Media

21/09/2026

PM’s UN pitch celebrating Aboriginal culture hypocritical as he presides over youth justice crisis at home

21 September 2026 The Prime Minister’s pitch video for the United Nations (UN) Security Council is a shameless display of hypocrisy, using Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture for PR while a crisis unfolds at home, says the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS). The video opens with a shot of Uluru and the words ... Read More

18/09/2026

Senate Inquiry backs calls for PM to take leadership on youth justice crisis

NATSILS welcomes the key recommendation of Youth Incarceration and Youth Justice Inquiry Report, which is for the Commonwealth to introduce national minimum standards for the treatment of children in the youth justice system, says Nick Espie, Executive Director of NATSILS. “This along with the other findings of the report make it utterly clear that the Prime Minister has an obligation ... Read More

19/08/2026

MEDIA RELEASE: Prime Minister refuses to meet with Aboriginal delegation to receive open letter on youth justice crisis

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) calls on the Prime Minister to fulfil his moral responsibility to keep communities across Australia safe by putting an end to the mass incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The Prime Minister has refused to show any leadership amidst the country’s youth justice crisis, even when more children ... Read More

11/08/2026

MEDIA RELEASE: Aboriginal children imprisoned at alarming rates and in worsening conditions makes communities less safe

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) will give evidence today at the Senate Youth Justice Inquiry and highlight the failure of the federal government to keep communities safe by presiding over the mass incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

30/07/2026

MEDIA RELEASE: More Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children behind bars without a sentence

The Productivity Commission’s Annual Data Compilation Report, released yesterday, shows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people continue to be locked up at disproportionate rates, the majority unsentenced.

07/07/2026

MEDIA RELEASE: PM ignores human rights obligations

Last week the Federal Government responded to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR), where the international community evaluates human rights records and provides recommendations for how to improve. Of the 322 recommendations to improve its human rights standing, the Federal Government only accepted 128 recommendations.

25/05/2026

MEDIA RELEASE: NT child protection reforms will harm children, not protect them

The Northern Territory’s proposed child protection reforms will harm children and families. NATSILS stands with NAAJA, the NT Children’s Commissioner, the National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, and other Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and community leaders in calling for the Care and Protection of Children Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 to be scrapped.

13/05/2026