Under NSW Labor, outcomes for First Nations children and young people are getting worse, not better. 

This Government is part of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, and yet, under their watch, and through legislation introduced by the Minns Labor Government, more First Nations young people and children, not less, are being thrown into prisons across NSW. 

NSW Labor say that they are committed to Closing the Gap, including decreasing rates of First Nations young people and children in detention by at least 30 percent. And yet in the 12 months to June 2024 rates of First Nations children and young people on remand have increased by 43% - The Gap is Widening not Closing! 

In their first year of Government, NSW Labor rushed through draconian changes to criminal and bail laws which targeted First Nations children and young people and the results are now rolling in. 

First Nations communities are already grossly overrepresented in the criminal justice system and the consequences are dire.

NSW Labor’s decision to appease shock-jock radio hosts calling for law and order is costing First Nations children and young people their futures and their dreams. The heartbreaking reality is, once a child comes into contact with the prison system, they almost certainly enter a cyclical system of incarceration, poverty and crime. No child should be punished like this, and that is exactly what Target 11 under Closing the Gap sets out to change. 

While these laws are active, the gap will continue to widen. We must raise our voices now to ensure that these despicable laws are not continued past their 12-month trial. 

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Kids belong in community, not behind bars!