Out of 38,000 people fined for non-voting in the NT just 3 per cent have paid
Just 3 per cent of voters fined for not voting in last year’s Northern Territory local government elections have paid the penalty. Debate is growing over whether the system is working — or unfair to voters in remote areas.
#IndigenousPolicy #Elections #LocalGovernment #ElectoralSystem
'They found her grave': The words a stolen boy waited decades to hear
By Tahnee Jash and Kirstie Wellauer
More than 100 Stolen Generations survivors have gathered in Canberra for the apology anniversary. The government is pledging new money to help them heal.
#StolenGenerations #IndigenousAustralians #IndigenousPolicy #TahneeJash #KirstieWellauer
PM 'not contemplating failure' as Closing the Gap deadline looms
By Stephanie Boltje and Joanna McCarthy
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is bullish on closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people ahead of handing down his annual report card on the progress made.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-11/prime-minister-closing-the-gap-speech/106332998
#Health #IndigenousPolicy #GovernmentandPolitics #StephanieBoltje #JoannaMcCarthy
'Historic day' as First Nations people, govts deliver first national DV plan
By Stephanie Boltje
A national plan to tackle domestic violence against First Nations women was "hard fought for by Aboriginal women", an advocate says.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-10/first-nations-national-plan-domestic-violence/106321570
#DomesticViolence #IndigenousPolicy #GenderEquality #GovernmentandPolitics #StephanieBoltje
What these First Nations leaders want to see on the agenda in 2026
By Dana Morse and Sean Mantesso
Ahead of the national debate around Indigenous rights and recognition this January 26, the ABC has spoken to First Nations leaders about what they think are the top priorities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
#IndigenousPolicy #GovernmentandPolitics #IndigenousAustralians #FederalGovernment #DanaMorse #SeanMantesso
Running towards danger: The program preparing graduates for no ordinary job
By Stephanie Boltje
For First Nations recruits the path to firefighting is demanding, competitive and often deeply personal.
#IndigenousAustralians #IndigenousCulture #Fires #Bushfires #IndigenousPolicy #Police #StephanieBoltje
The program preparing graduates to run towards danger
By Stephanie Boltje
For First Nations recruits the path to firefighting is demanding, competitive and often deeply personal.
#IndigenousAustralians #IndigenousCulture #Fires #Bushfires #IndigenousPolicy #Police #StephanieBoltje
Broome prison 'unfit for purpose' with cockroach-infested cells
By Ruby Littler and Dunja Karagic
A damning report by Western Australia's prison watchdog dubs Broome Regional Prison "unfit for purpose".
#Prisons #StateandTerritoryGovernment #IndigenousPolicy #RubyLittler #DunjaKaragic
'A laughing stock': Elder and MDAS ex-board member calls for government intervention
By Tyrone Dalton
A former director of an embattled Aboriginal organisation says the vote that removed her was fair and legitimate, and has asked the state government to intervene amid calls to re-run the vote.
#CommunityOrganisations #IndigenousPolicy #RegionalCommunities #TyroneDalton
Director nominations for Mallee Aboriginal health board create division
By Tyrone Dalton
An annual meeting to elect a new board at Mallee District Aboriginal Services has led to divisions among members and incoming board members as the chair announces elections will be re-run.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-27/aboriginal-community-tension-mallee-board-division/106170928
#Elections #RegionalCommunities #IndigenousProtocols #IndigenousPolicy #TyroneDalton
'We are born into that fear': Canberra's failure to fix systemic racism
By James Vyver
After 24 years of Labor government, First Nations people in Australia's capital are frustrated and exhausted by a lack of meaningful progress to close the gap.
Spending on child removal protection 'shockingly low', report finds
By Tahnee Jash
Only 15.6 per cent of national child protection funding goes towards family support services aimed at keeping families intact, a report has found. Advocates are urging the government to "invest in families, not crisis".
#Children #IndigenousPolicy #IndigenousAustralians #GovernmentFunding #TahneeJash
Family pays emotional tribute to 10yo boy as inquest closes
By Rhiannon Shine
The inquest into the boy's death in state care hears he was a bright and mischievous boy who was proud of his heritage. WARNING: This story contains distressing content.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-09/coronial-inquest-boys-death-state-care/106119640
#Courts #IndigenousPolicy #IndigenousCulture #Children #Suicide #RhiannonShine
Victorian government to make historic apology to Aboriginal Victorians
By Kate Ashton and Richard Willingham
The Victorian government is set to make a historic apology to Aboriginal Victorians today, in one of the first public acts to follow the signing of the state's treaty agreement.
#IndigenousPolicy #ApologytoAustraliasIndigenousPeoples #IndigenousAustralians #KateAshton #RichardWillingham
Rare look at family, country and culture on the remote APY Lands
By Stephanie Boltje and Che Chorley
The stark beauty of Australia's protected APY Lands is alive with ancient songlines and culture. But Elders see a need for change to secure the future of today's children.
#IndigenousAustralians #IndigenousPolicy #IndigenousCulture #EnvironmentalImpact #InvasiveSpecies #EndangeredandProtectedSpecies #Language #AboriginalLanguage #NuclearIssues #StephanieBoltje #CheChorley
It has taken 30 years to gain native title determination for Payarri
By Macey Turner
It was 1994 when Ngalia man Kado Muir first sat down with two of his elders and a lawyer to discuss lodging a native title claim for his ancestral country, Payarri. Today, the Federal Court will make an on-country determination of that claim.
#NativeTitle #IndigenousCulture #IndigenousPolicy #MaceyTurner
ACT public servants legally required to uphold 'Closing the Gap principle'
By Harry Frost
Senior ACT public servants will soon be required to demonstrate their work towards ending the inequality experienced by First Nations people.
#IndigenousPolicy #IndigenousAustralians #StateandTerritoryParliament #HarryFrost
From $50 rentals to burying the dead, this island governs itself
By Louise Miolin and Morgan Timms
Twenty years ago, Cape Barren Island was handed back to its traditional owners. Today's children are proof of the life-changing power of that act.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-29/cape-barren-island-20-years-after-land-return/105916324
#IndigenousPolicy #IndigenousAustralians #IndigenousCulture #Children #Family #Language #AboriginalLanguage #LouiseMiolin #MorganTimms
Court to test claims mining exploration fast-tracked at expense of native title
By Ruby Littler
Traditional owners in WA's north launch legal action against the state government claiming it is fast-tracking mining and exploration projects using "expedited procedure" approvals at cultural expense.
#NativeTitle #LandRights #IndigenousPolicy #MiningandMetalsIndustry #RubyLittler
Closing the Gap penalties still 'on the table', minister says
By Kirstie Wellauer and Joanna McCarthy
Malarndirri McCarthy says she understands states "will make their decisions in terms of elections" when it comes to rising incarceration rates, but that all leaders have a responsibility to examine to the "profound impacts" of policies.
