Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and National Children’s Commissioner have welcomed the introduction of legislation to establish the National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People as a permanent statutory agency.
The Commission was initiated 2 years ago to help meet the Australian Government’s commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, and has been operating under the auspices of the Department of Social Services.
Yesterday, the National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Bill 2026 was introduced into the Australian Parliament. The bill will establish the Commission as a separate entity with functions and powers that are independent of the Government. The agency is being led by the National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Sue-Anne Hunter.
The new powers outlined in the bill will be similar to other national commissioners, guardians and advocates including conducting inquiries, making recommendations to government, public advocacy, research, and education. However, this role is the only one at the national level with a sole focus on First Peoples children and young people.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss: ‘The ongoing failure to address the needs of First Peoples’ children and young people is a significant human rights challenge for our country.
‘On a range of outcomes – health and wellbeing, justice, education – many of our kids are being left behind. They’re over-represented in the child protection and youth detention systems and they experience high rates of incarceration, family separation and suicide.
‘Having an independent and properly resourced agency and commissioner to focus on coordinating responses and advocating for a better future for our children and young people is extremely welcome and I look forward to the bill being enacted soon.’
National Children’s Commissioner Deb Tsorbaris: ‘Every child has a right to be safe, to live with dignity and have opportunities to thrive.
‘We need to be doing much more to address the disadvantage experienced by so many of our First Peoples children and young people. We need better coordination of existing services and we need new approaches that are led by First Peoples communities.
‘I commend the introduction of this bill to empower Commissioner Hunter and her team to deliver the dedicated advocacy that’s needed to give equal opportunity to all First People’s children.’
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