenous women? 

Harrison Pedersen caught up with Griffith University Professor Dr Kerry Bodle,...

Slammin' Sam, a former State of Origin great, is remembered not just for football.  Sam Backo played a significant role in gaining native title over lands and waters of the Warrgamay people in North Queensland.  His family are in mourning after Sam passed away from melioidosis at the age of 64.  His sister, Charmaene Scott spoke of her brother's life during and after footy. 

We also hear about growing opposition...