New Closing the Gap Data

July 2026

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service today raised concerns on the latest release of data from the Productivity Commission on Closing the Gap.

Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service CEO Jake Smith said in Tasmania, the number of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander adults incarcerated is worsening year on year, increasing from 828.6 per 100,000 to 870.2 per 100,000, compared to a decline for non-Aboriginal Adults from 163.8 per 100,000 to 146.7 per 100,000.

“Indicators also show that as at 30 June, 52.4% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people held in prison custody were unsentenced, the highest rate since the Tasmanian Government signed the national agreement,” Mr Smith said.

“These figures represent the Tasmanian Government’s lack of genuine commitment and meaningful action in reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal people held in prison.”

Mr Smith said the Productivity Commission also reported no meaningful change to the overrepresentation of Aboriginal youth held in detention, with June quarter figures also showing 79.6% of youth held in detention were unsentenced.

“The rate of unsentenced Aboriginal youth and adults being held in detention and in our prisons in this State is unacceptable and the Government must as a priority address this.

“The Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service has provided opportunities to the Government to reduce the rate of unsentenced Aboriginal people being held, and time and time again it is being overlooked.

“Inadequate legal assistance funding, a lack of options to support people on bail, along with the backlog in our court system and the housing crisis, these are just some of the issues our legal and justice system face, all of which, based on these figures, disproportionately impact Aboriginal people in this State.”