Tasmanian Government Failing Aboriginal People

April 2026

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service today stated the Tasmanian Government is failing Aboriginal people in Tasmania.

TALS CEO Jake Smith said new adult prison data shows a 34% increase in the Aboriginal prison population, compared to a 2% decline for non-Aboriginal people over the same period last year.

“This week’s release of data demonstrates the Tasmanian Government is failing Aboriginal people in Tasmania,” Mr Smith said. “Let’s be clear, this is not an Aboriginal people issue - this is a Tasmanian Government issue.”

Mr Smith said the Tasmanian Government is a signatory to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

“Target 10 of this agreement commits governments, including the Tasmanian Government, to reducing the significant overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system.

“The Tasmanian Government needs to step up and follow through on its commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

“There is so much the Tasmanian Government could be doing, but is not, to support Aboriginal people in contact with the legal and justice system.”

Mr Smith said the Tasmanian Government needs to prioritise funding to the legal and the justice system for Aboriginal people and not rely on the Commonwealth to do all the heavy lifting.

“However, looking at our State and across the country, it is clear much, much more also needs to be done.”

Media contact: A.Mark Thomas, M&M Communications, 0422 006 732