Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

These are serious issues that Senator Thorpe raises. All Aboriginal deaths in custody are a tragedy, and every single death that occurs in custody is a tragedy. It is an ongoing problem and challenge for the nation that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are overrepresented in our adult and youth justice systems, both as offenders and as victims. Indeed, while the rates of death in custody for Indigenous prisoners is lower than for non-Indigenous prisoners, any death in custody is one too many. As the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody found, the fundamental issue is that too many Aboriginal people are in custody too often.

The new National Agreement on Closing the Gap includes targets for reducing the rate of adult incarceration by at least 15 per cent, which is target 10, and of youth detention by at least 30 per cent, which is target 11, amongst Indigenous Australians by 2031. The Indigenous Advancement Strategy of the government funds activities to complement the efforts of states and territories to improve justice and community safety outcomes for Indigenous Australians. Some $261.3 million has been committed in 2020-21 alone. We recognise the seriousness of these issues and, through the closing the gap agreement, we are committed to working with states and territories, but also, most importantly, with individual communities, to seek to overcome and to address these issues. But we know there is no quick or silver bullet to doing so. It is why, though, we have spelt out clear targets, clear funding, and work to try to address this tragedy that ensues. (Time expired)