The Indigenous children's commissioner for the Northern Territory has sharply criticised the government's overhaul of child protection laws, arguing the changes risk worsening the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care. The commissioner, in a public statement, said the reforms were developed without sufficient consultation with Aboriginal communities and fail to prioritise kinship care arrangements.
The NT government passed the new Child Protection Act last month, aiming to reduce the number of children in care by streamlining court processes and increasing funding for family support services. Officials say the overhaul is the most significant in decades and is designed to keep more children safe and with their families. However, the commissioner argued that the law's emphasis on mandatory reporting and stricter timelines could lead to more removals, not fewer.
The commissioner's office noted that Aboriginal children make up about 80% of children in out-of-home care in the NT, despite being only about 40% of the child population. The new legislation, the commissioner said, does not include binding targets to reduce that disparity or require cultural plans for every Indigenous child in care. Community organisations have echoed those concerns, warning that without proper safeguards, the reforms could repeat past mistakes.
The NT government defends the overhaul, saying it was informed by extensive consultations and includes new provisions for family-led decision-making. The minister for children said the changes 'put the safety and wellbeing of children first' and rejected claims that they were rushed. The commissioner has indicated she will release a detailed critique in the coming weeks, and the debate is expected to continue as the laws take effect.