In a moment of deep significance, Aboriginal leaders from across public institutions and political life have come together to issue a joint statement, calling on the Australian Government to act now on long-standing commitments to First Peoples.
The statement marks the 18th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) being adopted by the UN General Assembly and 16 years since Australia formally adopted the Declaration.
Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss, alongside former Commissioners Mick Dodson AM, Tom Calma AO, Mick Gooda and June Oscar AO, and former Federal politicians the Hon. Ken Wyatt, Linda Burney and Patrick Dodson, are urging the Australian Government to deliver on Closing the Gap targets and commit to urgent, rights-based reforms.
'We call on the Albanese Government to respond by 22 November 2025 to the report of the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs inquiry into UNDRIP,' the leaders said.
November will mark 2 years since the Committee released its final report, following a 12-month inquiry.
'We call on the Government to fully endorse its 6 recommendations,' they said. 'These provide a roadmap to improving the recognition of rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and to commit to partnership and dialogue. This includes by:
- Developing a National Action Plan to implement the UNDRIP in Australia, in partnership with First Nations communities.
- Amending legislation to formally include the UNDRIP in Australian law.
- Establishing an independent truth-telling and treaty process.
'It has been 16 years since Australia endorsed the UNDRIP, which stands as the most powerful tool to guide change in law, policy, and outcomes for Indigenous Peoples around the world. Yet, here in Australia we are still waiting for meaningful action to close the gap between rhetoric and reality.
'Each gap in the Closing the Gap framework reflects the impact of injustice and unmet human rights. While progress is being made on some targets, only 4 are currently on track. That tells us the pace of change is not satisfactory.
'Until governments are held accountable for upholding our rights, the gaps will not close. The cost of delay is devastating: loss of lives, families, culture, languages and opportunities.
'We also call for urgent reforms to address long term failures in our criminal justice and child justice systems by:
- Incorporating the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Australian law, including by legislating national standards for children in justice and corrections systems and raising the age of criminal responsibility (currently 10 years' old under federal law)
- Establishing ongoing and independent monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (1991).
- Exploring options for the establishment of an independent statutory authority to investigate Indigenous deaths and critical incidents in custody.
'This is about justice. It is about lives. It is about holding governments accountable to the promises they have made. It is unacceptable that issues that were identified in the Royal Commission in 1991 remain unaddressed. Governments must act to prevent unnecessary contact with the criminal justice system - and above all, to stop preventable deaths in custody.
'Every year without action entrenches injustice. Commitments by state, territory, and federal governments are on paper. Now they must be delivered.'
