HAPPY LIFE
WHAT NEWS?
Indigenous Deaths in Custody in Australia Hit a 40-Year High, Renewing Calls for Reform
Indigenous Deaths in Custody in Australia Hit a 40-Year High, Renewing Calls for Reform
Trusted News - Expert Analysis - Global Coverage
New data shows Indigenous deaths in custody have reached a 40-year high in Australia, prompting renewed calls for long-overdue reforms and political accountability.
ustralia has recorded the highest number of Indigenous deaths in custody seen in more than four decades, according to newly released figures from the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC). The data shows 33 Indigenous people died in custody between July 2024 and June 2025, up from 24 during the previous year.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to be significantly overrepresented in the justice system. They make up more than one-third of the national prison population, despite accounting for less than four percent of Australia's population.
The findings arrive more than 30 years after the landmark royal commission into Indigenous deaths in custody — an inquiry that recommended hundreds of reforms intended to prevent exactly this kind of escalation.
Of the 33 Indigenous deaths recorded this year, 26 occurred inside prisons, compared with 18 the year prior. One young person died in youth detention. Six others died while in police custody or during attempts by officers to detain them.
The AIC reports that self-inflicted harm was the leading cause of death, followed by natural causes. Hanging accounted for eight cases. New South Wales reported the highest number of Indigenous prison deaths, with nine. Western Australia followed with six, while Queensland, South Australia and the ACT each recorded three deaths.
NSW State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan recently described the trend as a "profoundly distressing milestone," stressing that these cases must be treated with respect, transparency and careful oversight. The data also shows the average age of Indigenous people who died in custody was 45, and nearly a third were awaiting sentencing at the time of their death.
University of Melbourne associate professor Amanda Porter, who has worked closely with families navigating coronial inquests, said the numbers reflect a "national crisis" that demands real political commitment, not another round of reports.
"It's devastating to sit with families at inquests year after year," she told the ABC. "More than 30 years after the royal commission, the situation is not improving. In many ways, it is getting worse."
Since the royal commission's final report in 1991, more than 600 Indigenous people have died in custody, including six in youth detention, according to the AIC. The commission made 339 recommendations aimed at reducing incarceration rates and improving conditions, but many remain unimplemented or only partially adopted.
Indigenous leaders and advocacy groups have pointed to systemic issues including racial profiling, inadequate healthcare in detention, and the failure to use incarceration as a last resort. Many have called for the implementation of "justice reinvestment" strategies that redirect funds from prisons to community-led prevention programs.
The federal government has acknowledged the "unacceptable" figures but faced criticism for what advocates call a slow and inadequate response. Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney said the government remains committed to reducing Indigenous incarceration but acknowledged "there is much more work to be done."
Community organizations and human rights groups are demanding an urgent national summit on Indigenous justice, along with concrete timelines for implementing outstanding royal commission recommendations. They also call for independent oversight of all custody-related deaths and better support for families navigating the coronial system.
Legal experts note that while coronial inquests can make recommendations, they lack enforcement power. Many families report feeling re-traumatized by lengthy inquest processes that rarely result in criminal charges or systemic change.
As the data reveals a troubling upward trend, pressure is mounting on state and federal governments to move beyond symbolic gestures and deliver tangible reforms that address the root causes of Indigenous overrepresentation in the justice system.
"We cannot keep having the same conversations every year while the numbers go up," said Professor Porter. "What we need is political courage, proper resourcing of Aboriginal community-controlled organizations, and a genuine commitment to keeping our people out of custody in the first place."
