Former Labor senator Patrick Dodson has called on the Albanese government to act after a damning report revealed that more Indigenous people died in custody last year than any year since 1980. The report, by the Australian Institute of Criminology, found that between June and November 2022, there were 151 deaths in custody - the highest number recorded for this period.
Dodson, who chairs the Senate's Indigenous affairs committee, has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to take immediate action to address the issue. He says that the government needs to work with state and territory governments to improve prison conditions and reduce Indigenous incarceration rates.
The report found that Indigenous Australians are more likely to be arrested and sentenced than non-Indigenous Australians. It also highlighted the need for improved mental health services, education and employment opportunities in Indigenous communities.
Dodson has expressed concern about the lack of representation by Indigenous people on the prison board. "We have Indigenous prisoners in our prisons but we don't have any Indigenous people on the prison board," he said. "This is a disaster waiting to happen."
The report also found that Indigenous Australians are more likely to be killed by police or corrections officers than non-Indigenous Australians.
Dodson has called for the government to establish an independent inquiry into Indigenous incarceration and provide funding for programs aimed at reducing Indigenous incarceration rates.
In a statement, Albanese said: "I want to assure the Indigenous community that we take these findings seriously and are committed to working with state and territory governments to improve prison conditions and reduce Indigenous incarceration rates."
The report's findings have been welcomed by Indigenous leaders and organizations, who say they highlight the need for urgent action to address the systemic issues affecting Indigenous Australians.
"This report is a wake-up call for all of us," said Dodson. "We can't just talk about it, we have to do something about it."
Dodson has called on the government to establish an independent inquiry into Indigenous incarceration and provide funding for programs aimed at reducing Indigenous incarceration rates.
In a statement, Albanese said: "I want to assure the Indigenous community that we take these findings seriously and are committed to working with state and territory governments to improve prison conditions and reduce Indigenous incarceration rates."
The report's findings have been welcomed by Indigenous leaders and organizations, who say they highlight the need for urgent action to address the systemic issues affecting Indigenous Australians.
"This report is a wake-up call for all of us," said Dodson. "We can't just talk about it, we have to do something about it."
Dodson, who chairs the Senate's Indigenous affairs committee, has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to take immediate action to address the issue. He says that the government needs to work with state and territory governments to improve prison conditions and reduce Indigenous incarceration rates.
The report found that Indigenous Australians are more likely to be arrested and sentenced than non-Indigenous Australians. It also highlighted the need for improved mental health services, education and employment opportunities in Indigenous communities.
Dodson has expressed concern about the lack of representation by Indigenous people on the prison board. "We have Indigenous prisoners in our prisons but we don't have any Indigenous people on the prison board," he said. "This is a disaster waiting to happen."
The report also found that Indigenous Australians are more likely to be killed by police or corrections officers than non-Indigenous Australians.
Dodson has called for the government to establish an independent inquiry into Indigenous incarceration and provide funding for programs aimed at reducing Indigenous incarceration rates.
In a statement, Albanese said: "I want to assure the Indigenous community that we take these findings seriously and are committed to working with state and territory governments to improve prison conditions and reduce Indigenous incarceration rates."
The report's findings have been welcomed by Indigenous leaders and organizations, who say they highlight the need for urgent action to address the systemic issues affecting Indigenous Australians.
"This report is a wake-up call for all of us," said Dodson. "We can't just talk about it, we have to do something about it."
Dodson has called on the government to establish an independent inquiry into Indigenous incarceration and provide funding for programs aimed at reducing Indigenous incarceration rates.
In a statement, Albanese said: "I want to assure the Indigenous community that we take these findings seriously and are committed to working with state and territory governments to improve prison conditions and reduce Indigenous incarceration rates."
The report's findings have been welcomed by Indigenous leaders and organizations, who say they highlight the need for urgent action to address the systemic issues affecting Indigenous Australians.
"This report is a wake-up call for all of us," said Dodson. "We can't just talk about it, we have to do something about it."
A prison board without any Indigenous reps? That's like having pizza with no sauce – what's the point? 
This is so heartbreaking, 151 deaths in custody is crazy! I think we need to take action ASAP 
. We need funding for programs that can help these communities, mental health services, education, employment opportunities... the list goes on 
. This report is a wake-up call, let's not waste it 
this is really sad and disturbing 
, the government needs to take immediate action to improve prison conditions and reduce incarceration rates for indigenous Australians 
.
, we need real systemic change 
.
. we need real action here 
, not just words or empty statements from politicians 
. an independent inquiry and more funding for programs aimed at reducing incarceration rates is a good start, but it's not enough 
.
this report is literally breaking my heart... 151 people, indigenous people, died in custody last year alone and the gov's response is like, a shrug? 
they're all like "we take these findings seriously" but what does that even mean? 
do they have a plan to actually change things? because right now it just looks like more of the same old systemic issues that have been plaguing our indigenous communities for centuries.
. Maybe this report will be the wake-up call everyone needs and lead to some real progress? 