Daily news digest January 30
Major Indigenous news for January 30 is dominated by the fallout from an attempted bombing at a Perth rally and a significant Federal housing funding announcement.
Perth Invasion Day Rally Attack
Authorities have confirmed that the Joint Counter Terrorism Team is now investigating the attempted bombing at Monday’s Invasion Day rally in Boorloo (Perth) as a “potential terrorist act”.
The Incident:
A 31-year-old man allegedly threw a homemade “fragment bomb” containing screws and ball bearings into a crowd of roughly 2,500 people.
Community Reaction:
First Nations leaders, including Senator Lidia Thorpe and Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss, have called for the Bondi Royal Commission to be expanded to cover all forms of racial hatred.
Government Response:
Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy has defended the Federal response, stating that while the incident is “shocking,” legal processes must be followed with integrity.
$600 Million First Nations Housing Funding
The Federal government has officially launched the third funding round of the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), committing $600 million specifically for Indigenous housing projects.
Key Target:
A 10 per cent First Nations tenancy target has been established to ensure these communities benefit directly from the broader 55,000-home national commitment.
Goal:
The funding aims to strengthen the community-controlled housing sector and prioritise Closing the Gap objectives.
UN Condemns Treatment of Youth in Detention
A United Nations report has condemned the treatment of young people at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre in Tasmania.
Human Rights Breaches:
The report highlights “torture-adjacent” practices, including the use of improvised spit hoods and the secret transfer of Aboriginal children to adult prison facilities.
