It’s been a devastating first half of 2025.
As the national ‘tough on crime’ agenda continues to inform poor policy decisions based solely on polling numbers instead of evidence, our people continue to die in custody.
March’s Federal Budget was further proof of the Albanese Government’s negligence towards the wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly women and children.
Although all levels of government continue to talk about ‘practical outcomes’ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, it seems that since the failed 2023 Voice referendum, we have been met with radio silence and apathy when it comes to meaningful action to improve the lives of our people and communities. The silence is particularly salient in the lead-up to the Federal Election.
But our voices should, and will, continue to be heard.
We know that in the lead-up to the referendum, experiences of racism and abuse towards Aboriginal peoples increased. According to the Call it Out Racism Register’s 2023-24 Report, 13YARN, the national mental health crisis line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, reported a 108% increase in calls reporting experiences of racism and abuse between March and June 2023.
The government was too scared to show what meaningful partnership should look like, willfully forgetting that the vote was just one of many options for reform that would enliven our rights to self-determination. There’s been no leadership in taking accountability after failing to lead a successful, transparent and clear campaign for simply another representative body to be established within the Constitution.
This silence and inaction has only elicited more racism and discrimination against our people. It is something we experience on a daily basis. Just last week, while delivering a Welcome to Country at an ANZAC Day Service, Uncle Mark Brown, respected Bunurong Elder and Senior Cultural Heritage Officer, experienced hostility, disrespect and racism from protesting attendees. It must not be lost that so many of our community members gave their lives fighting for this country, and those that did return were not afforded the same access to soldier settlements, nor were they honoured for their service and sacrifice for many decades. Welcoming all people onto Country is an offering of safe passage, of honouring the Traditional Custodians in their roles in caring for Country, as they have done for over 60,000 years. It is an offering that is grounding, that connects, it is not an act of division.
For the record, Uncle Mark did not let those protestors deter him from delivering his Welcome. He stayed strong while his voice rose above theirs.
While experiences like Uncle Mark’s remind us that our voices are a powerful tool, relentless experiences of racism, abuse and trauma continue to harm our people. Government apathy towards this has only reinforced a lacklustre approach to working towards achieving the targets of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
So, it comes as no surprise that the Closing the Gap justice targets are getting worse, and adherence to the priority reform areas are insufficient. VALS has been calling for governments to be transformative and aspirational in its commitment, and in turn resourcing in self-determined solutions to close the gap. Priority Reform Two of the Closing The Gap Agreement is to strengthen the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector. In Victoria, we are seeing missed opportunity after missed opportunity to invest in evidence based, community-led solutions.
We seem to be screaming into the abyss. Realisation of Aboriginal self-determination appears further away than ever. Our national leaders cannot lead a national discussion as to why this agreement is important, why voice, treaty and truth are critical and necessary steps, or what role Welcome to Country’s play in today’s society.
Instead, they continue to make reckless decisions based on narratives created by conservative media outlets that only result in more of our people locked up, isolated from the supports they need, exposed to only more harm and trauma. The national ‘tough on crime’ agenda not only goes directly against the Closing the Gap Justice targets, but also against evidence-based research about what actually works in preventing crime.
Recently we saw the Victorian Government wind back critical reforms to the state’s bail laws, which is already having devastating impacts on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, who are already more likely to be criminalised due to systemic racism in our legal system.
Victorian prisons are not safe for Aboriginal people. Countless coronial inquests, alongside the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, the Yoorrook for Justice Report and numerous other inquiries have found this.
It’s quite simple what meaningful government action looks like in terms of reaching Closing the Gap justice targets. We need investment in Aboriginal-led services that are community-based, that focus on early intervention, prevention and diversionary approaches, to address the underlying causes of offending behaviour.
To put things into perspective, it costs $1.03 million per year to house one youth offender in prison in Victoria – the most expensive in the country.
Governments across the country are also spending more money on policing. Over the past decade there has been over 130% increase in police funding – a complete waste of money, because there is clear evidence that locking kids up causes them harm and only leads to further reoffending.
My experiences as CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, including the harm and trauma I see inflicted on our clients by the criminal legal system every day, has very much informed my work as a Treaty Co-Convenor of the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria.
For me, Treaty represents an opportunity to re-establish and reclaim Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing – but it’s a two way street. Treaty requires continuous, meaningful and genuine commitment from governments. It requires listening to us, not ignoring us.
While Prime Minister Albanese has been silent in his election campaign on issues affecting Aboriginal peoples, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, representative bodies including the Aboriginal Justice Caucus and the First Peoples Assembly alongside the wider Aboriginal Community of Victoria continues to fight for our inherent rights as First Peoples protected and upheld. I’m proud of that.
Aboriginal peoples’ rights should not be used as political footballs. True leadership requires deep listening and respect, and the ability to navigate political environments that are challenging with staunch commitment, and a willingness to walk alongside us, instead of leaving us behind.
As we draw closer to the Federal Election, whatever the outcome, I know that we will continue to fight for our voices to be heard and rights to be honoured and upheld, with the strength that has allowed us to live and thrive for over 60,000 years on this Country.
