The Commonwealth must take more responsibility for justice issues in Australia if we are going to genuinely fix our youth justice system and incarceration rates of our First Peoples, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

“The Commonwealth is very quick to push justice issues and funding back to the States and Territories but the fact is the Commonwealth needs to take some responsibility if we are going to fix youth detention and Aboriginal incarceration rates.

The ten year review for the Closing the Gap strategy should prompt an urgent reset by the Government, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

“I am saddened but not surprised to read today that the Government ‘effectively abandoned’ Closing the Gap policy after five years. We all remember when they ripped half a billion dollars out of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander portfolio in 2014 and it was clear that matters were going to get worse rather than better. 

The Australian Greens condemn an alleged white supremacist themed Australia Day party in Kalgoorlie WA that purportedly used Nazi flags whilst referring to January 26 as ‘victory day’.

“This is clear cut racism and I trust that local police will fully investigate and take seriously the pictures circulating on social media”, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

Polling in Fairfax media today that reveals more Australians have gotten onboard with changing the date of Australia Day in the last year shows that the mood is changing and Government must listen, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today. 

“In the last year alone support for changing the date amongst voters has shifted from one in six to one in five, that shows significant movement out in the community. 

A new report by the University of Sydney that shows a link between income management and lower birthweights and school attendance must be carefully considered by the Government, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.  

“The longstanding excuse for implementing income management by successive Governments is that children need to be protected, well now we have evidence that there is a strong correlation between reduced birthweights, school attendance and income management.  

The Senate has supported an Australian Greens motion that recognises the significance of the 42,000 year old remains of Mungo Man being returned to country.

“Mungo Man was excavated and taken off country over 40 years ago by a young geologist. This month he was finally returned to his original resting place, and the significance of that has now been acknowledged in the Senate.

“The senate not only acknowledges this significance, but pays respects to Aboriginal communities that have fought so hard over the years to bring Mungo Man back to country.

The Senate has today supported a Greens motion calling on the Government to show leadership to ensure Aboriginal led decision making to urgently address the extraordinary number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out of home care.

“The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children in out of home care keeps rising, year on year and it’s just heartbreaking, Australian Greens Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

The Australian Greens welcome triple j moving the date of Australia’s Hottest 100 from January 26 to the final weekend in January.

“Triple j have done substantial polling and spoken comprehensively to the community about when they want to celebrate the 100 best Aussie songs for the year, and Australia has spoken. I welcome triple j’s subsequent decision to change the date”, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues, Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

The Australian Greens are strongly backing the Change the Record Coalition calls on the Federal Government to adopt their 8-point National Plan of Action Free to be Kids to end the abuse and over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in prison.

“In light of the Royal Commission report into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory, Mr Turnbull must act urgently to get kids out of prison, Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

I welcome the joint statement led by Fiona Stanley and ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie, and signed by over 1000 prominent Australians calling on Mr Turnbull to rethink his decision to reject the proposal by the Referendum Council for a voice to Parliament.

“This could be a moment that brings our country together, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

“The vast majority of Australians want to see progress and a positive way forward for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.