AUSTRALIA: Aboriginal kids at higher risk of jail

Summary: A report has found that indigenous girls and boys are 23 times more likely to be imprisoned than their non-indigenous counterparts.

[29 June 2012] - A new international report warns that Australian Aboriginal children are "23 times more likely" to face jail than non-indigenous counterparts, with federal government programmes still falling short to address extreme hardship within the communities.

The London-based rights organisation, Minority Rights Group International, in its latest annual survey of indigenous communities globally and released in Bangkok, says Australian indigenous communities "occupy the bottom rung" of a range of social indicators.

Indigenous Australians are also over-represented in the criminal justice system and are 14 times more likely to be sent to jail than non-indigenous people.

"Indigenous minors are particularly at risk; indigenous girls and boys are 23 times more likely to be imprisoned than their non-indigenous counterparts," the report said.

The outlook for Australian Aborigines comes despite federal government programmes and moves to give greater recognition to indigenous Australians by removing racially discriminatory provisions in the constitution. 

The report says the 2006 programme of "Closing the Gap" has addressed the situation of "extreme indigenous disadvantage" by setting clear targets to improve the lives of indigenous Australians.

"However, recent analysis indicates that the government is on track to meet only two of its six targets (under the initiative)," the report said.

Across a range of indicators such as education, health and life expectancy, they all fall significantly below non-indigenous averages, it said.

Indigenous communities also appear to have failed to fully benefit from the mining boom.

"To the contrary, it appears that many traditional owners have not been properly consulted" about the development projects upon whose lands the resources were recovered, the report said. 

Further Information:

• AUSTRALIA: Suicide rate jump among Aboriginal girls (14 February 2012)
• AUSTRALIA: Aboriginal suicide rate sparks concern (9 May 2011)
• More on children's rights in Australia