The Greens have welcomed the holding of a round table with First Nations Ministers and the Coalition of the Peaks today, and called on the federal government to make First Nations justice a priority in the 48th parliament.
Earlier this week the NT government scrapped an independent review into systemic racism, just weeks after refusing to conduct an independent investigation into the death of Kumanjayi White in police custody.
As stated by Larissa Waters, Australian Greens leader and spokesperson on First Nations Justice
"It's clear from the events of recent weeks that First Nations justice must be an urgent priority of the 48th parliament, and the Greens are ready to work with Labor to get outcomes," Greens Leader Larissa Waters said on Friday.
"There have already been 13 Aboriginal deaths in custody this year. Recommendations from the 34 year old Deaths in Custody report remain unfulfilled, and opportunities to investigate structural racism in the justice system have been abandoned, but this parliament presents a real opportunity to take action.
"No child should be locked up in a jail, and First Nations children are 29 times as likely as non-indigenous young people to be in detention. Raising the age of criminal responsibility is a long-held Greens position, and a key measure towards closing the gap.
"If the government is serious about closing the gap in health, education and incarceration rates, it's time to actually do what First Nations people have been asking of us for decades.
"Healing starts with telling the truth and the Greens continue to call on the government to take urgent tangible steps towards Truth and Treaty in the 48th parliament.
"It's time to fund real action on closing the gap and properly resource community led solutions, and the Greens are ready to work with Labor to get it done."
