Closing the Gap Annual Report

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:03): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs about the 2021-22 Closing the Gap Annual Report.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Data released during the 2021-22 Closing the Gap Annual Report period indicated a worsening trend in the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care, despite the goal of a 45 per cent reduction by 2031. My questions to the minister are:

1. How does the minister and the government plan to reverse the concerning increase of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in out-of-home care?

2. What specific actions will the minister and the government be taking to address the root causes of the over-representation?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:04): I thank the honourable member for her question. It is a very important issue and an extraordinarily important question. Historically, we know that removing Aboriginal children from their families, communities and culture had devastating impacts and continues to have devastating impacts when this occurs. There is an inquiry being undertaken by the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People that I am sure will have recommendations that can help inform government about this very specific issue the honourable member has raised. The honourable member asked about some of the underlying causes and, of course, that's something we take seriously also.

One of the factors that sees Aboriginal children come into contact with the child protection system is past contact with the criminal justice system and I was very pleased recently to announce the start of the Youth Aboriginal Community Court, which seeks to do exactly what the member has asked: look at some of those factors that see Aboriginal people come into contact with the child protection system addressed in a range of areas. We will eagerly await the report, but we won't wait for that before we take action in other areas, as I have mentioned.