Indigenous leaders demand government acknowledge human rights

More than 100 Queensland First Nations leaders have condemned the Queensland government’s youth justice reforms.

The Bandarran Marra’Gu Gathering Strength Summit in Brisbane has been discussing the impact of recent government decisions on First Nations peoples in Queensland.

Host groups the Queensland Human Rights Commission, the Australian Human Rights Commission, and the Queensland Family and Child Commission convened the summit amid concerns about the State’s harsh approach to youth crime.

The focus was on the disproportionate effect these laws are expected to have on Indigenous children, who are already overrepresented in the criminal justice system. The government acknowledges this is the case, but justifies it in the context of what they call a “youth crime crisis”.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Katie Kiss said Indigenous rights are “not negotiable”.

“Our individual and collective rights are not negotiable. They are not a privilege. They are a responsibility,” she said.

“We are rights holders, entitled to self-determination, cultural integrity, participation in decision-making, equality, and non-discrimination. We want truth, justice and healing for our people and our future generations.”

A joint group statement has demanded compliance with the human rights legislation and convention, including greater consultation with Indigenous people affected by changes in the law.

“Our people and our rights are under attack. The treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in this state is an affront to dignity and justice. We have lost all faith in the Queensland government to ensure our interests are abandoned,” it says.

“There is no substitute for truth, respect, and shared power. Anything less reinforces the same systems that have failed our children for generations.

“We are not asking — these are our rights. We are entitled to be safe, heard, and grounded in who we are.”