Submission to the Inquiry into Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage

PIAC’s Indigenous Justice Program aims to identify systemic wrongs by the state and its agents affecting Indigenous Australians and advocate for access to remedies and the elimination of those wrongs. The Indigenous Justice Program also aims to improve access to essential services for Indigenous communities and strengthen the capacity of Indigenous Australians to engage in public policy making and advocacy. In this submission to the NSW Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues Inquiry into Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage, PIAC identifies that significant Indigenous disadvantage continues to flow from the impact of previous government policies and laws, in particular, those that permitted the removal of children from their families (resulting in the Stolen Generations), and those that diverted wages and other payments due to Indigenous people (particularly young people) into government-managed trust funds (referred to as Stolen Wages). PIAC provides previous reports and submissions on how the Government should respond to these issues.