The government’s response to an open letter from hundreds of organisations released today is entirely untrue and ignores legal advice obtained and shared with the Prime Minister last year.

206 organisations and leaders from across civil society have penned an open letter to the Prime Minister, urging him to call an emergency summit on youth justice where governments can listen to the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal experts and leaders.

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) extends its condolences to families and communities who have lost loved ones to deaths in custody, following news that Australia has recorded the highest number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in custody in at least four decades.

NATSILS urges the Prime Minister to show leadership by putting an end to state and territory governments pursuing punitive policies that put more children behind bars. 

The Federal Government’s Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No 2) Bill 2025 is back before the Senate today. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) and more than 40 other organisations have spoken out about Schedule 5 of the bill, which seeks to grant police and ministers new powers to withhold Centrelink payments for people accused … Read More

Karly Warner, Chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS): “The Government is trying to pass legislation that would allow police to cancel Centrelink payments for people who have not been found guilty of any offence. ”This is an unprecedented attack on fairness and due process which will shake public confidence in our legal system. Under … Read More

Advice obtained from Senior Counsel by the Justice and Equity Centre makes clear that the Commonwealth has the Constitutional power to act on youth justice reform. 

NATSILS and Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement (ALRM) are concerned that the Street Gangs Bill, which is expected to be debated in South Australia’s Parliament this week will criminalise children for life, drive more children into prison, and ultimately make communities less safe.

New legislation proposed in South Australia will have dire consequences for communities and will put more children through the criminal justice system.

If passed, a new bill to be introduced in the Northern Territory Parliament would see more children locked up in prison, and give prison guards more power to use force and dangerous tactics against them.