UN blocked from investigating Australian youth detention centres

Planned vists by an UN expert to investigate the conditions of two youth detention centres in Queensland and the Northern Territory have been blocked.  Both jurisdictions are facing criticism over their decision to stop the United Nations special rapporteur on Indigenous peoples from visiting faci…

One in two Indigenous homes going hungry

Food charity, Foodbank Australia, has found more than 50 percent of First Nations households are food insecure.  Of those, around 40 percent are facing severe food insecurity, meaning someone is not eating.  Foodbank Australia CEO, Kylea Tink says their latest report shows the figures are higher t…

Mixed responses to Northern Territory child protection review

The Finocchario government has accepted all 45 recommendations from an independent review commissioned following the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby. The review has been generally welcomed but some say it should have gone further. Other Highlights: Political violence has been condemned widely foll…

An Indigenous health pioneer reflects on his career

Legal services and women's safety advocates in the Northern Territory say changes to suppression laws for sexual offences may hurt some victims. They're calling for the Northern Territory Government to listen to victims and their support services Other Highlights: Dialysis patients, homeless Terr…

Colonisation has created a "catastrophic fire loop" for Australian forests

The Minister for Indigenous Australians has questioned why the Pilbara, such a hub of wealth for the country, is experiencing food insecurity. It's one of the key topics at a recent community round table on child protection in Western Australia. Other Highlights: Critics have described the closur…

Calls for an Indigenous children's commissioner in WA

A community roundtable in Perth has called for the Western Australian government to legislate a dedicated state commissioner for Indigenous children, with real power to monitor and advance First Nations rights across the state. It's also called for an independent peak body representing Aboriginal …

Indigenous workers across the country paid less again

Somewhat reminiscent of historic underpaid wages claims by Indigenous workers, a new study has found mob earn around $15,000 less than other workers each year. That's the equivalent of them providing free labour for two months. Other Highlights: The ongoing use of drones in a regional New South W…

Complaints lodged against Pauline Hanson's racist comments

There's been a massive backlash this week following racist comments from One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. Her remarks have been condemned by politicians and multiple complaints have been lodged with the Australian Human Rights Commission. Other Highlights: Australia has dropped the ball on HIV a…

NSW Aboriginal Land Council pulls out of Closing the Gap discussions

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council says the Minns Government has failed to deliver a genuine partnership, shared decision-making and accountability. They have now pulled out of Closing the Gap discussions. The state's Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations says the government needs to back it's …

Racial bias may be behind a questionable police search of a minor in the ACT

The search of an Indigenous teenager who was removed from a bus at gunpoint could have been illegal. The Commonwealth Ombudsman has found that racial bias may have been involved in the arrest of a 17-year-old boy in Canberra last year. Other Highlights: A new report finds Queensland Indigenous ra…