Misguided ‘tough on crime’ policies leading to Closing the Gap failures

As Australia marks National Closing the Gap Day, new data released by the Productivity Commission’s Closing the Gap dashboard shows that Australia is on track to meet only four of the 19 targets and that Australia is going backwards on key targets.

The rate of suicide, adult imprisonment, the number of children developmentally on track, and children in out-of-home care are still moving on the wrong direction.

“The Productivity Commission’s updated Closing the Gap results are shocking but not surprising,” Dr Simone Gristwood, Executive Director of Jesuit Social Services’ Justice Project has said.

“Governments around Australia have celebrated “tough on crime” policies and increases in the number of prison beds. These misplaced priorities lie at the heart of these Closing the Gap failures.

“These choices mean money that could have been invested in housing, in healthcare, in supporting communities, on early intervention, and on evidence-based solutions is instead spent on punitive policies that disproportionately harm and traumatise First Nations communities.”

The latest dashboard finds that:

• The incarceration rate of First Nations adults has increased by nearly 20 per cent since 2019.
• The rate of First Nations children in out-of-home care in 2024 was 50.3 per 1,000 children, an increase from 47.3 per 1,000 children in 2019.
• The suicide rate for First Nations people in 2024 was 33.9 per 100,000 people, the highest recorded rate from the baseline in 2018, when it was 23.6 per 100,000 people.
• Nationally in 2024, 33.9 per cent of First Nations children commencing school were assessed as being developmentally on track in all five Australian Early Development Census domains. This is a decrease from 35.2 per cent in 2018 (the baseline year).

“There has been an improvement on four targets, with increases in economic participation, access to early childhood education and First Nations control of land and waters. This shows it is possible to make progress, but only if there is the political will to make different choices,” Dr Gristwood said.

“We are calling on the Commonwealth to show leadership and pressure states and territories to focus on early intervention, compliance with basic human rights standards, and initiatives that will help Australia meet Closing the Gap targets.”

“If we want to Close the Gap, all governments must work to end First Nations people’s over-representation in the justice system. A partnership approach that empowers First Nations communities is essential for all Australians to have the chance to lead strong and healthy lives.”