Reflecting on the six months post-referendum, one thing is clear: life for Australia’s First Peoples remains little changed.
However, change is urgently needed. The productivity commissions recent review of progress made on Closing the Gap targets found serious shortcomings in the current approach by governments. It highlighted the importance of shared decision making between Government and First Nations communities, and pathways for self-determination as a necessary requirement to achieving parity.
Sadly, the continuing crisis of Aboriginal deaths in custody is highlighted by a report into the deaths on two aboriginal boys held in youth detention in Queensland. Both children were detained in solitary confinement for the majority of their time in detention. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continue to make up more than half of those held in detention, despite being 6% of the population.
Justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples continues to be a high priority for our office, and for Australia’s Bishops. Whatever the result of the referendum, doing nothing about the situation for Australia’s First Peoples is not an option. Change must happen and the Church needs to be promoting this change.
To support the ongoing message at the heart of the 2023 Social Justice Statement, Listen Learn Love: A New engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, our office will be producing a resource more deeply exploring the ongoing impacts of the forcible removal of First Nations children over many years, with further resources highlighting topics such as the employment challenges for First Nations Peoples, and Indigenous Ecology initiatives and practices. This work is being done in collaboration with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council.