Daily news digest June 25

June 25, 2026

Indigenous news across Australia today focuses on the Federal inquiry into racism and a challenge to the Murray River floodplain project.

Federal Inquiry into Racism:
Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine is scheduled to present insights to the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs in Canberra tomorrow.

Murray River Legal Challenge:
A Wadi Wadi Traditional Owner launched a legal challenge against the Victorian government. The lawsuit seeks to halt an imminent floodplain engineering project at Nyah to protect ancestral burial sites, scar trees, and fish traps from permanent harm.

Police Watchdog Constraints:
Community advocates are calling for an independent New South Wales police watchdog with stronger powers. Reports highlight that the current Law Enforcement Conduct Commission lacks the resources to thoroughly investigate escalating cases of police brutality against Aboriginal individuals.

Community & Housing Crisis

Mount Isa Housing Auctions:
The Federal government faces intense scrutiny as 25 Indigenous social housing properties are scheduled for auction on July 1 due to $1 million in unpaid council rates. Urgent calls for emergency intervention have been raised to prevent the displacement of a dozen families.

Peter Rowe

Peter Rowe leads First Nations News as Editor, with over three decades of experience across international newsrooms, digital platforms and media strategy roles. For the past 20 years, he’s worked in Australia – reporting, editing and advising on stories that shape public debate.